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Blog — Uncategorised

Mermaids Press

Family Day: A time for connection and belonging

Cameron (they/them) reflects on their second Family Day as a volunteer with Mermaids. It’s the night before my second Mermaids’ Family Day. I am sitting snug on a couch with a cup of tea and some trifle, watching the Barbie movie with another Mermaids volunteer, her partner and their dogs. It seems unthinkable at this point that I had only met these people for the first time just a few hours earlier. It felt like I was reconnecting with some old friends, or that despite never having actually met before, we had always been connected in some way.  This feeling…

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A day with the UN’s Independent Expert on SOGI

Elijah, a member of Mermaids’ Youth Advisory Panel, had the opportunity to give evidence to Mr Victor Madrigal Borloz, the United Nations’ Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), during his visit to the UK.  Victor Madrigal-Borloz visited the UK to listen to a range of stakeholders, including Mermaids, as part of his report into the human rights of LGBT+ people in the UK.  Now that the Independent Expert’s end of mission statement (TW: references to suicide) is released, Elijah recounts his experience and what the day signified for him personally. As…

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What’s going on with Gender Recognition? A Mermaids Explainer

There’s been a lot going on with legal gender recognition reform over the past weeks. We know this has left many trans young people and their families feeling worried about the implications of the recent statement made by Kemi Badenoch, Minister for Women and Equalities, as well as reports that the UK Government may block Scottish gender recognition reform.  Here we answer some of the most pressing questions raised by our community:  What changes have been announced to the UK’s Gender Recognition Act (2004)? The UK Government has announced its intention to update the list of countries whose Gender Recognition…

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Trans Pride London: A celebration of trans joy

On Saturday 9th July, Mermaids staff, volunteers and friends marched at Trans Pride London with over 20,000 others. View this post on Instagram A post shared by London Trans+ Pride (@londontranspride) In 30-degree heat, the trans community along with its allies shut down the roads of central London from Wellington Arch to Soho Square through to Piccadilly Circus.  Along the route, there were chants calling for “trans rights now,” “trans people are valid” and cheers from both the marchers and people lining the pavements.  We marched for trans visibility, for trans inclusion in the Ban Conversion Therapy bill, for better…

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Mermaids Press

TDOV: Visibility is the beginning, liberation is the goal – and we can only achieve it together

Today (31 March) is Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) a day where around the world we celebrate the accomplishments of trans, gender non-conforming and non-binary people while raising awareness of the work that still needs to be done to achieve trans liberation. Over recent years, we’ve seen a rise in anti-trans rhetoric from legislation to the media. At Mermaids, we wanted to look towards the future and ask the trans community and our allies what their hopes are and what they commit to doing to make the world a better place for trans people. Our Helpline Service Officers play a…

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Trans Rights Are Not Up For Debate

Mermaids Director of Legal and Policy, Lui Asquith on the need for the EHRC, institutions and allies to do more. (This article discusses issues around homophobia, transphobia, racism, self-harm and suicide) Last Thursday we signed a letter, along with other leaders of trans* and LGBTIQ+ organisations to express our frustration and disappointment at the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) recent record on LGBTIQ+ people’s rights and trans people’s rights specifically. During the week of International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) we are reflecting on the last 12 months which has resulted in further suppression, marginalisation, policing…

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Safety & Dignity: trans rights are no threat to single-sex spaces

Please take the time to read and share and write to your MP If we legislate to police gender in toilets, then how and at what point do we decide who is and isn’t a woman? According to a national newspaper today, Boris Johnson’s government is preparing to scrap a review of the Gender Recognition Act; a review which was commissioned by Theresa May because the current system for trans people is costly, lengthy, humiliating and unnecessary. The newspaper report suggests that the government is preparing to set out new ‘safeguards’ to protect female-only spaces including refuges and public lavatories….

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An open letter to J.K. Rowling

Dear J.K. Rowling, We would like to begin by offering our solidarity with you as a survivor of domestic and sexual abuse. Reading your moving and honest account, we felt a connection to your pain. That connection exists between us, regardless of any differences we may have around gender identity. Writing those passages must have been very difficult for you and the subsequent front-page headline in a tabloid newspaper was nothing short of deplorable. As a trans charity, our staff and volunteers deal with cases of domestic abuse regularly and we hold unquestioning solidarity with all survivors of domestic violence….

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The Great North Run

Mermaids is delighted to have a limited number of places in the 2020 Great North Run. As a #TeamMermaids runner Mermaids will cover the cost of your entry fee and provide you with a Mermaids running vest. In return, we ask that you raise a minimum of £350 sponsorship for the charity Please be aware that the charity is unable to cover any other costs incurred such as travel to and from the race, so please consider this before applying.   About the Great North Run: The Great North Run is the largest half marathon in the world, taking place annually in North East England each September. Participants run between Newcastle upon Tyne and South…

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Our Statement on the Scottish GRA Response

Our Statement on the Scottish GRA Response Susie Green, CEO of Mermaids said:‘While we are supportive of the Scottish Government’s plans to simplify the process of getting a Gender Recognition Certificate, we are extremely disappointed to find that recognition for under 18s and non-binary people is not intended to be included in the bill promised to be published by the end of this year.  ‘It seems a contradiction for a government to respect the ability of 16- and 17-year-olds to vote, while restricting their right to express who they are.’ ‘We are also dismayed at the continuing lack of recognition for non-binary…

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