This week, Gillian and Jenny discuss the fall-out from the US elections, Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR) and Trans Awareness Week. Discussions covered the need for strategic activism, increased visibility and representation, and the importance of engaging with power structures to effect change.
They both highlighted the significant amount of money spent on anti-trans ads, which they felt was a dangerous level of resources being directed against a small percentage of the population. Gillian. expresses concern that this rhetoric could lead to a rollback of trans rights, while Jenny believes the economy was the main factor driving voters rather than social issues like trans rights. They acknowledge the worrying implications for the trans community, but Jenny suggests the anti-trans messaging may not have swayed many voters. Overall, they see the need for the LGBTQ+ community to unite against the broader threat of right-wing populism and religious conservatism.
They agreed that the community needs to be more strategic and active in engaging with power and influencing decision-makers. They also acknowledged the need for greater cohesion within the community and the importance of having more openly trans politicians in positions of power. Jenny suggested that the community needs to pick the right battles and be more organised, while Dr emphasised the need to look outward and engage with those in positions of power. They both agreed that the community has relied too heavily on activism and not enough on strategic engagement with power.
They also discussed the influence of unions on policy, particularly in relation to the rights of the LGBT community. Jenny highlighted the positive stance of their union towards self-organised groups and trans rights in the workplace. They also discussed the challenges of lobbying the current UK government, which Jenny believes is more open to their cause than previous conservative governments. Dr suggested that they need to adapt to a more turbulent world, using the example of the Middle East's political instability. The conversation ended with a discussion on the need to strategically "stay low" in order to effectively influence policy in the future.
They discussed the importance of Trans Day Remembrance, which is observed on the 20th of November. They highlighted the high levels of violence against the trans community, particularly black trans women in America. Jenny mentioned that the event was founded by Gwendolyn Ann Smith and has since become a significant day for the community to come together and remember those who have lost their lives due to violence, hate, and discrimination. They also discussed the impact of losing community members, with Jenny sharing her experiences from the late 90s when she first joined an online trans community. The conversation ended with a reflection on the unique challenges faced by the trans community.
Hope you enjoy and find this useful.
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