Today I attended my local Pride event in Leicester, an event that I'd been to before and enjoyed. Our household was excited to go, and we spent the morning getting ourselves ready for what we thought would be a great day our. However, the three of us were extremely disappointed by the event. Not because of the constant rain that soaked us through, it's summer in England, we're used to that kind of thing, no we were disappointed by some of the incredibly offensive language being used by one of the event's organisers.
As we were waiting for the event to begin my girlfriend noticed the high vis jacket one of the event crew was wearing, which had the word 'Tranny' printed on the back.
I have to be completely honest, when I first saw this I thought that I must have misread something, that I'd seen one thing and accidentally read another. But no, it very clearly has the word tranny printed on it. I felt absolutely disgusted when I saw this. Here we are, at an event that is supposed to be celebrating an embracing all parts of the LGBT+ community, somewhere that is supposed to be a safe space, where we can all be ourselves, and someone is wearing one of the worst slur words for the trans community.
If I'm being completely honest, I wanted to leave. I absolutely hate that word. I have had people call me that word when they've threatened to kill me, I've had people shout it at me in the street, I've been called it when I was spat on. It's used to put down and humiliate trans people. It's a word of hate.
Because I was meeting a friend and his some at the event I chose to stay on as not to disappoint them, but my day was essentially ruined from that point onward. I felt that as a trans person I was being told that I wasn't welcome at the event, that trans people were being looked down upon by the rest of the community, or even mocked.
However, I wanted to ask the event organisers themselves as to why this word was used, for all I know this guy could be trans himself and using the word to reclaim it, which is fine. So, I went and uploaded the photo to Leicester Pride's Facebook page and asked them about it.
As of yet I haven't received a response from the Pride organisers themselves, but their supporters have responded, and boy is their reaction not nice.
These are just a few of the comments being made on Leicester Pride's Facebook page. I've been told that I'm being PC, that I'm overly sensitive, that they can use that word because they're a drag artist, that I'm a 'fucktard', that I should never leave my house. This is the reaction from the LGBT+ community, to launch into an attack where I'm the villain for asking why a slur word was used.
So far the actual organisers haven't given a response, but they're allowing these responses to be made on their social media, they're allowing their supporters to attack a member of their community. Well, maybe I guess this event is just for the LGB community.
The abuse is still rolling in at the minute, please feel free to see for yourself on the link below, or even get involved in the discussion if you want.
Perhaps there was no malice in this person using that word, but it's still not right that they do use it, and the reaction to someone from a marginalised group telling you that something is highly offensive isn't to launch into an attack and tell that person that they're wrong, especially if you're not in that community. If you're not a part of the community what makes you qualified to tell them that something's not offensive to that community.
This reaction is shocking beyond belief, it's ruined what should have been an amazing event and it's completely unacceptable.
UPDATE
The entire conversation thread, including dozens more abusive comments, has now been deleted by the Leicester Pride page admin. The page has also been made so that all posts and comments must be approved by their page admin, effectively preventing anyone from speaking out on this incident and any other issues that people may have.
Amy.
xx
I suppose they would just laugh it off if people started calling them faggots or worse. If you then told them that they were being over-sensitive or PC, how would they react.
ReplyDeleteThe black and Asian community had to put up with this crap for years, with white people using offensive language against them - they would be told, "It's only said in fun" or "You're being over-sensitive". Fortunately very few people use the offensive terms these days.
Attitude like that help keep people locked in their closets.
Their reactions are so incredible wrong. I am utterly disgusted. As a cis gay man, I djust like to say that we aren't all as stupid, arrogant, condescending, and immature as those in that page. The reaction of the pride closing that thread down is partly great, but I think they should also state their opinion on the way you were attacked! And a reaction to your question should come as well. If he had a drag name wich was offending to some other groups it would be banned. So at least have a discussion on it. Maybe they are talking about it though
ReplyDeleteI am sorry that this Pride was so bad for you.
I think these emotive topics will always attract trolls! Quite simply some assholes are straight and some are gay! I hope the gay complainers telling the author to "get over it" and snark at her for being "too PC", would not lose their sense of humour if a trans-person jokees with them about *popping off for a fag*, wink wink, lol!! I have been *trolled* on Disqus by gay *and* straight trolls. Some people just don't get transgender people. For the record I was out at Trans pride fundraiser last night... In Bristol we have a very tight, strong and mutually supportive LGBT community. Shame on Leicester Pride organisers for not making this wrong right, and choosing to *bury their heads*. I know now to avoid Leicester!!
Delete"The page has also been made so that all posts and comments must be approved by their page admin, effectively preventing anyone from speaking out on this incident and any other issues that people may have." - This also stops people trolling the subject and spreading more hateful comments, so surely this is a good thing and the outcome that you were hoping for? :)
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm appalled and so sorry that this has happened to you. "It's his drag name" absolutely does not make the word okay and the reactions are so entitled and awful. I know to avoid Leicester Pride, clearly they're much like Birmingham in that they court cis white gays and straight people rather than attempting to be inclusive, and end up excluding anyone else. You're definitely welcome at Coventry Pride, we wouldn't stand for any of this nonsense.
ReplyDeleteUrgh... I felt genuinely sick reading those awful facebook comments. How were you supposed to know that this guy's stage or DJ name is "Tranny Simon"? The people who left those comments have no empathy and are very sad people. Hugs to you. I completely agree that name is inappropriate for someone to reclaim if they're not experiencing it as a regular slur. Even I as a trans guy early in transition had it shouted across a park at me by a child two years ago. It was a horrible experience and it's only happened to me once. I was surprised by how scared I was. I would like to suggest to "Tranny Simon" that it's too early days to be using that name. Maybe he could think up a less offensive one. If he's any good as a drag artist it shouldn't be too hard for him to think up a new name.
ReplyDeleteAs I have said elsewhere you cannot RE claim a word that was never owned and has never been anything but a hurtfulvile insult. I don't care what anyone says. .." I am NOBODY'S TRANNY.."
ReplyDeleteAs I have said elsewhere you cannot RE claim a word that was never owned and has never been anything but a hurtfulvile insult. I don't care what anyone says. .." I am NOBODY'S TRANNY.."
ReplyDeleteSo sorry that you had to endure this unnecessary behavior ��
ReplyDeleteTheir reactions are so incredible wrong. I am utterly disgusted. As a cis gay man, I djust like to say that we aren't all as stupid, arrogant, condescending, and immature as those in that page. The reaction of the pride closing that thread down is partly great, but I think they should also state their opinion on the way you were attacked! And a reaction to your question should come as well. If he had a drag name wich was offending to some other groups it would be banned. So at least have a discussion on it. Maybe they are talking about it though
ReplyDeleteI am sorry that this Pride was so bad for you.
Hi Amy
ReplyDeleteI was also at Leicester Pride at the weekend. Having been soaked through on the march I didn't stay long, and headed off back into town to find somewhere warm to dry off. So I didn't see Simon or his high-viz jacket! I did however see the original thread on the Leicester Pride page and was appalled by the vitriol. However I wasn't surprised.
"Tranny Simon" was a DJ at the Dover Castle on a Saturday night. I have never seen Simon in drag, but when his name came in conversation at the LGB&T Centre where I used to work he was described as a drag queen. To my knowledge he is not transgender. But the fact that he used to perform under that name does not make this any more or less objectionable. Why would a gay man perform under the name Tranny Simon if not to mock trans people?
In addition to the abuse which you experienced, I found two comments on the original thread particularly objectionable. The first was that in raising this issue, you were attacking "The Community". Frankly I am sick and fed up of hearing about this mythical homogeneous LGBT happy family. It doesn't exist, except in the minds of those who frequent the gay scene, which is in no way reflective of the diversity of LGB&T* people in Leicester anyway. And it has been hard for trans people in Leicester to find a voice; even in places where we are supposed to be safe, we have experienced prejudice and discrimination.
The second point seemed to be that because Simon had raised money for charity he was somehow above criticism. That's a mindset we really need to get out of. Remember Jimmy Saville running marathons anybody?
Leicester Pride is sponsored by Leicester City Council. You might want to raise this matter with them and ask them how they intend to work with Leicester Pride to ensure that this event becomes more inclusive. In the meantime, I'm looking to work with Leicester Butterflies to put on a TDOR event in November and, as part of Civic Leicester's human rights festival, an event on 6 December; as trans people we need our own voice and visibility. Your input into that would be valued and appreciated.
Rebecca Shaw
butterfliesleicester@gmail.com