I’m writing this article as I am a Transgender person and these are the fears of Transgender people in the UK at the moment (May 2023).
These are some of the issues we are now facing as transgender people on a daily basis, and I’ll come onto why below.
First off lets address the internal fears that Transgender people face on a daily basis which can be about their gender identity, their physical appearance, and how they are treated by the government, media and others.
Gender Identity
Most transgender people are trans because the of way they think about themselves, and the body they see.
These two things do not match, and this is called Gender Dysphoria (your mental thoughts do not match your physical body) which leads onto body dysphoria (you do not like the way your body looks to the point of self loathing and in extreme cases, self harm or even suicide).
While most people think transgender people wake up one morning and decide to be trans. What actually happens is we spend years with internal turmoil as we try to be something we are truly not, and we slowly decide to be what we actually are.
Discrimination
definition: the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of ethnicity, age, sex, or disability.
One of the biggest fears that transgender people face is discrimination.
This may be in the form of being denied jobs, housing, or even medical care because of their gender identity.
They may also be harassed or assaulted, simply for being who they are or because they look different to what some people class as the normal. I know this is true of many minorities but lets concentrate on the subject at hand.
Another fear that transgender people are now beginning to face is violence.
Transgender people are more likely to be the victims of violence, including murder, than cisgender people. This violence can come from strangers, family members, or even friends.
Just recently, in the UK, a 16 trans girl called Brianna Ghey was murdered in Warrington by two other teenagers. This is a very severe case but assault and victimisation is on the increase in the UK.
Transgender people also face discrimination because they are misunderstood.
This discrimination might be being afraid of how other people will react when they learn about their gender identity, and this may also mean they keep their gender identity hidden for fear of being rejected, ridiculed or worse!
These fears then may have a significant impact on the mentality and lives of transgender people. They may make it difficult to go to school, get a job, or even mean they don’t want to leave their homes.
These things may also lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems, such as agoraphobia.
It is important to remember that transgender people are just like everyone else, like you and I.
They/we/I, deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. We should all do our part to create a more inclusive and accepting society for transgender people.
Here are some ways to help transgender people:
- Use the correct pronouns and name. This really isn’t difficult but some people find it very hard to do!
- Educate yourself about transgender issues and help us by learning and understanding what it means to be transgender.
- Be an ally to the transgender community by speaking up against discrimination and violence.
- Support transgender organizations and businesses.
- Donate to organizations that are working to improve the lives of transgender people.
Just by taking these steps, you help to create a world where transgender people can live freely and without fear.
Contrary to popular myths, the transgender community are not, as portrayed in the media, sexual predators, or weirdos. The media seem to think we are there to be ridiculed or abused.
What has caused this rise in transphobia in the UK?
There are a number of factors that have contributed to the rise in transphobia in the UK over the past few years. These include:
- The increasing visibility of transgender people in the media and in public life. Actresses, actors, singers, presenters, social commentators, this list grows daily.
- The rise of social media, which has made it easier for people to spread transphobic messages and find like-minded individuals.to share their views with.
- The election of a Conservative government in 2019, which has rolled back some of the progress that had been made on transgender rights and continue to press for changes to law to prevent Transgender people living their lives.
- The current UK government allying themselves with anti transgender organisations. Even giving these organisations a voice at their party conference.
- Overturning of laws passed in parts of the UK which would have made Transgender peoples lives easier.
- The rise of far-right groups, which often target transgender people with their rhetoric, violence and untruths.
- Pushing for changes to the Equility and Human Rights Act to force Transgender people to use the bathroom of the gender written down at birth.
- The media spreading misinformation, untruths or highlighting issues purely because the victims or perpetrators are transgender.
This increase in transphobia has had a significant impact on the lives of transgender people in the UK.
They are more likely to experience discrimination, harassment, and violence than cisgender people.
Trans people are also more likely to experience mental health problems because of this.
It is important to remember that transgender people are just like everyone else. As a group we deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. We should all do our part to create a more inclusive and accepting society for not just transgender people BUT for all people, irrespective of sex, colour, creed or sexual preference!
Political
Just this January, 2023, an organisation called, the Council of Europe, placed the UK alongside countries with poor LGBTQ+ rights such as Russia, Hungary and Poland. Countries listed as sites of “extensive and often virulent attacks” against the LGBTQ+ communities.
And then in February, the UK’s own equalities watchdog, the EHRC, was disavowed by the coalition of 19 LGBT+ organisations who called on the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions to revoke the body’s A-rating because of institutional transphobia.
Further to this, in April, the government’s own LGBTQ+ convention, “Safe to Be Me” was cancelled due to it being boycotted over its decision to exclude trans people from its ban on LGBT conversion therapy.
And to top all of this the Equality Act of 2010, which has been helping to protect our rights and lives from discrimination, is said to be changed after recent correspondence between Minister for Women and Equalities, the Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), suggesting that the UK Government is considering amending the definition of sex in the Equality Act to make it easier to exclude trans people from single-sex spaces.
And let’s not forget that despite Theresa May‘s government promising to “ban conversion therapy” for trans people. This was promised over 5 years ago.
The current Tory government have still to action this and it’s a fear of many of my trans friends that the current government may go back on this promise or fail to action this.
For those who don’t know what conversion therapy is, here’s the Wikipedia description.
Conversion therapy is the pseudoscientific practice of attempting to change an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to align with heterosexual and cisgender norms.
The Media Bias
From what I’m reading in the mainstream media, it seems that every journalist in the UK has suddenly become an expert on Transgender people, trans matters, our bathroom habits and even our genitals!
Not a week goes by when I don’t read or hear about some article or show where trans people are talked about in the third person and usually in a negative way.
Of course this is read by the general public at large who’s mind set is, it’s in the news, so it must be true!
Also memes of TV mouthpieces fill Social Media channels, and these are again repeated as verbatim truths on peoples social media posts.
There’s also posts from the “Daily tomorrow’s toilet paper” spouting more bile about Transgender people.
I even get posts on my social media feeds containing videos of people posting BS and hate comments about me, my friends and transgender people in my email, social feeds and social messenger.
I know that everyone has their own opinions but sometimes the media takes these opinions as gospel fact and never apologise for mistruths or if they publicly misrepresent a trans person.
Again, lets take the case of Brianna Ghey.
This young trans woman was murdered but the media saw fit, to not only mis-gender her, but then went on to dead name her!
Totally abhorrent behavior from major UK news channels, and not to mention absolutely downright disrespectful.
She had just been murdered and you’re digging into her life!
I hope the same treatment is given to her killers, who couldn’t be named for legal reasons!!!!
The media, in my opinion, is just after the next 10 second soundbite to sell their channel, papers or get ratings.
The way they portray transgender people is a constant issue and is not helped by the way the government go about things.
If you don’t think it’s abhorrent then just repeat what you’ve heard and replace, transgender, with another minority.
The Bathroom debate, or the Elephant in the room, so to speak!
The bathroom debate is should transgender people be allowed to use the bathroom of their chosen sex. When what is meant by this is “Should trans women be allowed to use the women’s bathroom?”. It is totally forgotten that there are Transgender men as well!
The argument is always about safety. As a trans person I have been verbally abused and spat on in women’s bathroom of mainly CIS establishments and physically assaulted when trying to use the male bathroom. Lesser of two evils! Thankfully, many places I frequented when I first started to transition had mixed bathrooms.
The bathroom debate is the standard retort of transphobes, the ill informed and those with an axe to grind. I hear it time and time again about Transgender people. Also trans exclusionary radical feminists put this forward as their basis to deny the existence of Transgender people as their whole argument is to make out that we are some kind of sexual predator because we want to pee!
There is no evidence that transgender people are a danger to others in public bathrooms. In fact, studies have shown that transgender people are more likely to be the victims of violence than the perpetrators. However, this argument continues to be pushed by the media and government as fact!
Transgender women are not a danger to others in public restrooms.
There is no evidence to support the argument that transgender women are more likely to commit sexual assault or other crimes in public restrooms than cisgender women. In fact, studies have shown that transgender people are more likely to be the victims of violence than the perpetrators.
This argument is based on a fear that transgender women pose a danger in public restrooms because of prejudice and misinformation. It is important to remember that transgender women are women, and they deserve to be treated with the same respect and dignity as any other woman.
Transgender women who are on hormone replacement has virtually zero sex drive as the testosterone blockers and estrogen drugs they take have in most cases reduced their libido.
If you are concerned about safety in public restrooms, there are a few things you can do. First, you can educate yourself about transgender people and the issues they face. Second, you can speak out against discrimination and violence against transgender people. Third, you can support organizations that are working to make public restrooms safer for everyone.
It is important to remember that transgender women are not a danger in public restrooms. They are simply women who are trying to live their lives. By working together, we can create a more inclusive and welcoming world for everyone.
Transgender people should be able to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. This is the safest and most respectful option for everyone involved.
Requiring transgender people to use bathrooms that do not correspond with their gender identity is harmful and discriminatory.
If you’re of the opinion that Trans people should use the bathroom of their biological sex then be prepared for the shock of dealing with Trans men in your women’s bathrooms and trans women in men’s bathroom with your husbands!!!
There are a number of ways to make public bathrooms more inclusive for transgender people. One option is to have gender-neutral bathrooms available. Another option is to have single-stall bathrooms that anyone can use, regardless of their gender identity. I am please to say this is becoming more and more the norm.
It is important to remember that us transgender people are just like everyone else. We deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.
Transgender people make up less than 0.5% of the UK population (for those of you who’s math’s isn’t the best that’s about 336,650).
However, the way this is reported in the media does not reflect this.
You are highly unlikely to be in a bathroom with someone who is transgender unless you frequent places transgender people visit on a regular basis.
Everyone can help to create a more inclusive and welcoming society for all people, not just transgender people, by challenging hate, transphobia and discrimination.
The Police and Authorities
Police attitudes towards transgender people vary widely from county to a county and department to department and even from officer to officer.
Some departments have implemented policies specifically designed to protect transgender people, while others have done little or nothing to address the issue and some are actually transphobic because of a lack of police policies and training.
Attitudes
A 2015 study by the National Center for Transgender Equality found that 40% of transgender people have experienced harassment or discrimination by the police.
The study also found that transgender people are more likely to be stopped and searched by the police than cisgender people, and that they are more likely to be arrested and incarcerated.
There are a number of reasons why police attitudes towards transgender people may be negative. Some police officers may hold negative stereotypes about transgender people, believing that they are more likely to be criminals, sexual deviants/predators or sex workers.
Others may simply be unfamiliar with transgender people and their needs.
Whatever the reason, negative police attitudes towards transgender people can have a serious impact on their lives. Transgender people who are harassed or discriminated against by the police may be less likely to report crimes, and they may be more likely to live in fear of being arrested or incarcerated.
Hate Crimes
The people also do not take hate crimes against transgender people even remotely seriously and despite rules in place to prevent discrimination this just does not happen. Again this can be a county, departmental or individual officer problem but in reporting hate crimes against trans people, there can be little or no action taken against the perpetrators.
There are a number of things that can be done to improve police attitudes towards transgender people. First, it is important for police departments to implement policies specifically designed to protect transgender people. These policies should include training for all officers on transgender issues, and they should establish clear procedures for handling incidents of hate crimes, harassment or discrimination.
Second, it is important for police departments to reach out to transgender communities and build relationships with transgender people. This can help to dispel negative stereotypes and promote understanding.
Finally, it is important for individual officers to be open-minded and respectful of transgender people.
When officers treat transgender people with dignity and respect, it sends a message that transgender people are valued members of society.
Society in general
I have experienced quite a few anti trans people in the last few years and their opinions are usually centered around religious beliefs, “you are wrong”, “its not the will of god”, “your day of reckoning will come, heathen”, etc.
Usually though, non religious folks entire argument is centered around toilets and Transgender people being sexual deviants, predators or both.
More information on hate against transgender people and hate crimes in general can be found here: Transgender Hate – Stop Hate UK
What does the British public think about Transgender people and trans issues: What do the British public REALLY think about trans people? | Stonewall
Transgender and equal rights in the UK: key_facts_and_findings-_transgender_0.pdf (equalityhumanrights.com)
Medical, health care
Let’s be honest here the NHS is an amazing organisation, but in terms of treatments of trans health care, the NHS is stuck in the 1970’s when it comes to trans health care.
It’s mindset is over 50 years old. this goes for it’s attitudes, procedures and practices as well.
One of the biggest issues most transgender people have is dealing with the NHS, is not just for care of service, but care of duty.
Dealing with the NHS is a major source of anxiety and depression for most, and I have commented on this many times after dealing with my own GP.
The waiting list to see a NHS psychotherapist is now over 5 years in length and this is a funding, staffing, training and educational issue. A list of current waiting list times is available on the Gender GP website.
This is compounded because one of the main clinics for transgender people in the UK is broken, the Tavistock clinic. Rather than fix it, our government deem it’s best to close it instead.
This puts pressure on the remaining clinics, as no new ones are coming online to replace it.
There isn’t enough staff to build a meaningful service and the General Medical Council jumps on any private practises which spring up for doing the very same as the NHS provide.
This means that waiting times are long, doctors surgery’s can neither cope with, or understand, the needs of their trans patients and as such the service provided and the way trans patients are deal with is way below par.
Just look how long it took for me to get my doctor’s to change my name on my medical records, nearly 2 and a half years, and they only did that because I sat in the surgery and was very very angry.
Coupled with the way that the NHS is being run into the ground, it is a major worry for the future of trans health care.
The chronic lack of investment and underfunding in all areas of the NHS is evident for all to see, except those with shares on public health care companies!
It’s probably why most trans people choose to use private health care for their transgender care as the NHS is failing in every department.
Summary, the fears of Transgender people
The fears of transgender people are real because society is changing and the way we are viewed is changing.
Our fears are real, and because of it some transgender people are now more anxious about daily life or choose to hide away from society and end up with crippling anxiety, distress or other mental issues.
If you know a trans person, give them your support. If you hear transphobic comments then if safe, react to them, educate those spreading these hateful comments or report them.
The fears of transgender people by Mikki Tiamo
