‘It’s tough to be trans’ activists hit out at the UK’s culture
2 min read
There will be a candle-lit vigil in Glasgow’s George Square for 16-year-old Brianna Ghey following her death – two teenagers have been charged with her murder.
Glasgow will see its vigil tonight in George Square. Meanwhile, Scotland’s capital Edinburgh is set to hold a vigil at noon in Bristo Square tomorrow.
The culture has been growing increasingly toxic in Scotland, jane fae director of TransActual, speaking to the Glasgow Standard, said: “The UK is no longer a safe place to be trans, and it’s not exactly the danger of it I would say the risk is the same for a trans person going out and about is still probably a lot less than many places in the world. What has actually shifted is the perception of danger.”
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She continued, “And what makes this so concerning is that we don’t feel safe, we don’t feel confident using spaces that we are used to, people are increasingly afraid to just go, and do something very ordinary, thinking they will be attacked.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was deputy to Alex Salmond when Scotland introduced equal adoption rights in 2009. Her support for trans rights quickly made her enemies within the SNP – with many threatening to quit the party. However, the LGBTQ+ community view her as a strong ally.
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“She was entirely committed to reforming the gender recognition process in Scotland, driving forward the legislation despite opposition from all sides, because she knew it was the right thing to do,” Paul Leinster, an SNP councillor for Langside in Glasgow, said to PinkNews.
“Since becoming first minister she has driven forward legislation to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people like the pardon for gay and bisexual men who were convicted before homosexuality was decriminalised.”
A press release by Stonewall was a Riot, on the death of Brianna Ghey, read: “Like every other member of the community, we are shocked and saddened by the death of Brianna Ghey, a trans teenager, who was murdered in broad daylight on the streets of Warrington.
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“An attack on one of us is an attack on us all, and a dedicated space for grieving can help us start to heal. Now more than ever it is important to remember the value of mutual aid, direct action and coming together as a community.
“We must come together to fight back against the rising tide of hate. We cannot just hope Brianna is the last to suffer this fate, we must demand it.”
