British Transphobia
I know I don't write a lot of text posts these days, but something has happened which has really shaken me. In May I got an office job at Lloyds Bank, and I decided it would be a good idea to join a union. The union which represents financial sector workers is Unite, the biggest trade union in the UK. They are an integral part of the Labour movement in this country and advocate for the protection of workers and implementation of socialist economic policies. So naturally I thought I was in a good organisation.
Well, it turns out that just one month after, I have cancelled my membership.
The leader of the union, Len McCluskey, has published a letter which accuses transgender activists of being violent and attempting to strip rights away from 'real women'. A letter which he published, alongside know far-right activists who are vocal in the UK media, in response to a government initiative to demedicalise transgender existence, and make it easier for trans people to change their gender. This is, I might remind you, who are in charge and largely responsible for Brexit and the stripping of benefits from disabled and poor people. So when the leader of my trade union advocated for a more conservative policy than this government I was shocked and appalled.
I cannot in good conscience donate money to an organisation headed by someone with sympathies for the right wing and social conservatism. Similarly, a trade union which has those leanings and allegiances is not an affective deterrent to power, or those forces which strip working people of their jobs. It's very disappointing, and hurtful.
This has been happening with alarming frequency in the British media, even from left leanings organisations and figures, including The Guardian, and I'm honestly close to tears. This is so dulystopian and I've never felt afraid like this before. I'm white, and British, and I have a lot of privilege which means I've been lucky enough to not be afraid because of my race, and now I am.
If you're part of Unite and LGBT, and if you can bare it, try and get this man removed or, if you can't, consider leaving. They are on a dangerous path of exclusionism.
Maybe I'm being hyperbolic, and I hope this country does avoid it's swerve into transphobia.
Sorry it's so long, thanks for reading.
