Five people talk about the importance of Trans Pride Brighton & Hove, which takes place virtually on Saturday (July 17). Tune in here
Sarah Savage, chair of Trans Pride Brighton & Hove
Trans Pride Brighton is about discovering people like me. Before transition I had never met another trans person, and I couldn’t imagine being happy as a trans person. But now if an ‘egg’ comes to Trans Pride they see that everyone is so happy, it’s so joyous to be with a group of people who are like them. People who transitioned in the ’80s and ’90s come up to me and they’re amazed that something like this can exist, because they remember when trans people were so marginalised that they couldn’t even find each other. We couldn’t even find our community. Now people can come to this one place and that’s their people, that’s their community. It’s more than just one day in summer. Trans Pride actually changes lives.
Seb R
To be trans is to have to forge your own place in nature – something not many other people have to do. If you can accomplish finding your place in the world as a trans person, you’ve overcome a hurdle that the majority of the people around you can’t even comprehend.
As a Jewish person, finding other Jewish people who understand the transgender experience has been something I’ve done during the pandemic, and feel stronger for it.
Pride to me also means being kind to yourself, finding celebration among all the struggle and showing that trans people are more than our pain – we are also trans joy, trans creativity, trans talent.
Ro
Attending my first Trans Pride as an ‘out’ trans woman was a truly magical experience. Spending a lot of my life feeling othered, being surrounded by so many others with similar lived experiences felt incredibly liberating.
It’s been particularly difficult over the pandemic as a trans person, experiencing a great deal of dysphoria over the various lockdowns, so it’s been more important than ever to keep my trans siblings close.
I feel incredibly lucky to have a tight-knit community of people who will always have my back when I need it, and I theirs.
Arthur
I’m an artist and also a queer trans man. I’m not proud of my identity, I’m proud of surviving in a world so hostile towards trans people. The journey I’ve been on to learn how to survive AND be visible is something I worked so hard to achieve. I’m proud of who I’m becoming in the process.
The more community I interact with, the more relaxed I am. Sometimes that’s through Instagram (during the pandemic) as well as dating or making work.
Pride is important to me often because it’s a time of reflection, mourning, hope and education.
Anna
I’m 20 year old trans women, Jewish, drag artist aka ‘Tranna’.
I’ve been reaching out and connecting, exploring my own trans identity. I’ve discovered new parts of myself. I’ve stopped conforming to standards and started appreciating myself. I don’t have to explain myself anymore.
Trans Pride is a time to remember and be thankful about how far in our personal journey we have come. We’re so engrossed in our daily life that we forget to take the time to step back and realise that every hurdle you’ve overcome has made you the strong person you are today.
Where you come from doesn’t dictate where you’re headed in life. Where you want to be in your mind will be your outcome if you believe in it. Own yourself, be authentic and love it.
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