Transgender Awareness Week takes place each year between November 13 to 19, to celebrate the trans community and raise awareness of the ongoing issues trans people face.
This year, UNISON is marking the event by featuring a few of the union’s trans activists, asking them to tell us a bit about themselves, what people who don’t identify as trans or non-binary can do to be allies, and why they are proud to be UNISON members.
We will also be lighting up the UNISON Centre building in trans flag colours, to show our solidarity and pride in our trans and non-binary members and community.
As always, the week leads to the Transgender Day of Remembrance on 20 November, which honours the memory of transgender people whose lives have been lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.
If you would like more information on trans or non-binary issues, take a look at the UNISON factsheets on trans here and non-binary here.
If you are marking Trans Awareness Week in your branch or workplace, we’d love to know about it! Drop us a tweet or Facebook us @UNISONLGBT or email out@unison.co.uk.
Jenny Black
How do you self-identify/what are your pronouns?
I am a trans woman. My pronouns are she/her.
What’s your job and what do you love most about it?
My substantive post is a manager in my local authorities sport and leisure service, but now I am on full time release to UNISON and am the branch chair.
I love being able to help people – most of my work is in the community and voluntary sector, where some employer practices can be quite challenging, helping the employee and educating the employer always feels rewarding for me.
How can someone that wants to be an ally to the trans or non-binary community best go about it?
Firstly, I would recommend visiting UNISON’s LGBT+ page on the website and reading some of the fact sheets and guides relating to trans and non-binary people. These will give you a basic toolkit with which to engage with the community.
One of the key things is to listen to trans and non-binary people when they talk about how they identify, the challenges their identity brings and how they deal with that. If you genuinely want to be an ally then you need to be prepared to stand alongside trans and non-binary people in difficult times, never speaking for them but always with them.
What makes you proud to be a UNISON member?
The solidarity and friendships our union enables us to develop. Before I got involved with UNISON and my regional LGBT+ self-organised group, I hardly knew any LGBT+ people, so my support network was tiny.
Now I have colleagues and friends the length and breadth of the country that I can contact for help or advice on a really wide range of issues. I have learnt so much from them and at times feel in awe of their knowledge and activism.
Garryck Holmes
How do you self-identify/what are your pronouns?
I identify as a transgender man and my pronouns are he/him.
What’s your job and what do you love most about it?
By day I am a public protection support officer for the police, by night I am a coach and referee for my roller derby league. I am the communications & LGBT+ officer for my UNISON branch too.
All of my roles, for me, are about supporting those who need it most and ensuring I can provide a safe and non-judgemental space for all.
How can someone that wants to be an ally to the trans or non-binary community best go about it?
Learn! Take time to educate yourself. Follow queer influencers and be open to learning more. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – no one wants you to walk on eggshells around them. If you make a mistake with pronouns, just apologise and move on!
What makes you proud to be a UNISON member?
UNISON really does care about people’s welfare. The amount of fighting they do in the background on all of our behalf is incredible, and to be part of that is a wonderful thing.
All of that, and knowing a brilliant bunch of people have my back if I ever need it, with no judgement, just support.
Phillippa Lauren Scrafton
How do you self-identify/what are your pronouns?
She/her.
What’s your job?
I am senior programmes officer/client account manager, North East England, for Stonewall.
How can someone that wants to be an ally to the trans, or non-binary community best go about it?
Listen to trans and non-binary people first and foremost. Hear our voices and understand the issues. Engage with the community and support local trans and non-binary groups.
There is a lot of misinformation and toxic rhetoric reported about trans communities – especially trans young people – in the media in an effort to undermine the rights of trans communities, most of it written by ‘cis’ or non-trans people.
Check the facts for yourself … UNISON, Stonewall, Mermaids, Scottish Trans Alliance are good places to start alongside many others.
What makes you proud to be a UNISON member?
I’ve been a UNISON member from its very beginning, and I was the first trans co-chair of the national LGBT committee in UNISON’s history.
I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with members across the UK in fighting for the rights of not just LGBT+ members, but all our members!
Emma Procter
How do you self-identify/what are your pronouns?
I identify as a woman and my pronouns are she/her.
What’s your job and what do you love most about it?
My job is in traffic data collection and analysis for a county council, and I love it because it combines my technical knowledge and contributes to community well-being.
How can someone that wants to be an ally to the trans, or non-binary community best go about it?
Don’t assume you know how someone identifies – especially for non-binary people. If you’re not sure, ask politely if possible and appropriate, but don’t be intrusive or too personal.
UNISON has lots of resources on trans and non-binary issues, so make that your first port of call.
What makes you proud to be a UNISON member?
Essentially, it’s the fact that equality is at the heart of all we do!
Sophie Robinson
How do you self-identify/what are your pronouns?
I identify as a trans woman and use the pronouns she/her/hers.
What’s your job and what do you love most about it?
I am a registered mental health nurse, but I’m currently on full time release working as a UNISON rep. I am a joint equalities officer and I regularly represent members in disciplinaries and grievances.
I also provide training within my organisation on being inclusive of gender diversity. This helps staff members to better understand how to be an ally to trans and non-binary people.
What makes you proud to be a UNISON member?
I have been a member of UNISON for over 30 years and I have always been proud of our focus on equality. I think this is what sets us apart from other trade unions.
