Features / Trans
‘If you come to our parties, come to our protests’
Bristol is a city that is renowned for its nightlife scene.
According to Bristol city council’s ‘The City at Night report 2024‘, one third of the city’s total spending happens at night, 41 per cent of employees work in night time industries and £74m is generated from the city’s night time economy.
Trans-led nightlife events are an important feature of Bristol’s LGBTQ+ nightlife landscape. Queer nightlife provides a vital space for the city’s LGBTQ+ community to freely express who they are. Many friendships and connections have been created from sharing space across the city’s dancefloors.
is needed now More than ever
Trans women are regularly platformed through nights like Queerky and Raise the NRG, events known for their boundary-pushing music and welcoming atmosphere.
On April 16 the UK Supreme Court ruled the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex. This sent shockwaves through the trans community, including many in Bristol.
Trans women deserve the right to exist in the way they wish and Bristol24/7 interviewed trans women nightlife curators and DJs to find out more about how this decision could affect the queer nightlife scene and how they feel the public can offer support.
Ash, DJ and Event Curator – Raise the NRG
Ash says she has lost a lot of confidence being out in public since the Supreme Court ruling – photo: Finnegan Crawley
How are you feeling since the court ruling?
“It’s been incredibly upsetting for me. I have lost so much confidence in being out in public spaces. I don’t particularly pass (as a woman) so I stand out. I have felt a lot of eyes on me. I used to not care about that, because I am just living as my authentic self.
“But I’ve been finding it really hard. People misgender me, which I used to have a shield up for. My ability to combat that has been taken away. I feel very conscious when I’m in public spaces. It’s made me scared.
“Our trans community is scared. It’s opened the door for people to be openly hateful towards us. I’m genuinely scared to go into women’s toilets now. They used to be a safe space for me. I’ve not been into a women’s toilet since the Supreme Court ruling. I’m scared someone will start an argument with me. That’s how I feel – I’m scared.”
How has Bristol supported you?
“I’ve received a lot of lovely messages from people. For me, I want people to use their anger and emotions about this ruling and transform it into action. There have been demonstrations in Bristol but we need to organise around issues like raising funds to make blood testing available.
“The trans community is not going to go anywhere. I’m not going to de-transition. I am a woman. If anyone says anything different, it’s my existence, I can’t change it.
“We’ve had a great turnout to protests – this needs to continue. I have noticed who has and hasn’t been present in supporting us as a community. If people really want me to feel safe, they need to show up for us.
“We have ‘trans allies’ who enjoy our spaces and attend our events. It’s been disappointing to notice the absence of some of these so-called allies. If you enjoy our culture and come to our parties you need to support us when it matters. If you come to our parties, come to our protests.
“At the moment, I’m angry and I’m upset. Our cisgendered, straight allies need to do more. That’s where the conversations need to happen. If you’re struggling to find ways to support, just use your phone. There’s always ways to connect and support our community.”
Ash says people should work to make Bristol’s trans community feel safe when out in public – photo: Finnegan Crawley
What more can people do to support Bristol’s trans community?
“For all causes, I think it’s really simple. Just use Google. If you look up Bristol trans charities you’ll find so many ways to support us. I’m quite tired of explaining how people can support us. It’s really simple. It’s the same as if you were at university, doing your research. It would take 20 minutes to find resources in Bristol.
“If you care about trans people, do some research, ask friends for resources to donate to our community.
“Try to make trans people feel safe when you see them out in public. Every time I step outside the door, I’m scared someone’s going to cause a fuss. Say hi to your trans friends out in public, make them feel comfortable.
“People like me will be scared right now. They will be angry, and upset, but they will be scared. It’s very important to make your trans friends feel safe in public right now.”
Maxi – DJ, Resident at Queerky
Maxi calls for donations to gender-affirming care and more organising on a local level – photo: Maxi Frost
Why are trans rights important in Bristol?
“The Supreme Court ruling made me lose any trust I had in the government. However, we do have a lot of control over our local areas. That’s why I’m choosing to invest in grassroots organising, which Bristol is great for,”
“We can make Bristol as safe a space as possible for our city’s trans community. The best way to do that is to make it well known in every aspect that trans people are supported. Whether that is by companies, venues or politicians.
“For example, there’s an initiative called Safe Spaces Bristol. This is a group of companies and organisations which publicly support trans people. These are organisations that will not deviate from their position on allowing trans people to use their bathroom of choice. If we can get a majority of businesses to sign up to this, then trans people will know they are welcome,”
How can people support Bristol’s trans community?
“The news cycle has moved on. So I ask myself the question, are cisgendered people thinking about it? Are people in networks without trans people troubled? Do they even talk about it? We need a public opinion shift. People need to know we are here and our rights are being taken away from us.
“It’s important that the conversation keeps moving. There’s not enough trans people to lift this alone. We need it to be a focus for more than just the trans community. You can talk about it, you can donate to gender-affirming surgery, there’s a lot of legal funds to appeal against the Supreme Court decision.
“You can also donate on a more local level. Trans people in Bristol need access to gender-affirming care. If you own a venue, or know someone who does, you should encourage them to join the Safe Spaces Bristol initiative.
“Organising can be really simple too. It can be connecting people to hold conversations. You can help us brainstorm as well. It’s great to get multiple minds together and see how we can move forward.”
Erin, DJ
Erin says trans women who can afford gender-affirming surgery often experience more safety others who can’t – photo: Erin (Murderess)
How did the Supreme Court ruling affect you?
“The ruling means anyone can police how well we can pass. This is an invitation for racism, genetics and ableism to come into play. People will feel empowered to call out whether or not they believe we are biologically women.
“I’ve been very privileged to be able to afford Hormone Replacement Therapy. I’ve experienced a lot of privilege with how the public interacts with me. This means I can feel safer, which is so wrong. This law creates a total inequality on how well trans women can pass as women. It impacts trans women with low incomes who cannot afford the surgery that will allow them to be safer and more comfortable.”
Erin calls on the public to learn counter-arguments to transphobic rhetoric – photo: Erin (Murderess)
What do you think people should do to support Bristol’s trans community?
“Do something organised, that’s all I can say. Stop posting memes and newsreels to show you’re not part of the problem. You’re not part of the solution for posting that.
“Learn talking points, e.g. chromosomal, genital and hormonal arguments for what makes a woman. Research around how these arguments are flawed. Reference other countries where self ID is available.
“People need to realise the fear-mongering hypotheticals spread by gender-critical campaigners are not true. Talking points are valid, and can help breakdown false narratives.
“You can write letters to MPs. You can find petitions to sign. Donate, if you can, to trans charities, fundraisers and mutual aid. There’s so much you can do that’s not just posting on social media. You can repost something, and everyone will agree with you, but that’s not doing anything. Likes aren’t going to make us feel safe. Turning your words into action will.”
Main Image: Finnegan Crawley
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