1. Seek out people who have different life experiences to yours and listen when they talk. It sounds simple, but it's probably the most effective thing you can do as an individual!
2. Be curious, don't rely on other people to educate you! If you don't understand why something is offensive or upsetting, look online or read a book.
3. Ask your GP if they offer shared care arrangements for gender-affirmative treatments (and if not, why not).
4. Respect people's identity and stand up for them, even when they're not in the room.
5. Be consistent! Make sure others know they can rely on you to continue being an ally, even when things get uncomfortable for you.
BONUS POINTS
If you want to be a truly good ally to ANY marginalised communities, the best thing you can do is to actively educate yourself on their lived experiences, and then spend some time reflecting on what you (as a person who doesn't have the same barriers) could potentially do to make their current lived experience easier. This takes time, a lot of unlearning, willingness to sit with discomfort, and the ability to accept that this isn't about you. Make sure you're getting your information from reputable sources, preferably from organisations run by the group(s) in question. Uplift others' struggles and successes. Campaign and protest whenever you get the opportunity. Keep up to date with the news and check in with friends and family when needed.
There are a vast number of resources out there on social justice and ways to effect change, just as there are any number of ways to take part in the process. Deepa Iyer has created an excellent infographic outlining the roles needed within social change (the Social Change Ecosystem Framework, kindly reproduced on socialchangemap.com). If you need any other resources, ask us!
We have a DONATE button in the top right of the page if you want to contribute to the running costs of the group or maybe help some of our less-privileged members join in with events that cost money.
You could also donate to Vic's fundraiser for gender confirmation hormones!
And if you want to publicly show your support, we have a merchandise range including tops, hoodies, cloth bags, jewellery, keyrings, and pretty much anything else you might want our logo on.
Contact us for more info!
Right now, our trans and non-binary siblings are in need of extra support.
Following the recent supreme court ruling (see our Home page for full details), an increasing number of trans-exclusionary measures have been put forward in an attempt to deny the existence of trans people and strip away their human rights. Many of these have been successfully thrown out or significantly scaled back through legal challenges, but the attacks keep coming. The constant misinformation in our traditional and social media outlets is fuelling a hostile environment for many trans people, especially our vulnerable women, which is currently affecting all aspects of their daily life.
In light of this, we have put together a collection of fundraisers benefiting the legal challenges to the ruling, activist groups you can support, and links to advice from various charities on how you can best effect change.
FUNDRAISERS
ACTIVIST GROUPS
ACTIVISM ADVICE
