No-gofor transgendered people

[Wyvern]

SUNDERLAND ECHO: Transgender woman abused by drunk men on train

A TRANSGENDER woman was subjected to abuse as she travelled on a train to Durham.

British Transport Police (BTP) said the victim was subjected what they class as transphobic abuse by four drunk men as she boarded the London Kings Cross to Durham train with her partner on Thursday January 30.

Investigators want to speak to anyone who may have seen the attack on Coach F between 7.45pm and 10.50pm.

Pc Jeremy Webster said officers have launched an investigation and are trawling CCTV from the train and at the station.

Pc Webster added: “We take reports of such unacceptable behaviour very seriously, and will not tolerate abuse of any kind towards passengers on the rail network.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact BTP on 0800 40 50 40 quoting background reference NEA/B5 of 7/02/2014. Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

NORTHERN ECHO: Expert claims public transport is no-go for transgender people as woman abused on train

PUBLIC transport in the region is a no-go for many transgender people and abuse remains an every day occurrence, according to a leading trans-rights activist.

Last month a woman was subjected to ‘transphobic’ abuse while travelling on a train between Durham and London Kings Cross.

Police are appealing for witnesses after four men repeatedly abused the woman on Sunday January 19 before leaving the train in Durham.

North-East trans-rights activist Emma Roebuck warned that levels of hate crime are still rising as she gave an insight into everyday discrimination faced by the transgender population.

She said: “Public transport is a dangerous place. As a transperson going from A to B, you’re at risk and many avoid getting buses or trains as they know they are going to be targeted.

“Abuse can be a daily occurrence and every morning you get up and put on an emotional blanket to protect yourself from what you know to expect when you go out the front door.

“It can be anything from having someone look at you like you’re something on the bottom of their shoe to physical violence.

“You get comments and you become public property, with people thinking they have a right to touch your boobs or ask if you still have your genitals.

“People will say you should be shot and they’ll threaten to beat you up.”

She urged victims of abuse to report their experiences as Durham Constabulary described hate crime as “massively underreported”.

Inspector Colin McGillivray said: “The biggest problem we face is the gap between actual and reported incidents.

“We’re committed to actively investigating incidents of hate crime and dealing positively with offenders but to do this, we need people who have been victims to come forward.”

Ms Roebuck said: “There’s not a lot of trust between the trans and gay communities and the authorities because of how they were treated historically in the days when you could get arrested for kissing a man in the street.

“But you must keep reporting because it is the only way to improve lives and do something about it.”

She added: “There are still three people a week murdered for being transgender. We need to examine how to change minds through rational argument and common sense.”

Anyone with information about the incident onboard the train should contact British Transport Police on 0800 405040.

 

[DXMachina]

If the general context info quoted above is true, that is terrible

 

[Searle]

It's shocking and heart breaking that people still treat others like this in the modern day.

 

[tbtc]

That's horrible and she has my sympathies.

However, I don't think that headlines like "Expert claims public transport is no-go for transgender people" help things - sadly a lot of people face abuse on public transport each year (for the colour of their skin, for their religion, for physical reasons) but I don't think we should meekly accept the concept of "no go areas" - looks a bit of a hysterical headline.

 

[Domh245]

That sort of behavior is disgusting, and as she has my sympathy also. However, it may just be because I misread the article, but what makes this different to the high street or a restaurant? Where ever you go, there will inevitably these intolerant people. If anything, surely public transport such as buses or inter-city trains where a member of staff can easily be reached is better than the high-street where someone with a degree of power (a police-person) will most likely be further away. What makes public transport more dangerous than any other public area?

 

[GatwickDepress]

I'd say the difference between it happening on somewhere like a train as opposed to a public area like a restaurant or a street, is that the ability to escape is minimal, especially if one is being abused while sitting in say, an airline seat.

She has my deepest sympathies, I know from experience how much some people out there are just absolute twunts.

 

[fowler9]

I think its a shame that some people are so insecure with their own sexuality that they feel the need to abuse others who are obviously secure with their own. I agree that on public transport you are somewhat more trapped than you may be in other public situations.

 

[starrymarkb]

With a Coach or a bus there is always the option of sitting near the driver. Not so on a DOO train. Similarly with unstaffed stations you are much more vulnerable because you are not visible to passers by as you would be at a bus stop.

 

[Johnuk123]

She added: “There are still three people a week murdered for being transgender

I don't think so.

 

[RichmondCommu]

I appreciate that it would not be easy to enforce but I would like to see designated 'safe coaches' on all late night services. Even if it was just introduced on a trial basis to start with. Whenever I've been to Sydney it always seems to have acted as a deterrent, particularly in the not so nice western suburbs.

 

[Welshman]

I appreciate that it would not be easy to enforce but I would like to see designated 'safe coaches' on all late night services. Even if it was just introduced on a trial basis to start with. Whenever I've been to Sydney it always seems to have acted as a deterrent, particularly in the not so nice western suburbs.

I seem to remember that some non-corridor stock on the GN suburban services out of London Kings Cross [and others too, perhaps] had "Ladies Only" compartments.

I suppose those are now disbanded because of falling foul of the sexual discrimination acts.

But I do like your idea of designated "safe" coaches, but wonder:

1] How will they be ensured to be "safer" than the other coaches?
2] How will they be policed?
3] Who will be entitled to use them [the elderly, the vulnerable travelling alone, etc]?
4] Who, in their right mind, would choose to sit in an "unsafe" coach?

Could you give more details on how these work in Sydney?

 

[starrymarkb]

I don't think so.

I think they are meaning world wide. I don't have the exact figures to hand, it's still a shockingly high figure given the relatively low trans percentage in the population
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I seem to remember that some non-corridor stock on the GN suburban services out of London Kings Cross [and others too, perhaps] had "Ladies Only" compartments.

I suppose those are now disbanded because of falling foul of the sexual discrimination acts.

But I do like your idea of designated "safe" coaches, but wonder:

1] How will they be ensured to be "safer" than the other coaches?
2] How will they be policed?
3] Who will be entitled to use them [the elderly, the vulnerable travelling alone, etc]?
4] Who, in their right mind, would choose to sit in an "unsafe" coach?

Could you give more details on how these work in Sydney?

I'm assuming they have a staff member. Though not specific services I was surprised at how many guards working with policemen there were on the Lille Metro in the evenings (given the system is usually fully unstaffed)

 

[RichmondCommu]

I seem to remember that some non-corridor stock on the GN suburban services out of London Kings Cross [and others too, perhaps] had "Ladies Only" compartments.

I suppose those are now disbanded because of falling foul of the sexual discrimination acts.

But I do like your idea of designated "safe" coaches, but wonder:

1] How will they be ensured to be "safer" than the other coaches?
2] How will they be policed?
3] Who will be entitled to use them [the elderly, the vulnerable travelling alone, etc]?
4] Who, in their right mind, would choose to sit in an "unsafe" coach?

Could you give more details on how these work in Sydney?

Basically the 'safe coach' is the guard’s compartment / coach which the guard doesn't leave. This coach is identified by a blue light. Not only that but on Friday and Saturday nights security guards also patrol trains. Basically anyone can sit in the coach next to the guard’s compartment.

In terms of travelling in an 'unsafe' coach, if you are travelling as a group then you feel less vulnerable. In all the times that I have used the Sydney rail network (I worked in Sydney for 18 months) I never bothered with the 'safe coach' as I'm confident in my ability to defend myself unless I've been travelling with my family.

 

[Welshman]

Thank-you for your elucidation.

 

[transmanche]

I seem to remember that some non-corridor stock on the GN suburban services out of London Kings Cross [and others too, perhaps] had "Ladies Only" compartments.

I suppose those are now disbanded because of falling foul of the sexual discrimination acts.

Are there not some Ladies-only Waiting Rooms still dotted around the network?

And I don't think "Ladies-only" facilities necessarily breach the Equality Act, otherwise the organisers of women-only exercise classes etc would be up in court all the time...

 

[bb21]

Stockport still have them I believe.

 

[Deerfold]

I think they are meaning world wide. I don't have the exact figures to hand, it's still a shockingly high figure given the relatively low trans percentage in the population

It appears to be a worldwide figure.

Whilst it's a shocking figure I'm not sure it's useful out of context without mentioning that 80% of these murders occur in Central and South America.

UK trans murder figures are in single figures each year - still very wrong but not quite the same shock factor.

 

[fowler9]

It appears to be a worldwide figure.

Whilst it's a shocking figure I'm not sure it's useful out of context without mentioning that 80% of these murders occur in Central and South America.

UK trans murder figures are in single figures each year - still very wrong but not quite the same shock factor.

I'm a bit surprised that 80% of murders of trans sexuals happen in South America especially since they have the carnival in Brasil. Unless there is a link with Catholics being intolerant.

 

[Darandio]

I'm a bit surprised that 80% of murders of trans sexuals happen in South America especially since they have the carnival in Brasil. Unless there is a link with Catholics being intolerant.

Could that figure just be related to the sheer volume of transsexuals in that area of the world?

 

[fowler9]

Could that figure just be related to the sheer volume of transsexuals in that area of the world?

Yeah, that is more than possible. I apologise, what I said was worded really badly.

 

[Cassie]

The paper certainly goes for a sensational headline but that's not unheard of!

As a trans person myself I wouldn't regard public transport as no go, but I have to be on my guard when travelling on a train or bus. I'd say 99% of people are fine but the other 1% over a journey where you may be seen by thousands of people present quite a risk.

Some of these people will point and laugh, others may stare and nudge their friends. Occasionally someone will ask what you keep in your knickers - as happened to me on SET last night - quite friendly but still with the power to ruin your day. Every now and then some random member of the public will take violent exception to your presence and unleash a verbal or physical assault which can be frightening and sometimes even deadly.

Public transport is frightening a. because you can't get away and b. because people are sitting looking around them so you're more likely to be noticed. Sure there is cctv in every carriage of a train but it's only a partial consolation if you wake up in hospital.

Thankfully I can get around most of the time without being noticed but unfortunately some transpeople, transwomen especially, have great difficulty with that. Once you've had one bad experience you lose confidence for a while and then you become obvious and a sitting duck for the local yobbery. Bad things happen in threes.

None of us want special treatment, just to go about our business in peace. However we are at greater risk than average. Rail staff in my experience are great as are most public officials, and I wouldn't hesitate to find one if I felt threatened.

As for the stats: yes that's worldwide and most are in south and central America. I don't think that's due to any special factors except possibly the levels of poverty in which transpeople often find themselves living, it's just that beyond Europe and the Americas transpeople aren't recognised for statistical purposes so the trans death rate goes unrecorded.

 

[EM2]

Are there not some Ladies-only Waiting Rooms still dotted around the network?

And I don't think "Ladies-only" facilities necessarily breach the Equality Act, otherwise the organisers of women-only exercise classes etc would be up in court all the time...

You then run into the thorny issue of trans exclusionists, who refuse to see those who have transgendered to female as women, and thus wouldn't be happy to see them using 'Ladies Only' facilities.

 

[chris89]

You then run into the thorny issue of trans exclusionists, who refuse to see those who have transgendered to female as women, and thus wouldn't be happy to see them using 'Ladies Only' facilities.

That is a very large issue for many transgendered people. Not just Male to Female but also Female to Male as well.

 

[EM2]

That is a very large issue for many transgendered people. Not just Male to Female but also Female to Male as well.

Indeed, and I have two friends who have very recently transgendered to male, but as the discussion at that point was about 'Ladies Only' facilities, I didn't really want to muddy the waters.

 

[LowLevel]

None of us want special treatment, just to go about our business in peace. However we are at greater risk than average. Rail staff in my experience are great as are most public officials, and I wouldn't hesitate to find one if I felt threatened.

You'd hope it would go without saying As a railwayman my primary reason for being employed is to keep my passengers safe and I'll always do anything in my power to ensure that that is the case. Railway staff as a whole are quite accepting types in my experience regardless of personal feelings and circumstances, things have come a long way in the past 20 years.

I wouldn't feel happy in myself if I knew someone on my train or station was feeling uncomfortable.

 

[fowler9]

You'd hope it would go without saying As a railwayman my primary reason for being employed is to keep my passengers safe and I'll always do anything in my power to ensure that that is the case. Railway staff as a whole are quite accepting types in my experience regardless of personal feelings and circumstances, things have come a long way in the past 20 years.

I wouldn't feel happy in myself if I knew someone on my train or station was feeling uncomfortable.

Good on you mate, all you can really hope for in life is to be accepted for who you are.

 

[chris89]

Indeed, and I have two friends who have very recently transgendered to male, but as the discussion at that point was about 'Ladies Only' facilities, I didn't really want to muddy the waters.

Good to hear for your friends (Which wish them all the best and hope are happy). Only mentioned it since F2M is generally less known about is all.

Chris

 

[transmanche]

You then run into the thorny issue of trans exclusionists, who refuse to see those who have transgendered to female as women, and thus wouldn't be happy to see them using 'Ladies Only' facilities.

This is outside my sphere of personal experience, but I'm not naive enough to suppose that such discrimination does not exist.

I'm making an assumption that post-Equality Act, anyone who has transgendered (I've learned a new word today!) is entitled to be legally-identified as their 'acquired' gender? Therefore someone who has transgendered to female would have the same legal entitlement to use a "Ladies Only" waiting room as any other female?

 

[Holly]

... I'm making an assumption that post-Equality Act, anyone who has transgendered (I've learned a new word today!) is entitled to be legally-identified as their 'acquired' gender? Therefore someone who has transgendered to female would have the same legal entitlement to use a "Ladies Only" waiting room as any other female?

I'm not an expert (thankfully!) but I can say it is not that simple, not even close. I have a solicitor friend who tells me that the Equality Act was very poorly drafted, is widely misunderstood, and even solicitors argue over what the words actually mean and then agree to differ.

I don't recall who said it first, but the old truism applies "The only way to win an argument is to avoid the argument". So it is for those people, they may have rights, but heaven help them if they ever actually need those rights.

 

[pinkpanther]

I've not run into any issues on public transport myself, but then it's a long time (1980s!) since I lived in the North East so I don't know firsthand what the situation is like for trans people up there.

I tend to think I'm lucky though - as a rule I don't run into much in the way of problems, and certainly nothing like the abuse I've heard of some running into at home or in public places.

Maybe it's that I'm sufficiently far past transition that most people don't read me as trans, or the Bournemouth area is particularly LGBT friendly (which it is, to be far). I don't know.

I do however know that I feel the need to be far more aware of my surroundings than I was before I transitioned. When I'm travelling (especially at night) I'll do my best to keep well away from some groups of people (e.g. anyone who appears to be drunk or rowdy) for my own peace of mind and/or safety. It's a sobering feeling, but I try not to let it show.

Hence given the choice, I'd far rather travel in an environment where I know members of staff are quickly accessible in the (hopefully unlikely) event of something happening.

Slightly OT for this forum, but every 20th November we commemorate the Transgendered Day of Remembrance where we remember those we have lost to transphobic violence in the past year. Although the UK is a relatively tolerant place (at least compared to the way it was when I was growing up), much of the world is far, far from safe if you happen to be trans.


Anna (@annajayne)

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