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"Transphobic Awards" slammed by leading youth organisation

The Queer Youth Network has spoken out about its "disappointment" at the nomination of Guardian Journalist Julie Bindel for a Stonewall Award, a gay equivalent of the "Oscars".

Some People are Transgendered Poster designed for Schools (PDF) - application/pdf 230K

Trans Youth Network to demonstrate against transphobia in London on November 6th

Some People are Transgendered Poster designed for Schools

In an open letter addressed to "fellow members and supporters of our community" and copied to Ben Summerskill, (Chief Executive, Stonewall) the Queer Youth Network founder and director David Joseph Henry called into question the credibility of the Stonewall Awards themselves. "I accept these nominations do not represent the views of Stonewall, which leads me puzzled as to who exactly they do represent". "Despite our dismay at the nomination of Julie Bindel I have tremendous respect for many of Stonewall's past accomplishments which have been supported by ourselves and many often unsung activists and advocates, it is these are the people who should in fact be receiving recognition". "We will continue to lend our expertise and guidance to them through our involvement in Stonewall's Education for All coalition of which we are a member".

"We believe her views to be upsetting and deeply offensive to many sections of our diverse LGBT community and have concluded that such recognition could prove damaging to some of the most vulnerable people (including transgender, transsexual, gender-queer and intersex young people) who already face great hardship and discrimination due to their gender identity."

There needs to be a greater sense of unity between the "LGB" community which Stonewall is a part of and the extended Trans and Queer communities who they are not actively engaging with. We have produced a poster to compliment the existing resources offered by Education for All, in particular the "Some People are Gay – Get Over it" posters produced by Stonewall. Our poster reads "Some People are Transgender – and we're over it!" which is available to download from the Trans Youth Network website at

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.transyouth.org

By adding balance and reason to the debate which has been tainted by cruel and inaccurate perpetuated by Julie Bindel and individuals who subscribe to her inflammatory beliefs we hope to eradicate Transphobic attitudes both within the LGBT community and beyond. Although we may not posses the same level of resources as Stonewall and the dominant figures who speak on our behalf, we believe the way to overcome further ignorance is to educate our communities, friends and families on the all too often ignored but critical issue of gender identity that affect us all.

---- Further Contacts -----

Joanne Mckillop
Trans Youth Support Officer

joanne@queeryouth.net

Jack Holroyde
Campaigns Officer

jack@queeryouth.net

Tom Boi
Trans Information Officer

tomboi@queeryouth.net

Josh Minor
Mental Health Officer

josh@queeryouth.net

----------

Notes to Editors

The Queer Youth Network (Q.Y.N.) is a national non-profit making organisation that is run by and for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) Young People and is based in the United Kingdom. It has an aim to represent the needs and views of LGBT Young People through campaigning for greater visibility and equal rights, as well as providing general support and information to those who suffer discrimination and are socially marginalised as a result. The Network is one of the largest youth run organisations in the UK, with in excess of 11,000 individual members and over 200 groups from all walks of life.

You can find out more at

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.queeryouth.org.uk
Email for more information info[at]queeryouth.net

Trans Youth Network is a UK-wide, long-term project to provide advocacy, support, social, empowerment, signposting and training opportunities to young trans people and young people unsure of, questioning, and generally exploring their biological sex, gender or gender identity in any way at all. The project is led by young people for young people as well as all professionals working with young people, their peer supporters, friends, families, partners, allies and supporters of our aims and objectives.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.transyouth.org
For details

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://transyouthnet%5Bat%5Dyahoo.co.uk

What the web says about us:

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.bitheway.co.uk%2F2008%2F09%2F29%2Fqueer-youth-network%2F

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://en.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FQueer_Youth_Network

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http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.247gay.com%2Farticle.cfm%3Fsection%3D66%26id%3D12953
--------------------

Trans Youth Network
e-mail: info@queeryouth.net
Homepage: http://www.transyouth.org

Additions

Statement NUS Trans Network regarding Stonewall Awards & Bindel's Nomination

17.10.2008 20:45

As members of the National Union of Students we support the rights of Trans-students and Trans-People in general to live their lives free from persecution and hatred, it is with this in mind that we cannot do anything but condemn the nomination of Julie Bindel for Stonewall's Journalist of the Year award , an action which does does nothing except underline Stonewall's continuing disregard for Trans rights and inclusion within the LGBT movement.

Bindel has made numerous comments, arguing that medical treatment of transgenderism is nothing more than a modern form of reparative therapy for gay people. A statement that is not only incorrect but insulting to the trans community. Trans people are not merely closet homosexuals who are seeking therapy to become stright, there are many trans LGB people within the LGBT movement who are strong and active members fighting for equality for all LGBT people and Bindel's comments do them a great disservice. Bindel has further stated that is all the world was trans it would 'look like the set of Grease' this again is a stereotypical and outdated viewpoint, trans-people come in many varied shapes and sizes, can be found in all walks of life and sectors of society and many live their lives with those around them totally unaware of their trans history.

We find the inclusion of Ms Bindel in the Stonewall awards nominations a worrying indication of Stonewall's willingness to ignore transphobia within the LGB community. While it is true that Ms Bindel has made positive contributions to the field of journalism her continuing refusal to accept that trans people have a valued contribution to make to society in general including the LGB community means that she should not be nominated for a leading and prestigious award from and organisation that claims to represent all LGB people including Trans LGB people.

claire

Comments

Hide the following 4 comments

editor help

17.10.2008 14:36

please can indymedia editors please fix the hyperlinks and remove the facebook forwarding bit of some of them above as the notes were copied from an article on facebook which messed up the HTML, many thanks

Trans Youth Network
mail e-mail: info@transyouth.org

Who is Julie Bindel and what are her views?

17.10.2008 17:42

The article doesn't explain why Julie Bindel is bad, or what her views are that make her such a bad choice.

I'd never even heard of Julie Bindel until now.

anon

honoring the wrong kind of journalist...

17.10.2008 18:17

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=7522

who is julie bindel

thanks - the article makes more sense now

19.10.2008 13:06

Thanks for the link - the article makes more sense now.

This is a general point for all posters on Indymedia - remember that posts are often read by people who aren't involved in your particular campaign and aren't familiar with the background. So please give a brief idiot's guide in the summary!