5 ways to cope with the distressing news cycle as a trans+ person
GAY TIMES worked with Galop and Not a Phase to help trans and non-binary people struggling with distressing stories in the media.
WORDS BY CONOR CLARK HEADER BY ANISA CLEAVER From stories about another transphobic incident to social commentators debating what a woman is, the news can often feel overwhelming to look at for transgender and non-binary people.
Anti-trans rhetoric has been described as “rife” in the British press, with members of the trans+ community increasingly written or spoken about in a negative light. “When there’s a news story about a transphobic incident, there is often little concern shown by media or on social media about the privacy and dignity of trans+ victims and survivors of abuse,” says Ruth Mason, Director of Services at Galop, the UK’s leading anti-abuse charity for LGBTQIA+ people. “This is harmful for both survivors and the wider trans+ community.
After media coverage of a transphobic incident, we often hear from trans+ people who are feeling overwhelmed or hopeless, and it can be easy to get caught in a cycle of consuming negative content.” A spokesperson for Not a Phase, a trans-led, grassroots charity dedicated to awareness campaigning, social projects and funding new initiatives for the community, adds that “it’s important to have different ways of coping with news that can be traumatic and triggering for the community,” further stating that “it’s always important to remember that you should never be ashamed or guilty of having boundaries.” To help trans and non-binary people struggling with negative stories in the media, GAY TIMES worked with Galop and Not a Phase on ways to cope with them.
