Trans*port Issues

“This moment is rare & is my least favourite type of #trannycommutes. The rest I can predict, being “clocked” always feels so dangerous”.

Performer Travis Alabanza, currently starring in Jubilee in the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, tweeted this on July 5th, 2016. 

I knew for a long time that trans women and trans feminine non-binary people faced harassment and physical threats on a daily basis. But Travis’ voice added to the many honest disclosures of my friends and people I admired and I felt very strongly that I wanted to do something about it.

In June 2016, the Independent reported that hate crime against transgender people in the UK had risen by 170% and according to Stonewall 81% of transgender people face silent harassment including whispering, pointing and laughing and 38% face physical intimidation. Violent crime specifically against transgender people has risen by 58% from 2013-2015.

Trans women and trans feminine people are particularly vulnerable. And I know many of my friends spend a lot of money on cabs when they are stuck in an unsafe situation, or to avoid harassment on public transport.

November 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance where we mourn the loss of transgender people worldwide, murdered for being who they are. The vast majority of these people are trans women or trans feminine women of colour. Every year, we mourn the deaths but what do we do to ensure that transgender women and trans feminine people are safe.

That’s why I’m working with Action for Trans Health to create a travel bursary for transgender women and trans feminine people. We have a project on Aviva which, if we secure votes, we could get a significant amount of funding.

At present, Action for Trans Health currently provide help covering healthcare costs for transgender people who can’t get healthcare through the NHS via Gender Identity Clinics (GICs) for a variety of reasons. Some of this can include coverage for travel costs to GICs and other necessities. 

I’ve personally benefitted from the work that Action for Trans Health do. In 2015, I received a bursary to contribute towards my surgery funding and it was that and a number of crowdfunding efforts that meant I was able to raise 76% of the funds I needed. The process of applying for help for Action for Trans Health wasn’t complicated and their transparency for how they decide on applications helped me even when I applied the second year for more funds and didn’t receive them.

Still, I am one of the lucky ones. I don’t face transmisogynistic harassment. And I feel like so long as my trans and non-binary siblings who do face this harassment are at risk on a daily basis, I need to do whatever it is I can do to try and help.

That is why I wanted to expand the Action for Trans Health Solidarity Fund beyond just healthcare costs and address a serious need for transgender women and trans feminine people which includes the ability to get out into their communities and return home safely. And thankfully, Action for Trans Health has been massively supportive.

This would provide an emergency travel fund for many that could mean that they not only survive but thrive. Please consider voting for our fund today.