[Music] I was nearly 40 when I understood what
I was nearly 40 when I understood what
I was nearly 40 when I understood what it meant for me to be trans I and others
it meant for me to be trans I and others
it meant for me to be trans I and others in my family while I was growing up had
in my family while I was growing up had
in my family while I was growing up had known or suspected at least for many
known or suspected at least for many
known or suspected at least for many years but there’s a difference between
years but there’s a difference between
years but there’s a difference between knowing and understanding rather like
knowing and understanding rather like
knowing and understanding rather like the difference between GCSEs and
the difference between GCSEs and
the difference between GCSEs and a-levels GCSEs test what you know while
a-levels GCSEs test what you know while
a-levels GCSEs test what you know while a levels should test what you understand
a levels should test what you understand
a levels should test what you understand to mangle an oft-quoted example
to mangle an oft-quoted example
to mangle an oft-quoted example knowledge is knowing that tomato is a
knowledge is knowing that tomato is a
knowledge is knowing that tomato is a fruit which is often used in salads
fruit which is often used in salads
fruit which is often used in salads however if you understand what a tomato
however if you understand what a tomato
however if you understand what a tomato is you won’t use it in a fruit salad and
is you won’t use it in a fruit salad and
is you won’t use it in a fruit salad and I say that because it shows that even if
I say that because it shows that even if
I say that because it shows that even if you know something or are something it
you know something or are something it
you know something or are something it can quite take quite some length of time
can quite take quite some length of time
can quite take quite some length of time before you understand it or at least
before you understand it or at least
before you understand it or at least understand that it applies to you we
understand that it applies to you we
understand that it applies to you we often need help to gain that
often need help to gain that
often need help to gain that understanding the last 20 years seems to
understanding the last 20 years seems to
understanding the last 20 years seems to have seen an explosion in the number of
have seen an explosion in the number of
have seen an explosion in the number of trans people we see around us and
trans people we see around us and
trans people we see around us and probably even more so in the last five
probably even more so in the last five
probably even more so in the last five years
years
years part of that is down to trans people’s
part of that is down to trans people’s
part of that is down to trans people’s growing confidence a society and
growing confidence a society and
growing confidence a society and government policies and law have become
government policies and law have become
government policies and law have become more accepting of us but part is because
more accepting of us but part is because
more accepting of us but part is because more people now have the information
more people now have the information
more people now have the information that they need to understand that trans
that they need to understand that trans
that they need to understand that trans might just might apply to them we’re
might just might apply to them we’re
might just might apply to them we’re still talking about a very small
still talking about a very small
still talking about a very small percentage of people the information
percentage of people the information
percentage of people the information comes from a variety of sources some
comes from a variety of sources some
comes from a variety of sources some from personal contact but most of it
from personal contact but most of it
from personal contact but most of it falls under the umbrella term of media
falls under the umbrella term of media
falls under the umbrella term of media of course 20 years ago we didn’t have
of course 20 years ago we didn’t have
of course 20 years ago we didn’t have social
social
social Facebook Twitter and so on there were
Facebook Twitter and so on there were
Facebook Twitter and so on there were some rudimentary internet forums but
some rudimentary internet forums but
some rudimentary internet forums but there wasn’t the math sharing of
there wasn’t the math sharing of
there wasn’t the math sharing of information correct or otherwise that we
information correct or otherwise that we
information correct or otherwise that we see now and it’s meant that up until
see now and it’s meant that up until
see now and it’s meant that up until fairly recently we relied on traditional
fairly recently we relied on traditional
fairly recently we relied on traditional media newspapers radio television to
media newspapers radio television to
media newspapers radio television to help us understand the world up until
help us understand the world up until
help us understand the world up until around 1970 press coverage of trans
around 1970 press coverage of trans
around 1970 press coverage of trans people was factual straight-laced
people was factual straight-laced
people was factual straight-laced reporting of the worst of the south this
reporting of the worst of the south this
reporting of the worst of the south this very strange thing has happened a bit
very strange thing has happened a bit
very strange thing has happened a bit dry but no real judgement readers were
dry but no real judgement readers were
dry but no real judgement readers were left to draw their own conclusions
left to draw their own conclusions
left to draw their own conclusions authorities coped often quietly and
authorities coped often quietly and
authorities coped often quietly and without fuss and then two things
without fuss and then two things
without fuss and then two things happened
happened
happened despite expert legal and medical advice
despite expert legal and medical advice
despite expert legal and medical advice socialite April Ashley had her marriage
socialite April Ashley had her marriage
socialite April Ashley had her marriage to an heir to the Guinness fortune
to an heir to the Guinness fortune
to an heir to the Guinness fortune annulled the judicial ruling was if
annulled the judicial ruling was if
annulled the judicial ruling was if you’re born male you must always be
you’re born male you must always be
you’re born male you must always be legally male after a tortuous court case
legally male after a tortuous court case
legally male after a tortuous court case Ashley didn’t have the energy to appeal
Ashley didn’t have the energy to appeal
Ashley didn’t have the energy to appeal and so legal precedent was set she ran
and so legal precedent was set she ran
and so legal precedent was set she ran off to France and interestingly enough a
off to France and interestingly enough a
off to France and interestingly enough a month later a French Court allowed a
month later a French Court allowed a
month later a French Court allowed a trans woman to marry a man on the
trans woman to marry a man on the
trans woman to marry a man on the grounds that she was obviously female
grounds that she was obviously female
grounds that she was obviously female the ashley decision in the UK removed
the ashley decision in the UK removed
the ashley decision in the UK removed access of trans people to administrative
access of trans people to administrative
access of trans people to administrative procedures that we had used for many
procedures that we had used for many
procedures that we had used for many years and so began a long process of
years and so began a long process of
years and so began a long process of legal challenges usually by trans women
legal challenges usually by trans women
legal challenges usually by trans women wanting to marry the man of their dreams
wanting to marry the man of their dreams
wanting to marry the man of their dreams a couple of years later in 1972 jan
a couple of years later in 1972 jan
a couple of years later in 1972 jan morris who had been the press reporter
morris who had been the press reporter
morris who had been the press reporter on so Edmund Hillary’s
on so Edmund Hillary’s
on so Edmund Hillary’s successful team who conquered Everest in
successful team who conquered Everest in
successful team who conquered Everest in 1953 Jan was intrusively grilled about
1953 Jan was intrusively grilled about
1953 Jan was intrusively grilled about her transition on national television
her transition on national television
her transition on national television the media narrative up until this point
the media narrative up until this point
the media narrative up until this point factual had started to change the
factual had started to change the
factual had started to change the occasional court victory and they were
occasional court victory and they were
occasional court victory and they were initially very few indeed was reported
initially very few indeed was reported
initially very few indeed was reported again largely factually however during
again largely factually however during
again largely factually however during the 80s 90s trans people became subjects
the 80s 90s trans people became subjects
the 80s 90s trans people became subjects of fascination starting with 1979 s
of fascination starting with 1979 s
of fascination starting with 1979 s George to Julia are also called a change
George to Julia are also called a change
George to Julia are also called a change of sexes a BBC series which followed a
of sexes a BBC series which followed a
of sexes a BBC series which followed a trans woman from the very early stages
trans woman from the very early stages
trans woman from the very early stages of explaining herself and her decision
of explaining herself and her decision
of explaining herself and her decision to her family all the way through to the
to her family all the way through to the
to her family all the way through to the operating theatre and ending with
operating theatre and ending with
operating theatre and ending with channel fours Eurotrash where trans
channel fours Eurotrash where trans
channel fours Eurotrash where trans people were positioned of one of her
people were positioned of one of her
people were positioned of one of her panoply of weird exotic sexualized
panoply of weird exotic sexualized
panoply of weird exotic sexualized people the media coverage transformed
people the media coverage transformed
people the media coverage transformed into what I would call zoo television a
into what I would call zoo television a
into what I would call zoo television a David Attenborough narration wouldn’t
David Attenborough narration wouldn’t
David Attenborough narration wouldn’t have been out of place in large parts of
have been out of place in large parts of
have been out of place in large parts of it felt a bit trapped behind glass the
it felt a bit trapped behind glass the
it felt a bit trapped behind glass the better programs focused on the medical
better programs focused on the medical
better programs focused on the medical and surgical narrative the stereotype of
and surgical narrative the stereotype of
and surgical narrative the stereotype of the burly bricklayer going into surgery
the burly bricklayer going into surgery
the burly bricklayer going into surgery and emerging as some kind of glamazon
and emerging as some kind of glamazon
and emerging as some kind of glamazon was born the butterfly effect reality is
was born the butterfly effect reality is
was born the butterfly effect reality is mostly far less prosaic and zoo
mostly far less prosaic and zoo
mostly far less prosaic and zoo television continues to this day right
television continues to this day right
television continues to this day right now this week ITV is broadcasting a
now this week ITV is broadcasting a
now this week ITV is broadcasting a series called transformation Street the
series called transformation Street the
series called transformation Street the repeated focus on surgeries as if those
repeated focus on surgeries as if those
repeated focus on surgeries as if those are all that defines a trans person
are all that defines a trans person
are all that defines a trans person causes increasing out region within
causes increasing out region within
causes increasing out region within trans communities yet broadcasters still
trans communities yet broadcasters still
trans communities yet broadcasters still do
do
do it press coverage was also mutating it
it press coverage was also mutating it
it press coverage was also mutating it was becoming more hostile and by the
was becoming more hostile and by the
was becoming more hostile and by the time the Leveson inquiry was called in
time the Leveson inquiry was called in
time the Leveson inquiry was called in 2012 sufficient evidence had been
2012 sufficient evidence had been
2012 sufficient evidence had been mustered that suggested press coverage
mustered that suggested press coverage
mustered that suggested press coverage fell into three broad categories that
fell into three broad categories that
fell into three broad categories that transpeople are fraudulent
transpeople are fraudulent
transpeople are fraudulent but trans people are undeserving and
but trans people are undeserving and
but trans people are undeserving and that trans people are deviant all of
that trans people are deviant all of
that trans people are deviant all of these meant that trans people were
these meant that trans people were
these meant that trans people were entitled to be ridiculed we were a
entitled to be ridiculed we were a
entitled to be ridiculed we were a paradox despite there being so many of
paradox despite there being so many of
paradox despite there being so many of us that we were unnecessarily hoovering
us that we were unnecessarily hoovering
us that we were unnecessarily hoovering up vast amounts of scarce NHS resources
up vast amounts of scarce NHS resources
up vast amounts of scarce NHS resources there were also so few of us then why
there were also so few of us then why
there were also so few of us then why was the NHS bothering to treat us at all
was the NHS bothering to treat us at all
was the NHS bothering to treat us at all now in 2012 channel 4 broadcast the
now in 2012 channel 4 broadcast the
now in 2012 channel 4 broadcast the series called
series called
series called my transsexual summer despite the awful
my transsexual summer despite the awful
my transsexual summer despite the awful title this series was genuinely
title this series was genuinely
title this series was genuinely different from anything that had gone
different from anything that had gone
different from anything that had gone before as it followed trans people’s
before as it followed trans people’s
before as it followed trans people’s lived stories and while the first of the
lived stories and while the first of the
lived stories and while the first of the four programs did the surgery thing the
four programs did the surgery thing the
four programs did the surgery thing the other three looked at the very real
other three looked at the very real
other three looked at the very real difficulties trans people had in getting
difficulties trans people had in getting
difficulties trans people had in getting jobs or housing and also how their close
jobs or housing and also how their close
jobs or housing and also how their close families dealt with transition that
families dealt with transition that
families dealt with transition that series and the shift in coverage that it
series and the shift in coverage that it
series and the shift in coverage that it promised probably wouldn’t have been
promised probably wouldn’t have been
promised probably wouldn’t have been like it was without the input of a group
like it was without the input of a group
like it was without the input of a group called trans media watch rewinding few
called trans media watch rewinding few
called trans media watch rewinding few years 2009 ITV broadcast an episode of a
years 2009 ITV broadcast an episode of a
years 2009 ITV broadcast an episode of a comedy called moving wallpaper which
comedy called moving wallpaper which
comedy called moving wallpaper which featured a trans character and it became
featured a trans character and it became
featured a trans character and it became very quickly clear that this character
very quickly clear that this character
very quickly clear that this character only existed to be the target of comedy
only existed to be the target of comedy
only existed to be the target of comedy in the 27 minute program there was a
in the 27 minute program there was a
in the 27 minute program there was a transphobic joke every 90
transphobic joke every 90
transphobic joke every 90 seconds Ofcom received numerous
seconds Ofcom received numerous
seconds Ofcom received numerous complaints well into the hundreds and
complaints well into the hundreds and
complaints well into the hundreds and they dismissed them all a number of us
they dismissed them all a number of us
they dismissed them all a number of us about 40 of us then appealed and Ofcom
about 40 of us then appealed and Ofcom
about 40 of us then appealed and Ofcom dismissed the appeal so we appealed
dismissed the appeal so we appealed
dismissed the appeal so we appealed again and this time Ofcom decided to
again and this time Ofcom decided to
again and this time Ofcom decided to invite some of us in on the
invite some of us in on the
invite some of us in on the understanding that we stopped appealing
understanding that we stopped appealing
understanding that we stopped appealing they recognized they didn’t actually
they recognized they didn’t actually
they recognized they didn’t actually understand the problem that we were
understand the problem that we were
understand the problem that we were explaining so five of us including me
explaining so five of us including me
explaining so five of us including me sat with some senior Ofcom managers and
sat with some senior Ofcom managers and
sat with some senior Ofcom managers and complaints handlers and discussed what
complaints handlers and discussed what
complaints handlers and discussed what being trans meant what societal
being trans meant what societal
being trans meant what societal pressures we faced the types of media
pressures we faced the types of media
pressures we faced the types of media coverage and the effect it had on us and
coverage and the effect it had on us and
coverage and the effect it had on us and we started that meeting with a
we started that meeting with a
we started that meeting with a three-minute montage of hateful coverage
three-minute montage of hateful coverage
three-minute montage of hateful coverage which had been broadcast over the
which had been broadcast over the
which had been broadcast over the previous 12 months it had a massive
previous 12 months it had a massive
previous 12 months it had a massive effect as Ofcom introduced us to a
effect as Ofcom introduced us to a
effect as Ofcom introduced us to a couple of other very key people in
couple of other very key people in
couple of other very key people in broadcasting and trans media watch was
broadcasting and trans media watch was
broadcasting and trans media watch was born in two years later I was sitting in
born in two years later I was sitting in
born in two years later I was sitting in the blue chair giving Evert the
the blue chair giving Evert the
the blue chair giving Evert the charities evidence to the Leveson
charities evidence to the Leveson
charities evidence to the Leveson inquiry detailing their abuses the
inquiry detailing their abuses the
inquiry detailing their abuses the British press were visiting on trans
British press were visiting on trans
British press were visiting on trans people and their families the other
people and their families the other
people and their families the other thing which very quickly became clear
thing which very quickly became clear
thing which very quickly became clear not just at Ofcom but at channel 4 the
not just at Ofcom but at channel 4 the
not just at Ofcom but at channel 4 the BBC the Press Complaints Commission and
BBC the Press Complaints Commission and
BBC the Press Complaints Commission and many other media organizations was that
many other media organizations was that
many other media organizations was that media coverage was not generally driven
media coverage was not generally driven
media coverage was not generally driven by malice but by ignorance our mission
by malice but by ignorance our mission
by malice but by ignorance our mission was to encourage the British media to
was to encourage the British media to
was to encourage the British media to report trans issues with accuracy
report trans issues with accuracy
report trans issues with accuracy dignity and respect but that meant
dignity and respect but that meant
dignity and respect but that meant encouraging time-pressured journalists
encouraging time-pressured journalists
encouraging time-pressured journalists and editors to invest time thinking and
and editors to invest time thinking and
and editors to invest time thinking and learning about our issues
learning about our issues
learning about our issues so although we started in protest we
so although we started in protest we
so although we started in protest we quickly became a
quickly became a
quickly became a ooop who engaged to educate and it also
ooop who engaged to educate and it also
ooop who engaged to educate and it also meant that we had to learn quickly about
meant that we had to learn quickly about
meant that we had to learn quickly about media I’m an IT person I knew hardly
media I’m an IT person I knew hardly
media I’m an IT person I knew hardly anything about media in 2009 and now I
anything about media in 2009 and now I
anything about media in 2009 and now I know only too well the pressures on
know only too well the pressures on
know only too well the pressures on journalists editorial structures how
journalists editorial structures how
journalists editorial structures how good press releases are structured
good press releases are structured
good press releases are structured complaints processes and so on
complaints processes and so on
complaints processes and so on others can judge whether actually
others can judge whether actually
others can judge whether actually understand any of that however recently
understand any of that however recently
understand any of that however recently there are some people those in the media
there are some people those in the media
there are some people those in the media and those with access to the media who
and those with access to the media who
and those with access to the media who do now intend to set the clock back we
do now intend to set the clock back we
do now intend to set the clock back we see that very clearly now where parts of
see that very clearly now where parts of
see that very clearly now where parts of the press have learnt how to bypass the
the press have learnt how to bypass the
the press have learnt how to bypass the editors code to make sure they can
editors code to make sure they can
editors code to make sure they can publish hateful transphobic pieces
publish hateful transphobic pieces
publish hateful transphobic pieces without coming under official censure
without coming under official censure
without coming under official censure where possible they now write about
where possible they now write about
where possible they now write about trans people as a generic group rather
trans people as a generic group rather
trans people as a generic group rather than naming any specific individual they
than naming any specific individual they
than naming any specific individual they cite spurious surveys to support stories
cite spurious surveys to support stories
cite spurious surveys to support stories they scream free speech every time they
they scream free speech every time they
they scream free speech every time they are challenged which is a gross
are challenged which is a gross
are challenged which is a gross misrepresentation of what free speech
misrepresentation of what free speech
misrepresentation of what free speech actually is so the national media
actually is so the national media
actually is so the national media coverage has changed as has the national
coverage has changed as has the national
coverage has changed as has the national conversation around trans people and
conversation around trans people and
conversation around trans people and I’ve had a part to play in that that
I’ve had a part to play in that that
I’ve had a part to play in that that media narrative is continuing to change
media narrative is continuing to change
media narrative is continuing to change and the battle is to ensure that trans
and the battle is to ensure that trans
and the battle is to ensure that trans people can continue to influence that
people can continue to influence that
people can continue to influence that process so what made trans media watch
process so what made trans media watch
process so what made trans media watch effective and this is the bit that I
effective and this is the bit that I
effective and this is the bit that I hope can apply to everybody and we’d
hope can apply to everybody and we’d
hope can apply to everybody and we’d like to give people something to take
like to give people something to take
like to give people something to take away with them at our heart was a core
away with them at our heart was a core
away with them at our heart was a core team of five volunteers all of whom
team of five volunteers all of whom
team of five volunteers all of whom would dedicate it passion
would dedicate it passion
would dedicate it passion it and driven to make change research
it and driven to make change research
it and driven to make change research does seem to show that five is a very
does seem to show that five is a very
does seem to show that five is a very good number as it coalesce as well and
good number as it coalesce as well and
good number as it coalesce as well and it enables people to make decisions
it enables people to make decisions
it enables people to make decisions effectively beyond five you get too many
effectively beyond five you get too many
effectively beyond five you get too many possible combinations of interactions to
possible combinations of interactions to
possible combinations of interactions to communicate effectively with five people
communicate effectively with five people
communicate effectively with five people it is very rare that three or more of
it is very rare that three or more of
it is very rare that three or more of you have no energy left so there’s
you have no energy left so there’s
you have no energy left so there’s always energy in the group to drive
always energy in the group to drive
always energy in the group to drive itself forwards and interestingly for me
itself forwards and interestingly for me
itself forwards and interestingly for me it was the second time I’d been in the
it was the second time I’d been in the
it was the second time I’d been in the core group of five volunteers and the
core group of five volunteers and the
core group of five volunteers and the second time I’d seen the same kind of
second time I’d seen the same kind of
second time I’d seen the same kind of effects we also had a variety of skills
effects we also had a variety of skills
effects we also had a variety of skills only one of us was a media professional
only one of us was a media professional
only one of us was a media professional at the start although another became a
at the start although another became a
at the start although another became a fairly well-known trans celebrity or
fairly well-known trans celebrity or
fairly well-known trans celebrity or personality all five of us were
personality all five of us were
personality all five of us were University educated but more importantly
University educated but more importantly
University educated but more importantly all five of us contributed ideas and all
all five of us contributed ideas and all
all five of us contributed ideas and all five of us saw a common purpose in
five of us saw a common purpose in
five of us saw a common purpose in educating the media so my conclusion is
educating the media so my conclusion is
educating the media so my conclusion is that five people with a common passion
that five people with a common passion
that five people with a common passion can change our environment obviously you
can change our environment obviously you
can change our environment obviously you need more than five to carry out
need more than five to carry out
need more than five to carry out everything but a core of five is
everything but a core of five is
everything but a core of five is incredibly powerful and I’d like to end
incredibly powerful and I’d like to end
incredibly powerful and I’d like to end by dedicating this particular talk to my
by dedicating this particular talk to my
by dedicating this particular talk to my mother-in-law Kathy was someone who also
mother-in-law Kathy was someone who also
mother-in-law Kathy was someone who also knew the difference between knowing and
knew the difference between knowing and
knew the difference between knowing and understanding the importance of doing
understanding the importance of doing
understanding the importance of doing your bit for society and engaging in
your bit for society and engaging in
your bit for society and engaging in educating and we said goodbye to her
educating and we said goodbye to her
educating and we said goodbye to her on Wednesday thank you
on Wednesday thank you
on Wednesday thank you you
you
you [Applause]
”
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