• Statement on Transgender Day of Remembrance 2019

    Earlier this year, someone was convicted in Glasgow Sheriff Court of sending me threatening and abusive messages. The offence was found to be aggravated by prejudice related to both sexual orientation and transgender identity. Someone had threatened my life, and my own association and support for trans people was one of the reasons for the prejudice and one of the reasons that the court and the police took the offence as seriously as they did.

    Whilst it was unpleasant having to deal with that incident, I’m well aware that it was the one time in my life when I’ve seriously suffered myself from prejudice against people with a trans identity. Those who are trans have to deal with this prejudice every day as they make their way through life. Such prejudice seems to have become more vocal and confident recently.

    My own limited and partial experience of dealing with this is one factor in why I am prepared to stand alongside those who mark today as the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Violence and prejudice against people is wrong. Trans people are simply people. Prejudice and violence against trans people is simply wrong.

    However, in stating that I stand alongside trans people in remembering that they suffer from violence and prejudice, I also am reminded that as I stand alongside trans people I stand alongside people whom I’ve known to be creative, brave, funny, interesting and whole. I know and have worked with trans priests and admire them. My own congregation includes trans people with all kinds of diverse experience who are not simply defined by their trans identity. When I think of them, I think of people who make the world a better place.

    The world will be a better place when violence against anyone because of their identity is eliminated.

    Remembering trans people whose lives have been taken from them, I lament their loss and pray that they may rest in peace and rise to make heaven more glorious.

    Remembering trans people who are alive, I thank God for them and pray that their lives may be filled with joy.

    [Comments on this post will be moderated]

11 responses to “Blogroll”

  1. Tim Avatar

    (Yeah, I’ve given up on wittering. Transpires Q, in which I wrote that thing, was too CPU-intensive for the poor wee colo-server to cope with when bots came knocking, so it had to go; it’s all-but a dead language now anyway…)

  2. kelvin Avatar

    There are easier ways to host a blog, Tim…

  3. Coxy Avatar
    Coxy

    Mental. On my ‘to do’ list for today was to write a ‘back blogging’ post…

    Very strange!

  4. kelvin Avatar

    Think of it as the Holy Spirit, Nick.

    Or alternatively think of it as synchronicity as many of the rest of us might do.

    Glad you are coming back.

  5. FrPaulB Avatar
    FrPaulB

    David Campbell’s blog has long since moved to here:
    http://limpingtowardsthesunrise.wordpress.com/

    1. kelvin Avatar

      So it does. Thanks, I’ve updated the link.

      I usually read Fr David’s blog in google reader. What an exotic layout it has in real life!

  6. David Campbell Avatar

    My dears, I can only wish I were as exotic in real life!

  7. ryan Avatar
    ryan

    Hope Nick starts blogging again too! He did a post reviewing The Dark Knight once, which is more down-wit’-da-kidz than highfalutin’ praepostorial theatre reviews 😉 (that said, do hope you do The Habit of Art! :-))

  8. John McLuckie Avatar
    John McLuckie

    Thanks Kelvin, I’ll have a look at the rss thing – it’s all a bit new to me still!
    J

    1. kelvin Avatar

      Thanks John – you’ve already got a nicely behaving rss feed for your content but I can’t find one for comments.

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