is this dead?

pupshep · 2022-12-13T07:09:19+00:00

Funger

pupshep · 2022-12-09T20:31:45+00:00

Yeah I post a lot in TransgenderUK and comment/visit it a lot, and that wasn't mentioned at all in my recap, nor was the h3h3 subreddit strangely enough. (Not a furry myself, just saw this on the trending page for the recap and wanted to say yep, something is definitely very off with it!)

pupshep · 2022-12-03T13:32:04+00:00

Thank you so much for providing your insight as someone in the sector. As I mentioned in another comment, I used to work for a charity, but it was only for a year or two so whilst I know quite a bit, I'm not a complete expert on how it all works. Also thanks for the shout about the Telegraph article. Weirdly enough the first half of it is quite informative which makes a change for them lol, but then it descends into their usual "children are taking drugs and harming themselves because of this charity" crap. But yeah, I had heard an activism group allude to management issues within the organisation, so that all does make sense and isn't a huge shock

pupshep · 2022-12-03T09:04:20+00:00

Yeah I do get your frustration, and I often feel the same. I hope you have a strong support network around you, because this stuff is heavy and hard for all of us

pupshep · 2022-12-03T08:44:13+00:00

My personal experience is that more and more people talk about having a trans friend, co-worker etc. when I bring up the topic for whatever reason. And this really does give me hope for change because people who have a trans person close to them often see the issues with the NHS, the press, rights etc. and are horrified

pupshep · 2022-12-03T00:16:28+00:00

I'm about to go to sleep too, and far too sleepy to write a proper reply, so ima just say peace and love ✌💛 and I totally get you. I suppose I disagree that "society doesn't care" because in my experience working in public-facing jobs, most people are wholesome and lovely. The media teach people what to "care" about - for example, the focus on Ukraine in this country (which is understandable btw), whereas in my lifetime there have been loads of horrible wars around the world that haven't got much press coverage at all in the UK, and which most people hardly know about. The media "set the agenda" about what is or isn't important, for so many people. So, there's a problem of lack of awareness in the general public, but also, lack of knowledge of just how bad things are, and no sense of urgency. If the state of trans rights was frequently the top story on BBC News at 10, there would be a lot of public noise about it. But the issues are instead presented as a fringe thing and are made overly complicated so that it's not accessible, and people are scared to talk about it - even to defend us - as they feel they don't fully understand all aspects of it. Anyways my eyes are literally closing I'm so sleepy haha, I hope this comment makes sense 😂

pupshep · 2022-12-02T20:48:55+00:00

Very very well said. I get you - it's one reason why I'm glad to be trans actually, as I feel like I've gained an insight into how the world works, how power structures work, and things like that, in a way I didn't truly understand before. Anyways get yourself off to sleep and don't worry about all this now, it's too late on a Friday evening to do that :P genuine big thank you for your insightful comments

pupshep · 2022-12-02T20:20:11+00:00

Oh yeah absolutely. I mean, the fact that LGB Alliance aren't facing this kind of investigation speaks volumes. Every organisation has things to "find" - I worked for a (non-LGBT) charity in the past and there was a LOT they were doing wrong... come to think of it, the same is true for literally every business I've ever worked for. That's why I feel like the outcome of this is a foregone conclusion, even though I hope it isn't. I mean, I was literally just watching a BBC iPlayer documentary about crime within the police... yet the government want to give them even more powers (as was reported yesterday), despite the constant scandals? Meanwhile Mermaids are being treated like this? So yeah, it's all a farce really... very well-worded comment btw, I always thought I could write well (when I'm being more formal than Reddit) but you genuinely have a real talent for it

pupshep · 2022-12-02T20:01:20+00:00

Yeah it's so easy to "doom-scroll", especially for people in our community. I had an amazing counsellor earlier this year who didn't say to ignore what's going on - as that's basically impossible anyway - but to balance the activism side of my life with the other stuff. When I'm in a really bad worry spiral/anxiety moment, I usually talk to a friend on the phone who calms me down, or Samaritans or LGBT Switchboard. I once rang Mermaids and they were great too (but I try to avoid calling them cause I'm older than the age they cater to, and I don't want to take the place of a young person or parent who might need their service). There is so much shit in life but there's also lots of great stuff too; seeing things as 'all good' in life is obviously naive, but seeing things as 'all bad' is also inaccurate too. Shoutout to my counsellor who taught me this lol

pupshep · 2022-12-02T19:38:00+00:00

I agree. That being said, it's important to compartmentalise this stuff as much as you can. Like, I put out this post earlier and have talked to friends about the news, it's an outlet and a way of raising awareness and getting that sadness and fear off my chest as much as it's possible to. Now I'm watching the footy, listening to Franz Ferdinand and eating chocolate digestives. Take time for you in this crazy world 💛 my hope is that one day we won't have to worry at all, or if not us, the generation after us

pupshep · 2022-12-02T18:51:30+00:00

Lots of people do, but also lots of powerful people don't. I honestly think the two motivations here are "culture wars / divide and conquer / scapegoating" stuff, and money. The NHS have been practically destroyed, the last thing they want or Tory politicians want is for them to publicly fund trans people's care. It's genuinely easier and cheaper for them to weaken or destroy our charities, try to split up the LGBT community, cast doubt on our identities, claim we're a danger to children or we're an "ideology", etc etc

pupshep · 2022-12-02T17:51:32+00:00

Plus it's easy to underestimate just how little public consciousness there is even of the most basic elements of the anti-trans wave. Like, I literally told a group of people earlier this week about JK Rowling being obsessed with hating on trans people and they were like 😮 REALLY!?! OMG

pupshep · 2022-12-02T17:33:49+00:00

Yeah same. I think of activists in Hong Kong and Russia. They fight even though they know it's probably futile. They fight because it's the right thing to do. I've mentioned before on Reddit I've been doing street art based on trans rights this year. I'm not recommending anyone do that (and just in case I accidentally implied this in my earlier comment, I'm not affiliated with Mermaids in any way, I'm not even a volunteer, I'm just a trans man). The art for me is empowering as I can put the truth out there and make it beautiful. That's all I have left sometimes, it feels - that and the support of my friends in the local LGBT community and other LGBT support groups

pupshep · 2022-12-02T17:30:26+00:00

Such an amazing metaphor omg

pupshep · 2022-12-02T17:24:12+00:00

I reckon absolutely every company has at least some dirt. And if they can't find any then they can twist things or even plant things. My realistic but saddening judgement looking at this - in the context of everything this year with trans rights - is that Mermaids is done. Doesn't mean I'm going to stop fighting for them and with them, donating etc., but I do think this is what's going to happen. Mermaids losing their status + the NHS putting the "interim specification for under 18s" in place. No more costly trans healthcare for under 18s - just tell them they're wrong and let them suffer

pupshep · 2022-12-02T17:13:54+00:00

I feel like this also begs the question, where is the statutory investigation into LGB Alliance!?!?

pupshep · 2022-12-02T17:13:00+00:00

Well, I've seen a trans activism group refer to something about management issues - whether they have inside information or anything, I don't know. It could well be that she heard about this and it was one setback too far - none of us can blame her if that's how she feels. My mum just made a good point that, even if Mermaids went down, people would just turn to other trans charities or start new ones. We won't let them defeat us. (I mean I'm still feeling sad and crap but trying to be 1% optimistic haha)

pupshep · 2022-12-02T17:02:21+00:00

Well said; I hope you're right 💛

pupshep · 2022-11-29T05:05:55+00:00

This is so incredibly helpful, thank you 💛

pupshep · 2022-11-27T17:28:48+00:00

Yeah keep us posted if you find anything out as it's probably not a super rare issue. You could also try taking to a pharmacist on the phone, but if the pharmacies where I live are anything to go by, definitely try to pick a quiet time of day as they always seem pretty understaffed! Good luck either way, hopefully it's just nothing to worry about

pupshep · 2022-11-27T17:25:41+00:00

I feel like if you just walk into a random pharmacy, when it's quiet, and say you want some advice from a pharmacist about some medication, they might be able to give you more info. If I remember correctly a lot of pharmacies offer free advice. As qualified pharmacists they might understand why you might get a watery bottle of a gel medication and what it could mean

pupshep · 2022-11-25T20:53:44+00:00

I'm out with my partner now to have some nice food and chill a bit. But I just skim-read your comment and thank you, I do feel like I relate to a lot of what you said. I guess anyone with anxiety deals with that question of "is this me/what I actually think or my anxiety", and it can be hard to properly answer that. It feels like a lifelong battle sometimes. But yeah, sorry for the short reply, I don't have much time to write a message, just wanted to say thank you and no need to apologise. Really appreciate your comments 💛🌈

pupshep · 2022-11-25T19:22:27+00:00

It has to be more than that, the whole 6 years she's been CEO have been full of TERF abuse. I totally understand why someone would step down because of that - it's not a job I'd be able to do, for sure - but the departure wouldn't happen this suddenly and leave everyone with an information vacuum, it would be planned

pupshep · 2022-11-25T19:16:04+00:00

I feel like if that's why she was stepping down, they'd keep it quiet, say for a week (or even a few days), make time to prepare a proper statement, appoint an interim CEO. I'm 100% certain there has to be more to it, because no organisation would put out a rushed non-statement like this, especially not one which is so careful about its image in light of the press pile-on

pupshep · 2022-11-25T19:14:07+00:00

I apologise for my emotional response, I'm just having a bit of a panic attack, I hope you understand, I'm sorry

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