Unscripted rally speech Connie Frankish
SHAME ON STARMER! SHAME ON STARMER! SHAME ON STARMER!
We’re all here because of what happened in the Supreme Court; but this is no longer about yesterday, this isn’t about today, this will always be about tomorrow. Because there will always be another battle. We need to be thinking ahead by coming together and collectively strategising, sharing our resources and working collaboratively. We cannot let our rights be receded further.
This does not stop at bathrooms; this was never about bathrooms. The patriarchy seeks to erase trans rights, but it also seeks the erasure of gay rights, of women’s rights, of migrant rights, of all rights. Be aware: the next thing that they are going to say is that trans women aren’t allowed in women’s clothing shops and that trans men aren’t allowed in men’s clothing shops, of course under the veil of protecting women or whatever faux cause they pit us against.
The time of apathy is over, this is not the time to accept indifference and ignorance. Today they come for the people who don’t pass (appear trans) tomorrow they come for the people that do (trans who appear cis). No one is safe from transphobia! No one is safe from fascism! If you think that you are safe, unless you are a cis straight able bodied middle class white man with a British passport, then you are wrong.
PROTECT TRANS LADS! PROTECT TRANS LADS! PROTECT TRANS LADS!
The repercussions are greater than just us here today, or our trans siblings at home who are either unavailable or couldn’t come for fear or decided not to from ignorance. But this is about the global trans community. Many of our global siblings are more vulnerable than us, although we ourselves are not safe. What we have right now is the ability to speak out and to come together. And doing so is what will allow us to win over transphobia. If you are trans, non-binary, intersex or consider yourself an ally, and you haven’t already started showing up in person then get here next time, because again the time for apathy is well and truly over.
Of course this is about us and about all lives, but especially about: the trans people who aren’t out yet and have to start their transition in this climate, the trans young people growing up who are vilified simply for the innate characteristics, personalities and identities that they are born with – and they are beautiful, they are loved and they are not a burden – and as always this is about the future and the rights we fight for.
TRANS PEOPLE ARE NOT A BURDEN! TRANS PEOPLE ARE NOT A BURDEN! TRANS PEOPLE ARE NOT A BURDEN!
This is not just about trans women or white trans people: this is about trans men, black trans lives, disabled bodies; non-binary people, intersex people, non-British people.
Let’s come together and fight this, we will win! WE WILL WIN!