M is for 'Mood'

Mood - this is a raw topic because mine are all over the place at the moment. There's a lot going on; lockdown continues (albeit I may be getting back into an isolated office environment next week); my home life is still incredibly tough and (I hope that) my body is readjusting to having some of the right hormones running around it.

Here's the song for this post; beautiful melancholia and a link to the title

The last week has been the worst for a long time - seeing myself is near on impossible right now, and I'm washed over with an overwhelming sense of loss - which isn't (yet) replaced with an ability to see a way forward. But - I know one thing, I cannot go back.

Today is also International Day Against Homophobia Biphobia and Transphobia - (IDAHOBIT) - a day designated to highlight and fight against the pernicious tide of people being abused for who they are and who they love - timed to coincide with the date that being homosexual was no longer classed as a mental illness. My employer posted on LinkedIn this morning a message to mark the day; something they do incredibly well - recognising that the way to get the best out of their staff is to respect and support them. I wrote a response, but it had to be truncated as there was a character limit - so I thought I'd place it here and finish the thinking. Of course, my perspective on IDAHOBIT comes through the lens of transgender rights - and there are many other perspectives which ring true for my Gay, Lesbian, Bi and other friends.

The world is tough for everyone right now, but on this day it’s especially right to recognise that lgbtq+ people are facing not only the same challenges raised by the pandemic, but also organised efforts to erase their fundamental identities. We’ve seen - in the last six months alone

UK -

• Transphobic utterances from UK government ministers, including those with a brief for mental health and equalities.

• A well known children’s author standing against the right of trans people to live equally - amplifying voices of bigotry and hatred

• Efforts by a pressure group to divide the lgbtq+ community, dividing trans people from our lgb friends and family.

• A concerted effort, not to reform the GRA to improve the lives of Trans people, but a signal that some of the rights which were hard won may be rolled back

• GICs (Gender Identity Clinics) shutting up shop - without communication or notice to their patients; and an inevitable addition to waiting times for those of us in the already many year long waiting list

Hungary -

• The wholesale rollback of transgender rights under the cloak of emergency powers to tackle covid19.

• The signal that the rights of others in the LGBT+ community will be denied and removed - effectively criminalising people living their lives

Poland -

• A move towards the outlawing of even being lgbtq+

• Declarations of Poland as an ‘lgbtq+ free zone’ being made openly, by a member of the European Union - which has consistently stood up for LGBT rights

US -

• Numerous attempts to marginalise further the lives of transgender people (particularly youth) in state capitols

• The continued ban against transgender military personnel

• Further mainstream media attacks on Transgender people, including such statements as "TRANS PEOPLE WILL 'DESTROY' GENDER NORMS TO CREATE 'NEW SPECIES'—'HUMAN AND PART MACHINE'" - laughable yes, but part of a grinding, tiring assault on people simply trying to live out their lives without harming anyone

Being Trans means that you have a lot of very influential and powerful organisations railed against you, governments, media, organised religion - all of whom have gone out of their way to take away the rights of people to live openly and honestly without fear. So who can make a difference? - Individuals of course - being anti LGBTPhobic is absolutely something that anyone can and everyone should be, making discrimination and bigotry unacceptable is everyone's responsibility - and as I have said before, transphobia masquerades as the last acceptable prejudice. But businesses have a massive role to play in the positive change for society that is so badly needed. Businesses make investment decisions, (hopefully) based on ethical considerations, businesses provide an environment for people to spend the majority of hours of their week within, and have the power to create an environment which may for many be missing in their homes, businesses can make their position clear and gain access to what is sometimes called the 'pink pound' - which is not inconsiderable.

Yes - business has an opportunity to stand where governments have failed - they know that they have talented and loyal LGBT staff and customers, and I am profoundly grateful to my employer for supporting and advocating for me.