The NewBridge Project Gallery is currently closed.
We are committed to supporting trans artists, and the trans community as a whole. We will defend your rights as far as we can, and use our platform and programme to combat misinformation. As part of this ongoing work, we put together this list of resources by, for and about transgender people.
As Pride month draws to a close, we want to make clear our ongoing support for the trans community. In response to the recent transphobic rhetoric in the UK, we commit ourselves publicly to honouring the roots of the movement. Pride began as a protest, organised by a black trans woman, because the basic human rights of queer people were not being met. This work must be continued, upheld, and understood.
We are dedicated to creating a safe and welcoming space, as well as providing tangible help and artist development to our LGBTQIA+ members. We are in the process of strengthening the values of equality and diversity in our programming, commissioning, outreach, bursaries, and overall structure.
Last year the UK Government commissioned a survey on whether to reform the Gender Recognition Act, to allow Self-ID. This would reduce the lengthy and emotionally destructive procedure currently in place to legally affirm your gender. Despite results showing 70% of the public were in favour, the decision has been taken to shelve the much-needed reform, and instead begin plans to exclude trans people from single-sex spaces.
This move would deny agency and basic human rights to an already vulnerable section of our society. This affects every aspect of life, from which public toilets can safely be used, to accessing healthcare – any healthcare. Once our buildings re-open, we will be adding our public toilets to the REFUGE restrooms app, to ensure everyone feels welcome, and knows where we are.
The pervasive myth that trans people are a new development in society, is incredibly damaging. The erroneous idea that anyone transgender is following a fad has been allowed to spread through lack of exposure to information and history. We are very grateful to those who have spent time putting together resources to redress this, including Lucy Diavolo who wrote these two brilliant articles: Gender Variance Around the World Over Time and LGBTQ Institute in Germany Was Burned Down by Nazis which details the destruction of the libraries of the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft in 1933 by Nazi demonstrators.
We are committed to supporting trans artists, and the trans community as a whole. We will defend your rights as far as we can, and use our platform and programme to combat misinformation.
As part of this ongoing work, we put together this list of resources by, for and about transgender people:
Don’t roll back on trans rights – guidance on writing to your MP and the PM, including a useful template
Write to the House of Lords Commissioner to complain about Baroness Nicholson’s conduct in respect of trans civil rights
If you work in a building with public toilets, encourage the management to add it to the REFUGE restrooms app, to indicate there is safe restroom access on your premises for transgender, intersex, and gender nonconforming individuals
Share infographics with your friends, family and co-workers, such as this post by Prishita Maheshwari-Aplin or these 6 Key Facts for Allies to Spread by Book 28 Library
Find ways to help on this United action against the scrapping of the GRA reforms and potential anti trans laws in the UK – put together by Wednesday Holmes
Sign all these petitions seeking equal rights for Trans people – compiled by ray
Look into safe, socially distanced protests for trans rights taking place in your area. You can find guidance on how to protest safely during a pandemic here.
Northern Pride – an LGBT+ charity, working to support, engage and assist the North East gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer community.
Gendered Intelligence – ‘understanding gender diversity in creative ways’ this trans-led organisation offers e-learning, resources and consultancy on Trans Inclusion and Equality
The Trevor Project – the leading US organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.
Mermaids – supporting gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care.
akt – supporting young LGBTQ+ people impacted by being displaced or made homeless because of their gender or sexuality
Curious Arts – Newcastle Gateshead based not-for-profit organisation developing LGBTQIA+ arts, artists and audiences across the North East of England
Rainbow Home – Working across the North East with LGBTQ+ asylum seekers and those who have been granted leave to remain but are unsettled
Be: Trans Support and Community – Working to improve the lives of Trans and Non-Binary people throughout the North East and West of England and beyond through peer support groups and social events
Exist Loudly Fund to Support Queer Black YP – by Tanya Compas
UKQTIBIPOC Emergency Relief & Hardship Fund by Evan Ifekoya Marcus Macdonald – to provide short term support to Queer, Trans and Intersex, Black, Indigenous, People of Color currently living in the UK who are affected by the outbreak and ongoing shutdown caused by Covid-19
Action for Trans Health attempts to improve healthcare for trans people
A guide to being an ally to transgender and nonbinary youth by The Trevor Project
How the UK and US are rolling back vital Trans Rights – by Brit Dawson for Dazed
Detailed response to the points made by J.K Rowling – by Andrew James Carter
Daniel Radcliffe responds to J.K Rowling’s tweets on gender identity
Addressing Racism in the LGBTQI Community by Prishita Maheshwari-Aplin
Daniel Lavery’s incredible parody of JK Rowling’s open letter
Government will reportedly scrap self-identification laws, despite public support in consultation – by Matt Moore for Gay Times
Trans People Already Struggle to Get Healthcare. COVID Only Made Things Worse – by Shon Faye for Vice
Letter to UK Prime Minister on Gender Recognition Reform – by Benjamin Ward, UK Director of Human Rights Watch
Cross-party LGBT+ groups unite to condemn Boris Johnson’s ‘plans to scrap trans self-identification’ – by Ashley Cowburn for The Independent
Make no mistake, the government is mandating state-sponsored violence against trans people by Aaron Gabriel Hughes for the Independent
Stonewall’s extensive resources, including Help & Advice for LGBT communities and their allies, guidance on Creating LGBT-inclusive workplaces, and The fight for trans rights and equality
Inclusivity: Supporting BAME Trans People by Sabah Choudrey for GIRES
Disclosure – a Netflix original Documentary. It is ‘an unprecedented, eye-opening look at transgender depictions in film and television, revealing how Hollywood simultaneously reflects and manufactures our deepest anxieties about gender’
Salacia – a new film by Tourmaline, produced by Keanu Reeves & starring Rowin Amone. The film ‘offers a speculative vision of Mary Jones, a Black trans woman and sex worker who lived in SoHo in the 1830s‘
Transgender activist Travis Alabanza on transphobia – for Pink News’ youtube channel
Thousands gather for ‘Black Trans Lives Matter’ rally in Brooklyn – 16 June, 2020 – Guardian News
Films by Transgender Writers and Directors – by Leonora Anne Mint for Letterboxd
Trans Representation film list by Drew. on mubi (includes some cis actors representing trans characters towards the end)
10 Movies to watch for Pride Month – by Trudie Graham
Trans 101 – The Basics by Minus18
What is gender? (Inspiring Equality in Education) by EACH UK – created by young people for young people
Support LGBTQIA+ Makers – Etsy’s pick for Pride 2020
Peachflavoredramen zines and stickers
Books, merch and resources from Category is Books – an independent queer bookshop in Glasgow
Trans Joy t-shirt designed by Liz McDade and printed by Lucky Cat Printing to fundraise for Trans March Manchester
Trans Zines – tiny acts of trans solidarity through the post
Support Trans Artists directory by Transgender Media Portal
Much like our resources for both Covid-19 support, and Black Lives Matter allyship, this page is intended as the starting point of a conversation. If you would like to suggest any amendments or additions to this page, we will be happy to edit. Please get in touch on admin@thenewbridgeproject.com
The NewBridge Project is supported by Arts Council England, Newcastle Culture Investment Fund, Newcastle University’s Institute for Creative Arts Practice and the North of Tyne Combined Authority.
