Jayson Pope, a young transgender man from Dublin, shared his experience of being a trans person at the recent launch of a new coalition, Trans Equality Together.
Jayson, who is age 22, is a graduate student of social science at University College Dublin, where he recently finished a tenure as chair of the LGBTQ+ Society.
He is currently writing a thesis on the role of social work in the trans community.
Dublin groups are being encouraged to join the coalition, whose aim is to advocate for trans and non-binary people in Dublin and around the country.
Led by TENI (Transgender Equality Network Ireland), Belong To and LGBT Ireland, Trans Equality Together says its objective is to create an Ireland where trans people are “equal, safe and valued” as well as to:
- Promote positive attitudes towards trans and non-binary people in the Dublin, and around the country;
- Advocate for policy and legislative changes that will improve the lives of trans people and make Dublin, and the rest of the country, a more equal society for all; and
- Counter the negative and false messages about trans people that have been circulating in recent years.
Speaking at the launch, Jayson Pope said: “It is movements like this coalition that will fundamentally change the experiences of trans people in the future.
“I’m extremely proud to be trans. It is a significant part of who I am.
“Transitioning is beautiful.
“It is creative, it is formative and it is freeing, in a way that cannot be fully explained, only experienced.
“Transitioning is the ultimate act of self-care.
“It’s something for me and me alone; to feel good about myself, to live my life, to be who I am.
“No one else benefits from this; only me.
“This is about me being me and doing what I have to do.
“I speak in the hope that trans people will receive the respect and care that we deserve and that soon, there will be trans young people and trans people of all ages who do not experience that sense of despair that I had and who will experience a life and a transition and a gender that is free of discrimination.”
Lynne Tracey and her husband Enda Twomey (pictured above), who are the parents of a young trans daughter, Alice, also spoke at the event. Lynne, who is a member of the Trans Equality Together organising committee, said: “The challenge that I think most trans people have is that their journey is not facilitated by the systems that we have in this country. If Alice was non-binary, she wouldn’t have a Gender Recognition Cert; she would still be in her birth name. The day she got her Gender Recognition Cert was one of the proudest days of her life and of our lives. It was glorious to see her become who she really is. For parents, it’s really positive. We’re really lucky to have Alice in our lives. I don’t think we would have seen the full person that she is without her being Alice, so I’m just really proud of her and I’m really pleased to be here.”
Alice’s father Enda Twomey said: “One of the most important things as a parent of any child is the wish for them to be happy.
“In order for them to be happy, though, they have to be safe.
“I’m pretty much out of my comfort zone today speaking here, but I really want to support this initiative because it’s hugely important that everybody feels safe, in particular my own daughter.”
Sara Phillips, Chair of TENI and Co-Director of Trans Equality Together, said: “The aim of Trans Equality Together is to bring together the diverse array of organisations that work with the trans community directly and those that are our allies – to demonstrate to politicians, policymakers and the wider public the breadth of support that exists for trans rights and the challenges that we, as a community, are facing right now.”
Moninne Griffith, CEO of Belong To and Co-Director of Trans Equality Together, said: “Trans people in Ireland are a tiny minority of the population whose voices have rarely been heard in national discourse. They have been marginalised, denied access to healthcare, and demonised in the press.
“Trans Equality Together will work to create an Ireland where trans people are equal, safe and valued.
“We want to promote positive attitudes towards trans people, counter the negative and false messages that have been circulating in recent years, and work to achieve policy and legal changes – particularly in relation to gender recognition and healthcare – that will really improve the lives of trans people.
“We do not want to see the sort of divisive rhetoric and villainisation of trans people taking hold in Ireland that we have witnessed in other countries.”
Seeking Legislative and Policy Change
Trans Equality Together outlined its legislative and policy priorities at the launch. The coalition is seeking the explicit inclusion of gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics as protected grounds in the Equality Acts, which are currently being reviewed by government.
Trans Equality Together also wants to see the gender recognition process opened up to include under-18s, and streamlined to remove the current requirements for 16 and 17-year-olds to attend court and present certificates from medical professionals in order to have their gender legally recognised.
In relation to healthcare, the coalition said the waiting list for adults seeking care through the National Gender Service is currently in the region of five years, and must be reduced as a priority. There has been no active health service for trans children and adolescents in Ireland since December 2020 and this must be re-instated with immediate effect, according to Trans Equality Together.
“In Ireland, we have demonstrated strong leadership on trans rights in the past. In 2015, we enacted the Gender Recognition Act, ensuring people over 18 can have their true gender recognised in law, based on self-declaration. This law was supported – without controversy – by a strong majority of Oireachtas members, and was greeted with widespread approval when it was introduced,” said Paula Fagan, Co-Director of Trans Equality Together.
“Now, we need to acknowledge and address the gaps that exist in relation to gender recognition for under-18s; and gender-affirming healthcare for people of all ages. Over the coming months and years, Trans Equality Together will be working closely with Oireachtas members and policymakers to highlight these gaps and ensure properly resourced services and supports are in place for Ireland’s trans community.”
Coalition Members
Alongside the three lead organisations – TENI, Belong To and LGBT Ireland – members of Trans Equality Together include: AMACH! LGBT Galway, Amnesty International Ireland, BI+ Ireland, Bród West Cork, FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres), GCN, Intersex Ireland, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, the Irish Network Against Racism, Irish Second–Level Students’ Union (ISSU), National LGBT Federation (NXF), the National Women’s Council, the Open Doors Initiative, Outhouse, ShoutOut, and Trans Limerick Community, with additional groups in the process of joining.
Trans Equality Together was launched at a special event at the Mansion House in Dublin, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alison Gilliland.
Further information about Trans Equality Together, including how Dublin groups can get involved, is available at www.transequalitytogether.com.