They wrote in an email to What The Trans:
To whom it may concern,
I am a representative of BASH BACK, a trans led direct action group devoted to tackling the rising tide of transphobia in the UK. As I write this, actionists are conducting our first action at Wes Streeting’s office in Ilford North.
Wes Streeting, as you well know, is responsible for a heinous ban on puberty blockers for trans youth, as well as a swathe of other restrictions on transgender people’s healthcare rights.
He is also, according to at least one legal professional, personally responsible for covering up reports of the deaths of trans young people under the care of NHS England. Every day, trans people are dying as a result of his policies and his inaction.
As trans people, we refuse to take this lying down any longer. We have chosen to take action to demonstrate that we will not be victimised or scapegoated by Streeting and his ilk any longer. We will not allow more of our loved ones to be to be harrassed, to be legislated, to be excluded, to be denied healthcare, to be murdered. We are trans and we BASH BACK.
The British establishment has so clearly colluded to make sure we’re given no quarter to advocate for ourselves. We’re depicted, we’re demonised, we’re allowed to watch from the sidelines as two panels of cis people discuss with deceptive civility how to solve the problem that is our inclusion in society on their comfy news sofa - but if we take any action they can’t spin into rationale for retaliation it’s allowed to die in the wind.
We protest non-violently, it’s seldom covered by our media. We respond to poorly informed reports whose conclusions about our healthcare implemented would lead many of us to despair, we’re dismissed as biased. We organise one of the largest in-person parliament lobbying events in living memory, the domestic media leaves it for international outlets to report on.
But if we protest and leave a sticker reflecting our discontent? Trans vandalism, these sick people should just debate us. We speak too harshly against the people working incrementally towards our excision from society? Trans threats, these people are dangerous. We do a little bit of property damage so that literally anyone will pay attention? Trans criminality, maybe we need to bring the hammer down on them.
Meanwhile public healthcare for trans adults is a Kafkaesque endeavour in waiting lists which stretch on for years if not decades. Healthcare for trans youth is incrementally snuffed out entirely, and the data showing the rise in suicidality and self-harm consequent of that decision is suppressed. Trans people are quietly discriminated against such that many of us live in poverty, and despite that we’re disproportionate victims of violence and abuse support is often inaccessible to us.
We’re not going quietly into the night. We take actions to try and ensure that no member of our community goes without healthcare, we share resources to help each other avoid poverty, we offer each other support where nobody else will - but we won’t lie back and accept the barbarity of society’s reaction to us.
Intensifying action in response is a consequence of the fact that we’ve been given no air to speak, a consequence of the fact that despite our peaceful protestations and attempts at civil debate the assault on our participation in society at large is eroded away at further, a consequence of that we’re given no other options.
It’s only going to get more radical out there until society realises that we won’t accept decisions made about us without us.
Good.
I’m sure the “protests should target those responsible” crowd will be pleased with this too.
it’s what homophobes and transphobes deserve
they gonna get proscribed now too?
That’s going to work isn’t it?
You got a better idea?
Democracy is built on this shit. This is a clear attack on an elected official’s mandate. And it’s more or less the limit of what the people can do to express their discontent in modern civilised society. Or would you rather we just stayed home drinking wine and watching Love Island while our rights are eroded?
My friend you need to have a look around. Are you a fabulously wealthy while man? No? Then you’re on the same side as the trans youth, whether you like it or not.probably better than nothing. or waiting another few years to vote for another fraud so we can all pretend most of the world is “democratic”.
I doubt they’re trying to change his mind, more get payback on the people trying to legislate us out of existence
actionists? Good grief.
Yeah. That is absolutely the most important issue here.
Good grief, Penfold.
Ok so explain how costing citizens more public funds for repairs helps their cause and doesn’t just alienate everyone?
What they are is right-wing plants, trying to make trans groups take the fall for their idiocy. It’s clear as day.
Jesus fucking Christ. This will cost you less in your tax bill than the state’s support for the famine in Gaza.
People need to make a fucking point. Let them.I don’t live there, so I don’t really give a fuck. What I give a fuck about is groups like these giving the actual people they’re “defending” a bad name.
I don’t live there, so I don’t really give a fuck.
And yet you keep commenting.
But that’s not what you fucking said is it. You said that they are costing taxpayers. So why would you give a single solitary shite about that if it’s not your taxes? Where do you live? Why are you weighing in on this as though you do live here?
Offices are paid for centrally by a Parliamentary agency. Local taxes going to local things isn’t a thing in Britain.
You’re the absolute fucking opposite of a “witty” whatever the fuck. Messed up that username something bad if you can’t even fucking read a comment. Here, I’ll paste it again for you.
"Ok so explain how costing citizens more public funds for repairs helps their cause and doesn’t just alienate everyone?
What they are is right-wing plants, trying to make trans groups take the fall for their idiocy. It’s clear as day."
I even highlighted the important parts, in case your crayon filled nose is covering up the phone. Looney tunes motherfucker.
Absolutely incredible. The front of you to put that edit in then gaslight as though it was there when I wrote my comment.
Removed by mod
Stupid numbfuck mongoloid.
That’s a very good point you make.
You’re a bad troll, you could use your time to do good you know?
Had to go get your alt account, huh?
Why don’t you doubly fuck off then.
You’ve made my point my guy
Emiline Pankhurst and the suffragettes were terrorists, and even called themselves terrorists. They won that fight didn’t they despite plenty of reactionary “someone please think of the taxpayer” cowards.
They did not win. Again, the WSPU completely abandoned its campaign with no results on the outbreak of war. Pankhurst had already moved on to ethno-nationalist politics by the time the vote was extended. In any case, the Suffragette version of the franchise excluded working class men and women, as Pankhurst didn’t think they would vote in the Empire’s interest. Even when Women got the vote it wasn’t in the way the WSPU wanted.
What’s your point? Direct action doesn’t work because unless your results align 100% with your initial goals?
My point is that in modern Britain, violence hasn’t been a route to any “freedom”
“But can’t you see that protesting won’t change anything, so why even bother”, the antiprotestors loudly protested.
Username checks out.
Quickly looking through the guidelines, it seems the public wouldn’t fund damage costs.
