Like last month I'm doing a fundraiser. Same thing, different charity.
This time I'm walking for Switchboard, an LGBTQ+ mental health support line.
Thank you to anyone who donates.
Today my sister had her graduation. My family and I are so proud of her. It's not surprising though because she's a genius and an extremely hard worker. She looked at some pretty good books for allyship as a part of her intersectionality studies like "The Transgender Issue"by Shon Faye and inspired me to look at authors like Margret Atwood, Bell Hooks, Ruby Hamad, Julia Serano and Jamie Raines (a.k.a Jammidodger).
My sister also did her dissertation on camp culture, gender and gender non-conformity as far as I know. Quite the bold move for a cisgender ally. She's astonishing and never fails to amaze me.
Hoping for a brighter future
Xavier
On July 30th, 2024 members of the terrorist group, the English Defence League rioted outside Southport mosque.
There have been race riots across the UK since and today they’ve come to my local area. The amount of fear in the country is on another level and small businesses owned by black, asian and other ethnic minorities have had to close early.
Source: Desai, M. (2024) UK Race Riots 2024, Behind the UK race riots: Anti-immigrant sentiment, Islamophobia and economic distress. Indian Express.
I’m so scared…
Although the EDL may appear strong, members of local communities have organised counter protests. My local area has historically been a stronghold for BAME people and played a part in the British Civil Rights Movement in the 20th century.
Source: Osgood, B. (2024) UK riots updates: Anti-racist counter-protests across England. Aljazeera.
Some of my side-blogs like The Artemia Diaries and The Bat Rooms may be on hold due to my current anxiety levels or fatigue.
Fuck racists and stay safe,
Xavier
People have been showing up to the riots across the country, holding counter protests against the rioters and have possibly stopped or halted the riots. (Bloom, The Night Britain Fought Back Against Riots , 2024)
Source: Holton, K., Demony, C. and Abdulla, S. (2024) Anti-racism protests sweep Britain after far-right riots, Reuters.
Seeing this has made me feel less scared that people in my community and I will be harmed.
That's all,
Xavier
I think the riots have ended (hopefully). I still feel scared to be visibly queer though.
People have been giving me looks because I'm white and have a shaved head. I guess other people still have anxiety as a result of the riots.
I only shaved my head because the feel of my hair was too overwhelming for me.
Hoping for peace,
Xavier
Stanley and I took our usual route on our walk today when we were harassed by a muscular white guy in a grey tank top. I didn't hear what he said but he called me a slur (I have a pride flag badge on my rucksack), then stumbled a few feet infront of me, turned round and pointed at his crotch. He then wondered into one of our local Polish mini-markets.
According to this article (Creamer, Dozens of UK school librarians asked to remove LGBTQ+ books, survey finds 2024) on The Guardian 53% of librarians have been asked to remove LGBTQ+ books.
I saw this article randomly whilst browsing the headlines and ignored it just because I'm jaded. At some point during the day one of my LGBTQ+ friends then sent it to me because they were scared and I had to reassure them that most people support LGBTQ+ rights.
Hate has no place in this world.
Sending all of the love,
Xavier
Today I decided to share a Trans Kids Deserve better meet up in a non-LGBTQ+ neurodivergent group chat.
This one member then felt entitled to share their opinion and said "Nope. Even though I support transgender I still think that people should be a certain age for this sort of thing, and this post is probably against the group rules anyway". People in the community and I kept on pressing them and they kept on tip-toeing around them. And an admin then suggested we continue things in DMs and they then posted one more thing before being warned about being removed.
I cried my eyes out and felt sick to my stomach for the fear that I'd lost a social support network. I don't think I have though because 2 of the admins checked on me. This member has kept on posting diatribes this evening and people have been standing up to them.
My mum and sister also comforted me.
Hanging in there,
Xavier
That person who sent those hurtful messages continued to send more messages in reguards to what I sent yesterday despite me deleting it, and made themself out to be the victim by saying things like they "had abusive parents", "only just accepted they were autistic" and "have no other support networks". He left the group.
I've had multiple abusive family members and spent a majority of my life hating being neurodivergent or "different" in any other way so I can empathize with how this person feels but being cruel and making others feel unsafe is NEVER the answer.
Today I wore my "Leave Trans Kids Alone" t-shirt in solidarity with Trans Kids Deserve Better who gathered outiside the Department of Education.
All photos above on this date (Aug. 23rd, 2024) are credited to TRANS KIDS DESERVE BETTER.
Whilst I was out I received messages from a couple of admins of that neurodivergent group chat checking if I was ok after those messages in chat yesterday. One person offered to chat if I needed, and asked what they could do to support me and another reminded me that I was a valued member of the group. I very much appreciated that.
I'm glad to say that things have gone back to normal and someone shared a picture of the cupcakes they've made (yum!).
One of neighbours gave us a box of chocolates and a card to say thank you for helping them when they were locked out. Mum and I almost cried.
Sending more power (love) to trans kids everywhere,
Xavier
Go home
