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In conversation with Elegance Bratton: “I needed to tell these stories to heal myself”

Filmmaker, photographer, author and producer Elegance talks to Mermaids about LGBT History Month, his documentary Pier Kids, and how art can transform us Interview by Bex Shorunke This LGBT History Month, we’re focussing on the way in which art can be political and revolutionary. With that in mind, we spoke to the magnificently talented filmmaker Elegance Bratton, whose debut documentary Pier Kids chronicles the lives of trans and gay youths of colour living in Manhattan’s Chelsea Pier.  Made between 2011 and 2016, Pier Kids authentically represents a community experiencing homelessness and social exclusion, who in the face of adversity are…

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A shameful act of trans exclusion: Mermaids’ response to the EHRC

In a shameful act of trans exclusion, the Equality and Human Rights Commission yesterday (Wednesday 26 January) failed our community, calling for gender identity to be removed from the proposed ban on conversion therapy legislation in the first instance to allow for further “scrutiny”. The Commission also wrote to the Scottish Government to further delay its work to update the Gender Recognition Act. The ban on conversion therapy and gender recognition has endured several years of “scrutiny” and will be subject to more throughout the respective legislative processes. These years of public discourse have resulted in trans people and communities…

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Conversion Therapy: Louie’s Story

Content warning: This article contains reference to abuse. Please visit mermaidsuk.org.uk/ct-support if you need to talk to someone. I was 19 at the time of my conversion therapy experience. I was having a same-sex relationship with another member of my church congregation, and we had been found out by a senior leader in the church. My whole world was thrown upside down.  Before that day, I was a respected member of the church. I had a job as the church youth worker, I was a respected Sunday worship leader, and was living with the Vicar’s family. Young people in the…

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A day in the life of: a Mermaids Helpline Service Officer

Happy New Year! Welcome to the second instalment of our Day In The Life series. Here, we spotlight the important work being done by Mermaids and the people who make the charity what it is. Meet Kerry (she/her), one of our Helpline Services Officers, who marks her fourth year at Mermaids this spring. Kerry started out as a volunteer before joining the charity as a staff member. Today, you will find her on the frontline, answering your calls or replying to messages over webchat. Whatever the problem, she’ll be here for you with a kind and supportive ear. Read on to…

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Miles For Mermaids: In their own words

Abby, Danielle and Verity share their Miles For Mermaids stories Our challenge event Miles For Mermaids is back and better than ever!  With different distance options to suit all abilities, these virtual events are designed so that you can support the vital work we do while moving your body at a time, place and pace that suits you.  And best of all, we’ve got a brand new medal for 2022.  We caught up with three proud medal-winners – Abby, Danielle and Verity – to hear what inspired them to take on their Miles For Mermaids challenges, the hurdles they encountered…

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Trans joy: Our highlights of 2021

It’s been an ugly year in many ways, not least for the trans community. But even in the darkest of times, there is light. Whether it was the Court of Appeal overturning Bell v Tavistock, a huge moment of relief for trans kids and their families, non-binary representation on TV in shows like Sex Education and Feel Good, small gestures of allyship from the likes of Billy Bragg and Lorraine Kelly, or Joshua Cavallo shutting down the LGBA in the most perfect way, there was plenty that put a smile on our faces in 2021.  To mark Trans Awareness Week…

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X Passport case dismissed by the UK’s Supreme Court

Today (15 December 2021) the UK’s Supreme Court has dismissed Christie Elan-Cane’s application to have a gender neutral option on passports.  The Court said that there is no consistent approach from the European Court of Human Rights on whether there is an obligation on European Convention on Human Rights member states, which the UK is one of, to provide a gender neutral passport. The member states have a wide margin to decide whether this is something they want to do.  The UK government has said they do not want to open up recognition of gender beyond male or female categories…

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Happy Pansexual Pride Day!

To mark Pansexual Pride Day, Lu Hobden (they/them) pens a message of support to their TransPan family First off, Happy Pansexual Pride Day to all my wonderful pan family!    I am pansexual and agender, which means my experience is a little bit different to those who are cis, or somewhere else on the trans spectrum. The absence of gender can and has made some people who aren’t pan change their mind about even wanting to know me – let alone be in a relationship or any other way involved with me. I think it’s because I don’t easily fit into…

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A note for allies this Trans Day of Remembrance

Multi-Disciplinary Artist AJ has a message for allies this TDoR This period is hard. Life is continually made hard for trans people,but,this period is especially difficult and trying. Over the past year or so, I have made a conscious effort to try and not write from a place of pain.When you’re hurting,and you’re suffering,and you’ve been hurtingand suffering for,well,your whole life, it can be hard to see anything else. On top of that, when you’ve had to remain silent about your pain,and your hurt,and your suffering,when you finally have the chance to speak out, it can feel so very relievingand…

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IOC guidelines: Mermaids statement on the new framework for trans athletes

Mermaids broadly welcomes the new framework on inclusion for transgender athletes from the International Olympic Committee, published on Tuesday 16 November 2021. This framework stresses that no athlete should be excluded from competition on the assumption of an advantage due to their gender. The new guidance follows a two-year consultation process with more than 250 athletes and concerned stakeholders. The new framework focuses on 10 principles: inclusion, prevention of harm, non-discrimination, fairness, no presumption of advantage, evidence-based approach, primacy of health and bodily autonomy, stakeholder-centred approach, right to privacy and periodic reviews. This framework stresses that no athlete should be excluded from competition on…

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