No-gofor transgendered people

[chris89]

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)

http://www.flickr.com/people/jalapenokitten

Good to hear you haven't come into any trouble with less then accepting people.

I believe most areas are quite friendly and same as you most people will avoid rowdy/drunk people.

Also thank you for the link, i never knew there was such a thing.

Chris

 

[Bob Ames]

I've always thought of myself as a woman but have never seen the point of changing my appearance to reflect that. At least for me, state of mind is good enough...

 

[GatwickDepress]

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.

The Brighton Trans Festival of Remembrance was very moving, I attended it last year. It was also surprising to me how many incidents occurred in the United States.

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've noticed on some late night services down here in Southern-land, guards say over the PA which carriage they're in, or (on SWT) they're in the carriage with the guard's compartment.

A safe coach is something I'd like to see as well.

 

[Holly]

... I've noticed on some late night services down here in Southern-land, guards say over the PA which carriage they're in,.

That is a really good idea. For quite a number of reasons.

 

[Carlisle]

The Brighton Trans Festival of Remembrance was very moving, I attended it last year. It was also surprising to me how many incidents occurred in the United states.

I'm really not that surprised as I get the impression from a few visits and the media that much of the US outside the major city areas is a fairly traditional conservative society

 

[Tetchytyke]

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?

It happens, and it happens a lot. The issue isn't as clear-cut as you would imagine. Leaving aside the issue trans people face (and it's common: "you're not a real woman, get out of the women's toilet/changing room"), before being able to access gender realignment surgery you need to "live as" the gender you wish to be re-assigned as. Are these people the gender they are legally, or the gender they live as, or the gender they want to be? Nobody knows. As with so much legislation, nobody thought about transgender issues when drafting.

Even the NUS, one of the more forward-thinking organisations on the matter, shy clear of forcing the issue; when you attend NUS events there are male toilets, female toilets and "non-gender-specific" toilets.

I don't think abuse on a train from London to the north east is necessarily a trans issue, though. There are a lot of lager louts on the trains on this route, especially with all the Stag Do ****s in the spring and summer, and there aren't enough staff on the trains to deal with them. It really needs a concerted effort from the BTP to stamp on it.

 

[pinkpanther]

Good to hear you haven't come into any trouble with less then accepting people.

I believe most areas are quite friendly and same as you most people will avoid rowdy/drunk people.

Also thank you for the link, i never knew there was such a thing.

Chris

Thanks. If my experience is anything to go by, most people are friendly enough but don't know enough about the subject to avoid putting their foot in it. There can be low level nastiness (e.g. the guy on the Mallard 75 tour earlier this month who insisted on misgendering me). Those who are openly hostile are thankfully less common.

I'm active in ministry in my church so I'm used to being open about things and challenging discrimination head on.

The Brighton Trans Festival of Remembrance was very moving, I attended it last year. It was also surprising to me how many incidents occurred in the United States.

We celebrate the Trans Day of Remembrance in my church (MCC Bournemouth) every year, and it's a very humbling experience. I'm so lucky to live where I do.

I've noticed on some late night services down here in Southern-land, guards say over the PA which carriage they're in, or (on SWT) they're in the carriage with the guard's compartment.

A safe coach is something I'd like to see as well.

Guards on SWT services do that sometimes, but on a 10 coach 444 they easily could be too far away in the event of a problem. Given the choice I'd prefer to sit near to the buffet car* if there was one - at least then you'd know there was a member of staff within reach.

* Failing that I'll sit on top of the catering trolley and throw polite curses and stotty cakes at the trolls under the bridge.

 

[lj9090]

Even the NUS, one of the more forward-thinking organisations on the matter, shy clear of forcing the issue; when you attend NUS events there are male toilets, female toilets and "non-gender-specific" toilets.

That's not steering clear of the issue, that's being surprisingly forward thinking! There are plenty of people who identify as neither gender, and their appearance doesn't lend itself to either gender either. I've seen it happen where half the people they meet will assign them one gender, and the other half the other. So either toilet is rather problematic and will confuse the public, so a gender neutral toilet is a godsend!
The disabled toilet isn't an option in this case, as it's against the law to do so if there's no requirement for one, quite unlike using the "wrong" toilet where it's not.

 

[GodAtum]

My 2 cents, I could not compare my experience to those suffered by LGBT people or those with a disability but I have occasionally suffered snide remarks from people. Even though I finish work at 3am I tend to stay until after pub kick-out time.

 

[starrymarkb]

There are plenty of people who identify as neither gender,

*raises hand*

Reminds me to sort out a username change (or clear registering a new account with the Admins)

 

[Tetchytyke]

That's not steering clear of the issue, that's being surprisingly forward thinking! There are plenty of people who identify as neither gender, and their appearance doesn't lend itself to either gender either. I've seen it happen where half the people they meet will assign them one gender, and the other half the other. So either toilet is rather problematic and will confuse the public, so a gender neutral toilet is a godsend!

I like it, it's incredibly sympathetic. I just always took it to mean they were steering clear of the problem, but actually I had overlooked genderqueer people.