Blog

Today we mark International Non-Binary People’s Day

by sharing some thoughts from the Consortium Team 

 

Ray (they/them) National LGBT+ Partnership Stakeholder Officer:

“To all people who are nonbinary, genderqueer, agender, bigender, genderfluid or have any other gender identity that lies outside the gender binary, in solidarity and celebration:

I’ve identified as non-binary since I was 16, and since then I’ve used lots of different words to understand and express myself, each as true as the last. I currently describe myself as genderqueer and trans-masculine.

As well as enduring invisibility and invalidation, I’ve experienced the joy, creativity, and freedom of non-binary existence. I’ve had the pleasure of knowing lots of fantastic non-binary people and I’ve witnessed an incredible constellation of embodiments, expressions, and ways of being.

I want to appreciate our diversity, authenticity, courage, joy, open-ness, and the imagination that we can apply to our identities, ways of being and the world around us.

I want to recognise the self-knowledge that we have as non-binary people, however much our identities are in flux, whether and wherever we decide to come out, and however we choose to present.

I want to acknowledge the erasure, invalidation, questioning and violence that comes at us in many different ways, and the courage inherent in our existence.

I want to say that we are not just valid; we are valuable, vital and whole!”

 

Camillea (they/them) Racial Justice Engagement Officer:

“I love everything about my presentation being ‘femme-presenting’ – which gives me such a proud sense of JOY and comfort. Being this way hasn’t always been easy, especially in a society that solely focuses on binary factors. Just over a year ago, I identified and shared with others that I am ‘non-binary.’ due to this, it has been challenging, to say the least, not being recognised as I don’t fit into the ‘gender norms’. I have become resilient by treating myself to tender moments of joy, care, and comfort.“

 

Leo (he/they) Communications Officer:

“I discovered I was non-binary when I was about 18 years old. I’d struggled with my gender identity for many years up until that point and I remember scrolling through Tumblr at the time, going through LGBTQIA+ blogs to see if anyone felt the way I did. I came across a post about someone who identified as non-binary and I would say this was my ‘light-bulb moment’. It was like someone had switched on the light to who I was in that moment and the feeling was indescribable; I finally had been given the words to something that I had never had the language for. Like many other non-binary people, my pronouns have changed and evolved over the years.  I used to only use they/them pronouns, then I changed to he/him and now I use he/they. I describe myself as non-binary trans masculine, but over time the way I feel about these labels may change. For me, there is no one way to be non-binary; your presentation, pronouns and how you perceive your gender can change over time and the most important thing is doing what feels right to you. 

The joy I find from being a non-binary person is the feeling of being at home with myself and within my community… it’s where I feel the most safe and comfortable. Non-binary people can express and present themselves in whatever way we choose, and I think that it’s so beautiful to be surround by so many diverse people. I know that however I feel or however I change my presentation, I am always valid in my non-binary identity and have a place in this community.”

 

Here are some resources from our members:

AKT NB media resource list

Stonewall Top Tips for NB Allyship

Last week, Consortium Team members joined the Mayor of London’s Pride Reception at the new City Hall in East London.

The Reception was in association with EuroPride, and featured veterans and allies of the UK’s Gay Liberation Front (GLF), marking the anniversary of London’s first pride march and protest in 1972.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan (he/him) said in his speech: ‘Such an honour to once again host my annual Pride Reception at City Hall—celebrating 50 years of #Pride and 30 years since the inaugural @EuroPride in London. London is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with LGBTIQ+ communities around the world.’

Paul Roberts (Consortium CEO) said:

‘Events like the Mayor’s Pride reception are important opportunities to meet up with orgs we aim to support every day of the year. This year, more than ever given the pandemic, it was wonderful to spend time chatting to people in real life and hear about their priorities. Am excited to get out to more events over the year and catch up with as many members as possible. It is so important for us to hear first hand where support is most needed.’

Shaan Knan (TON Officer) added:

‘It was fantastic to celebrate The London Pride launch with some of our London member groups. Also, I’ve had some really important conversations with London Authority stakeholders in view of bringing forth actions around our LGBTIQA+ Action Plan for London and last year’s City Hall event about ‘making London the most trans-inclusice City by 2025.’

 

 

 

 

Welcome to our Pride Season Blog, where we will be sharing content from the Consortium Team throughout the coming months, so please check back!

 

“We are a few days into Pride Month, and we want to wish everyone near and far a very safe and prosperous Pride Season. However, we are aware that there are many of us who cannot ‘come out’ to live boldly in their sexuality and/or gender identities for many reasons, which is sad. During this time, it may be triggering for some, so please, take good care of yourself and, if possible, surround yourself with people who love and appreciate you. We also want to add for those in that position – that you are valid, worthy, and are seen exactly for who you are!”

 

Briony Williamson (she/her)
Head of Membership and Engagement

“Several weeks into Pride Season now and whilst we have all had some challenges to deal with, I have been blown away by the positive energy and spirit of our sector and of our LGBT+ communities. Pride is still a protest and our queer joy is a powerful act of resistance, so take it wherever and whenever you find it. I am looking forward to participating in more joyful resistance with our members this summer!”

 

Laura Clarke (she/her)
National LGBT+ Partnership Coordinator

“Pride is a protest. But protest can take many forms and I am a firm believer in joy as protest. This month, through all the challenges and difficulties sent the way of the queer community, I have seen folk fly rainbows from their windows. I have walked behind girls in the street, holding hands, and laughing in unison. I’ve sat in the cinema and watched Disney’s first same-gender kiss in ‘Lightyear’. And every time my heart swelled with pride and I remembered why I do this job. So that our joy, our protest, can continue. And so that hopefully, one day, that same joy can exist without controversy. I hope you have all found joy this Pride.”

 

Helen Bowie (she/her)
Head of Partnerships and Development

“Whatever pride season means to you I hope it offers you a chance to reflect and replenish your energy through protest, through celebration and through community. Pride season offers a spotlight on the incredible achievements, and ongoing fights, which make up our communities all year round. I hope it can also be a beacon of hope for anybody who is struggling, to show that you are not alone and there will always be a place for you.”

 

Shaan Knan (he/him)

Trans Organisations Network Officer

“Pride is a time for celebration, reflection and protest for LGBT+ communities. It is also a fantastic opportunity to show solidarity and allyship for each other’s causes. During the summer months, several UK towns and cities host their own “Trans Pride,” and in cases where the invitation is extended to the broader community, it is important to take action: attend, volunteer, donate, spread positive messages on social media, and help ensure that everyone has a safe and empowering Pride experience!”

Yesterday (Sunday 10th of April), team LGBT+ Consortium joined many of our member organisations in protesting the Government’s decision not to include trans people in the conversion therapy ban.

While organisers expected around 100 participants, more than 3000 people showed up to tell the Government that they must protect trans people from so-called conversion therapy. The sound of thousands chanting “Keep Trans in the ban” and “LGB with the T” across Whitehall is hard to describe, but the display of trans power, community and solidarity was deeply inspirational.

As pointed out by others, rarely have we seen such a highly attended rally for trans rights in the UK. This confirms what we already know: the public strongly disagrees with the Government and wants to keep Trans in the ban. This has become particularly evident as the petition to ensure that Trans people are fully protected under any conversion therapy ban, got more than 100, 000 signatures in the space of 4 days. The message is clear: A ban that does not include everyone, is not a ban at all.

We are so proud of our Trans member organisations and their achievements, and we will continue to support them at every step of the way. #TogetherWithTrans.

This blog has been written by Consortium’s CEO, Paul Roberts.

The actions of UK Government in the last week have simply been shocking. After years of promising a Ban on so-called conversion therapy, which the UK Government’s own evidence (the highly referenced LGBT Survey 2018) shows has affected 5% of our communities, the pulling of proposed legislation and then a partial U-turn is just unacceptable. What research also highlights is that trans and non-binary people are even more likely to experience so-called conversion therapy practices, with 11% of those responding to Galop’s survey (LGBT+ Experiences
of Abuse from Family Members) experiencing attempts to change or ‘cure’ or supress their identity.

Let’s not read this situation wrong, without a complete ban lives will continue to be lost. What is happening to people is torture and no one can say this is acceptable in the United Kingdom in 2022. A partial ban only including LGB people makes no logical sense. It is immoral and many other countries around the world have implemented it and shown it is perfectly possible to legislate effectively.

The UK Government has expended a lot of time, energy and resource on the international LGBT conference, planned for June this year. Whilst its focus is international LGBT+ issues, and has several events/forums taking place under the one banner, to hold this in the UK when we have a government that continues to treat trans and non binary communities with disdain can’t happen without challenge. We don’t want to see work our international focussed members are engaged in affected, but we (as do they) refuse to stand by and allow what is affecting people in the UK be pushed under the carpet in order to present a positive picture on LGBT+ rights. Whilst we are a UK domestic LGBT+ organisation, we will continue to stand by our international focused members to support work, collaborations and show solidarity and allyship globally.

Let’s also be clear, the LGBT+ sectors, and by that I mean the diversity and intersectionality of LGBT+ communities are as one on this. The one positive from the darkness we have seen emerging since late on Thursday is the solidarity of our sector. There has been some messaging that UK Government believes the sector is divided on this. This could not be farther from the truth and the only organisations who are not as one are those who are transphobic, plain and simple. We are as united as we ever have been and will continue to work together to ensure the UK is somewhere where every LGBT+ person can live a life safely and with dignity.

This afternoon, Consortium as the umbrella body for LGBT+ Voluntary and Community Organisations across the UK, along with members of the Ban Conversion Therapy Alliance and others, have published a statement responding to the UK’s Government actions regarding the withdrawal of plans to outlaw conversion practices. We are as one as an LGBT+ sector on this and will stand firm in fighting for a country where every LGBT+ person, and that includes every trans and non-binary and intersex person can live safely and with the dignity everyone deserves.

Read our statement in support of Stonewall’s here.