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A family I know had a brick through their window because one of their kids was transgender. They ended up having to move house. There are hypothetical bricks being 'chucked', & then there are the real & metaphorical ones that are thrown at trans people simply for existing. https://twitter.com/siennamarla/status/1277503739214036992
I hesitated before posting, whether or not this reveals personal data, then realised this could easily apply to several families I know. Trans hate crimes recorded by police rose 81% last year. @stonewalluk estimated 2 in 5 trans people had experienced hate crime last year alone.
You rarely hear of these crimes. Speaking to media can put trans people at greater risk of harm. Sometimes brave kids speak out in the hope the abuse will stop. Like this young girl repeatedly attacked. The 3rd time at school she had her head stamped on. https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/trans-teenager-attacked-violently-school-2718414
Or this girl, shot in school with a BB Gun. Incidents of transphobic bullying including assault are frighteningly common. Schools often unsupportive, ignoring, or enabling abuse. @stonewalluk (2017) found 10% Trans kids received death threats @Keir_Starmer https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-38909360
The Stonewall Schools report (2017) surveyed Secondary children & young people aged 11-19. The first person accounts of abuse are heartbreaking https://stonewall.org.uk/sites/default/files/the_school_report_2017.pdf
Many of the incidents I hear involve children in Primary education.
Many of the incidents I hear involve children in Primary education.
CW/ Trigger warning. Transphobia, Self-Harm, Suicide ideation, Bullying, Rape. - Find below quotes from young people taken from the 2017 Stonewall report.
For the first few months after I came out, entire classes would chant ‘chick with a dick’ at me, in PE people would pull down my shorts and pants, groups petitioned to ban me from using the toilets & changing rooms and joining PE lessons.
Max, 17, sixth form college (South East)
Max, 17, sixth form college (South East)
I got pushed in corridors, kicked and told that I was a ‘nervous wreck’ when I would cry about the bullying. If I am or am not transgender, I am willing to fight against the ignorance I’ve experienced.
Charlie, 17, sixth form college (Wales)
Charlie, 17, sixth form college (Wales)
A large group of boys ganged up on me, threatened to rape me and tried to rape me. They said it was OK and not rape because I am a freak and not real, and because I’m asking for it by being a ‘freaky tranny’.
Ash, 18, sixth form college (East Midlands)
Ash, 18, sixth form college (East Midlands)
I was so afraid of going to the toilets, that for about four years of secondary school I never used the school toilets.
Joey, 16, sixth form college (East of England)
Joey, 16, sixth form college (East of England)
Because the teachers made fun of trans people I was too scared to tell anyone about it.
Jesse, 17, FE college (Scotland)
Jesse, 17, FE college (Scotland)
I hear a lot more ignorance and hatred surrounding trans people, and so have made the decision not to come out any time soon. I don’t feel safe to do so.
Toby, 16, sixth form college (East Midlands)
Toby, 16, sixth form college (East Midlands)
I’ve constantly been the victim of online abuse and it’s always anonymous. It made me feel violated and awful, it created an overwhelming sense of guilt towards being
trans, and increased the hatred I had for myself.
Christopher, 17, sixth form college (Yorkshire and the Humber)
trans, and increased the hatred I had for myself.
Christopher, 17, sixth form college (Yorkshire and the Humber)
I got online messages calling me a ‘tr*nny f*gg*t’ and telling me to ‘kys’ (kill yourself).
Corey, 14, private secondary school (Scotland)
Corey, 14, private secondary school (Scotland)
The results of the Stonewall schools survey of 11-19 year old's are shocking.
84% of Trans young people in school self-harm.
45% have attempted to take their own life.
84% of Trans young people in school self-harm.
45% have attempted to take their own life.
I personally know of at least 10 families who've taken the difficult decision to remove children from school for their own safety. Some of these kids are primary age.
Things have been getting worse of late not better. COVID for some trans kids has meant a respite from abuse.
Things have been getting worse of late not better. COVID for some trans kids has meant a respite from abuse.
Sickeningly the majority of Trans children & young people are not supported at home. The current lock-down has placed more vulnerable kids within hurtful & sometimes dangerous family environments where they are unable to escape a constant barrage of shame, control & abuse.
The recent @LGBTfdn report found that LGBT+ people are disproportionately impacted by Coronavirus. Trans youth are less able to access healthcare, more likely to be homeless & more likely to be facing domestic abuse. https://lgbt.foundation/coronavirus/impact
