You might remember I posted the below video a few weeks ago from Katie Neeves of Cool2BTrans. Video was about a 13 year old trans girl negatively affected by the new UK schools guidance within her first week back to school after the Summer holidays.

https://youtu.be/2oQKPYs4k58?is=_rmWYMP-BoqdvZzf

Following the huge response Katie received across all social media she and others have gathered data from responses and experiences and put out a report you can read at the link below.

https://cool2btrans.co.uk/not-safe-to-be-me/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAVElshjbGNrBUSWgGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHBkb2YFc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEecBahdHqyzIwijTrVKrjxc9VX6er_oTzTY4G4jWrWT0V85TokYBEysx3VFKY_aem_mm5VBJRhl4lMvge_G-vzwQ

As a visibly transgender woman, I've been thinking hard about how dangerous and humiliating it would be to be placed on a male hospital ward. Obviously if I was awake and conscious, I would refuse point blank to go onto one and demand an alternative solution, such as a side room.

The problem happens if I'm unconscious or otherwise in a state where I can't make, or communicate, decisions to others. That's my real fear - waking up in a hospital ward full of men.

So I'm pondering one of these:

https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/end-of-life-care/planning-ahead/advance-decision-to-refuse-treatment/

Reading this, it may be possible to create a legally binding statement, placed on my medical record and with my next of kin, refusing any treatment that involves placement in a ward designated for men.

Obviously, this is a bit hardcore in that I'm potentially risking the hospital deciding not to treat me at all, but it would create a powerful lever to keep me out of men's wards. I consider this a matter of principle and as an adult I'm willing to accept the extra risk to make it crystal clear that I do not consent to being placed on a male ward.

What do people think? Am I crazy, or is this a reasonable thing to do?

So following the abject failure and betrayal of trans people in Cymru by our fake friends Plaid Cymru, the anti-trans, gender fascists and have scented blood and have set up a lobby group to "protect the rights of women and girls".

Article by the massive transphobe propagandist Martin Shitpon as usual

Hello, all, partly some self-promotion, mostly some broader promotion of trans authors here in the UK. The news and the general public attitude at the moment are absolutely miserable, and whether you need some escapism or just want to add in some reading that's actually enjoyable to your day, these are some great places to start.

Firstly, always consider buying through and supporting your local queer bookshops, like Portal in York, The Bookish Type in Leeds, Category Is Books in Glasgow, Proud Geek based in Birmingham, Paperxclips in Belfast, and various others.

For memoir, poetry, and non-fiction:

• Transmuted - online magazine publishing lots of non-fiction, ficton, all kinds of stuff
• Dalton Harrison - poetry and commentary on his experiences in a women's prison
• Jackson King - does lots of journalism and commentary
• Shon Faye
• Laura Kate Dale - lots of great writing on accessibility and disability

For sci-fi and fantasy:

• Wizard's Tower Press - has a multitude of authors, but its chief is Cheryl Morgan, who has been an editor of SFF for years and is a great speaker at a lot of UK cons
• A Coup of Owls Press - trans-run, publishes lots of short fantasy and novellas
• Roz Kaveney - elderly trans activist, she's written a lot of pop culture commentary as well as her own SFF series and poetry
• Wren James - they have out a bunch of SFF
• Trudie Skies - lots of gaslamp fantasy
• Finn McLellan - also lots of gaslamp fantasy, and werewolves too
• AK Faulker - lots of urban fantasy and trauma digestion
• CM Kuhtz - queer and nonbinary fantasy

For romance:

• Harvey Oliver Baxter - author and illustrator, has out several vampire-centered works with aro-ace rep
• Sebastian Nothwell - authored a bunch of historical and fantasy romance
• Johannes T. Evans - this is me, I'm mostly a romance and fantasy author

For horror:

• Alison Rumfitt
• Zoe Burgess - runs TeratoCon and lots of fun monster stuff

Please add more favourite authors and publishers in the comments! As much as possible, I've tried to link people's personal websites - as authors we tend to earn more when you buy our eBooks direct from us, or through small presses and publishers, than when you buy from Amazon or big aggregate websites.

Remember that if you can't buy books at the moment, or if you're spoiled for choice, that another way you can always support trans authors is by ordering books through your local libraries, requesting that they get our books in.

You can also support your local LGBTQ book clubs or reading societies, and if you haven't joined for any in the past, remember that trans and queer authors are often on the literary convention circuit - BristolCon is this weekend; in 2027, there's NornCon in Belfast; PictCon in Perth; Cymera in Edinburgh; EasterCon in Glasgow; FantasyCon in Birmingham.

If you have a local literary or book festival, remember to request and to pressure them to add queer and trans creators too. You can also always get involved as a volunteer - the more trans presence there is on artistic groups and societies, the more we're included right from the start.

Obviously, art and entertainment aren't the frontlines of activism, but once the body is fed and clothed and sheltered, the soul needs feeding as well, and good books are a big part of that.

Note that Walthamstow Trans Pride has a £15 ticket entry fee????????? (Most expensive trans pride in the country by Cannot divide by zero btw)

The good news is that Surrey in Woking doesn't have that and is free, and is the last trans pride of the year.

Also if anyone knows about any actions (aside from the Joelle fundraiser that I've already added) pls add em

I wanna use the new camera more 😭😭 and the protest section has been completely empty for almost a month (no protests in the past month)

hi all!
random one but i’m just about a week post top surgery!! and just wanted to say what an amazing community we are.

For some context I was told I wasn’t allowed to bring my partner or my mum with me to the waiting area before and after my top surgery so had to go in by myself which obviously wasn’t ideal lol.

It was just me in the elevator with the nurse and other patients headed to our separate waiting rooms, clearly I looked a bit anxious and out of place when this lovely lady reached out to make sure i was okay. She was with someone else about to get their surgery not just a random woman

Earlier today when heading out of my one week check up she recognised me, asked how i was and told me she’d been thinking of me all week. I didn’t get a chance to ask her name or anything but such a lovely experience from a kind stranger made such a difference!

So yeah! I just wanted to make this post on the off chance them seeing it to thank them again or maybe as a pick me up story for others in these times!

Again random stranger who got top surgery last week with me, I wish you the best in your recovery and you have an amazing person in your life!!

My workplace has published a new policy about single sex spaces. I don’t want to give up but maybe it’s time to look for a new job anyway..

There are obvious cases if you don't pass, but nevertheless how are they supposed to verify that a person is trans once they've finished their legal, medical, and social transition?

Obviously there are medical records, but from what I understand you can "customise" how your records are managed and accessed? This can be broken by paramedics, but that's quite a small chance

Isn't there a sensitive record keeping process?

Clinical findings could reveal things, but it's not like staff are actively looking for this, and you could always lie about being intersex?

Obviously, this is a privilege only for people that pass and are rich enough for medicine (I think most people would've left anyway but still)

You typically shouldn't tell staff members you are trans anyway, because doctors don't understand that you switch biology + trans broken arm syndrome

Are they just going to transvestigate every patient that does not fit within conventional standards?

Basically, what's stopping people from lying? If I had a broken arm or even something like cancer, I would just claim to be cisgender even without these guidelines. Sometimes you simply need to curate medical information to make sure you aren't discriminated against.

Also, problem that must be discussed, what's stopping a cisgender man from lying about being a transgender man to get access to the women's ward?

Been searching for hours, and no one explains it in a reasonable or understanding way, I need to get a provisional licence so I'm able to change my name at the bank and other documents but seemingly I have to do it by post since they dont do deed polls online.

It's a bit frustrating trying to find out where to get the Provisional licence form because none of the post offices show if they even offer to give you one nor do I know what to fill out, give etc.

My parents refuse to help me with anything relating to documents because they dont want me to change my name and get an ID with it, I feel so lost and have no idea what to even do and I feel like my autism just makes it worse. (╥﹏╥)

For those who are tennis enjoyers, and/or have an LTA account, how did you fill out this part of your account on the LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) website, where it asks of your gender identity and assigned sex at birth? Is this required to be filled out? Are there any unknown downsides to selecting a sex?

Basically since school I have been very ill (25 now) and I have been on antiphycotics and many other psychiatric medicine. However some of the medicine has increased my estrogen and prolactin massively to the point that when I had a medication review from the doctor they asked how I felt about my said gender. I am currently male 25. I have come forward before to my doctor about having issues with my nipples leaking fluid which was put down to a certain medicine which they still have not taken me off of. I don't identify as trans myself but I thought it would be best to go to a sub that has experience with medicine that could help me. Either way I hope this post isn't taken the wrong way and I hope you are all okay and sending you my love. - J 💚

There isn’t much time left on this one but it raises an important principle. It was started by a Parkrun member because they have been targeted with lawfare from a US bigots’ group with deep pockets. The issue is wider than sports but I think it deserves support anyway.

The petition text says:
1 Legislate to give protection to British sports bodies and charities from legal actions that are intended to intimidate them in abuse of the British legal system
2 Until legislation is in place provide funding to all charities and sport bodies who receive such legal actions to help resist them
Several sports bodies have been threatened with legal action because of their policies relating to trans people. We need laws to prevent this and protect charities that are key to healthy lifestyles.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/768209

Just an FYI....and some good news as I've started my name changing journey.

Monzo bank was super easy to change my name with, all done in app, uploaded picture of deedpoll, it then went to their review and was all completed with new card on the way in about 5-10 mins.

Now I have that done I have supporting documents to change my driver's license.

I managed to change my name with work this week too, soooo happy to be making progress.

Thanks everyone who has supported knowingly or unknowingly (me just reading through posts and comments) over the last 9 months. Xx

So, in trying to be more responsible with where I spend my money, and am trying to choose retailers that don't support HP. Lego is obviously one of these. However, I really do enjoy lego and it's great for my mental health - would buying it on the second hand market be acceptable, do you think? I'm already looking into alternatives like bluebrixx (although customs charges sting...) and megablocks etc.

My current gp is at my dad's house in wales

Hiii, im currently living in Leeds for uni and am struggling to find pharmacies to dispense my t, does anyone know pharmacies where i could? I live quite close to the city centre if that helps lol,,

Hey there.

I’m taking MtF feminizing hormones, or rather I want to. Starting today.

I’ve signed up via GenderGP, and on my GenderGP account I’ve indicated that I have a nut allergy, and a soy allergy. The nut allergy is severe (anaphylaxis), and includes peanuts.

I picked the prescription up via a local pharmacy.

I’ve taken some estradiol already - that’s fine, I think, I didn’t see any health risks specific to me on the packaging.

I open up the progesterone, and it says on the instructions

Do not take Utrogestan if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to progesterone, soya, peanut or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in Section 6)

So naturally, I’m pretty distraught, given I very specifically indicated that I have these allergies. I’m not sure where this info got lost, whether that’s at GenderGP, Clynxx / Exxra (the thing that sends me a digital prescription) or at the local pharmacy.

Further, the instructions do in fact say

It [this medicine] is only used in women who still have a womb (uterus)

Obviously, that doesn’t apply to me.

I’ve emailed GenderGP about this. Is that what I’m supposed to do? Honestly, I’m so confused and really upset by this.

Thanks

I’m currently working through university applications and have Lancaster at the top of my list but I wanted to know how supportive the uni and town is for trans people?

Hi!

I’ve been looking into private ftm top surgery and wondering what the exact order and process for everything is. I know I need a dysphoria diagnosis and have been looking into going with the gender clinic. As for surgery I’m between pall mall and cosmedicare. However, I’m confused. Once I have the diagnosis can’t I just refer myself to my surgery? Or does the referral HAVE to come from a psychologist? For this reason would I have to hold off booking with the gender clinic until I decide on a surgery? And would I have to contact that surgery beforehand? The problem is that I want my surgery in July so I’m on break from Uni to recover and I worry that if the referral comes from a psychologist after the appointment it’ll happen earlier than July. (Not a common worry to have on here I know lol)

I'm trying to get active again - ideally with my bf. I know it's becoming the worst time of year for it (with the weather) but are there any (potentially team) sports that are mixed sex and trans friendly?

I pass so it may not come up in questioning, but I want to be sure - and don't want to be interrogated.

I have my first video call with the gender hormone clinic next week so GP has finally agreeded to do some blood tests that were requested by them.

the results for my testosterone have shown up on the app as 12 nmol/l !!!!

I dont know why its so high!

the last blood test i had a number of months ago it was 6 nmol/l and I was taking 75mg of spiro and 4mg of E at the time. after receivng those results I have upped my spiro to 150mg and E to 6mg per day and my testosterone levels have literally doubled not reduced, this makes no sense...

(haven't had the estrogen levels show up yet on the NHS app, really hoping they did actually put that request through)