[193/366] the 70%

[cosmolinguist]

The first time I've gone out (except for work, groceries, meds, etc.) in four months was the "We are the 70%" [of positive responses to the England & Wales consultation on reforming the inadequate Gender Recognition Act] trans rights protest outside the library. diffrentcolours and I took the banner that LGBT+ Lib Dems had made for 2018, figuring it'd only be relevant that year as the consultation was running July-October, but here we are still with no progress on it and leaks that it's going to be ignored altogether and much more sweeping rights may be put at risk.

Labour took credit for a bunch of stuff they didn't do, especially egregious when their leader is being so "fine people on both sides" about trans rights, and the racial politics of it were garbage -- lip service paid to Black Lives Matter while all the speakers were white despite a big contingent of Rainbow Noir being there -- and they let the SWP speak at the end (well it was the end for us, I had a headache and I wasn't going to, literally, stand for that), falsely trying to equate oppressions like racism and transphobia and taking credit for an event they didn't organize as usual.

For all that I'm still glad I went, none of that surprised me much and none of it means it isn't important to show solidarity right now. It was good to see Manchester again, it's still out there. I've been thinking it might be weird, tiring, anxiety-inducing to start to go back out and do things again (especially after my mental health being worse yesterday than it has been in a long time), but it was fine actually. It didn't seem like either extra-difficult or extra-momentous to be out, surprisingly. It just seemed nice. It seemed normal but not in a, like, fetishizing-normal kind of way like you hear about in "we've got to get Back To Normal."

As someone who can make a big deal of the littlest things, I'm relieved I managed to avoid it on this occasion. It doesn't mean the next time won't be more difficult or weird, I'm not expecting to always react the same way, but it is nice to have this First Time out of the way without much emotional baggage.

Comments

[packbat]

Good job! I hope y'all can push things in the right direction.

[cosmolinguist]

I hope so too. This government seems to be governing by "leaking things to the media and seeing how people react and shifting accordingly" so hopefully we can make enough of a racket, and show trans people that most people really are on their side in this country which I think is an important point too when the media and the government feel so hostile.

[alithea]

I'm glad it went about as well as can be expected (seriously, why is anyone still letting the SWP get in on anything?!)

[cosmolinguist]

I don't know! They're the worst.

[softfruit]

As I said in the awful place with the blue logo this is a welcome write up 😁

[cosmolinguist]

I'm glad. :) I was pleasantly surprised and thought that might be useful for other people to know.

[sfred]

<3

[cosmolinguist]

<3

[silveradept]

Huzzah for the normality. Although not for the entities trying to take credit for organizing.

[askygoneonfire]

Funny how things like that can be restorative rather than draining, quite unlike anticipated outcomes.

I saw your banner on twitter - it's excellent but bloody disappointing it's served double duty/long term.