First of all, we would like to confirm that after a further consultation trans drag performers will be invited to perform at Free Pride on the 22nd August. If you are a trans drag performer and would like to perform on the day, please get in touch by sending a message to the Free Pride page.
The trans caucus and Free Pride as a whole thought protecting the privacy of trans drag performers was the most important thing, but trans drag performers have let us know that letting them perform is more important to them. People appeared to understand that we attempted to communicate that trans drag performers' rights are secondary to other trans people's rights. We did not mean to send this message and apologise to trans drag performers for unintentionally doing so. Unfortunately this also appears to have offended trans drag performers. We did not in any way mean to equate cis (who are often seen as transmisogynistic by some portions of the Trans community) drag performers with trans drag performers.
We would like to explicitly state that while we attempt to include everyone, we have always, and will always aim to put the needs and voices of the most marginalised first.
Yesterday at our meeting, representatives from Xpress radio and two Glasgow drag queens attended to discuss our policy on having no drag performers at the Free Pride event, and the resultant reaction on social media. The meeting was productive, and we thank those from outside Free Pride for coming to voice their criticism in a constructive manner. As a result of the meeting we have also decided to make the following statement:
Our event aims to represent those underrepresented in our community, including but not limited to trans and non-binary people, women, People of colour, intersex people, asexual people and people with disabilities. As such we have decided to prioritise the needs of trans women to feel safe and included in our event. Some trans women have expressed unhappiness with cis drag performances since they broadly feel that such performances are more about entertainment (at their expense) than gender expression, in contrast to many Trans and non-binary drag performers.
We understand that many, if not all other venues celebrating pride around Glasgow will have drag performers throughout the day and so we want to provide something different. We understand that drag is multifaceted and complex, and drag acts come from all angles and in a lot of different styles and we certainly do not want to attack individual drag queens or imply that all drag is inherently transphobic or problematic. However our focus for the day will be on creating an alternative that puts minorities within our community at the heart of event.
There has been a huge reaction to our decision on social media in the last few days, which included comments that violated our safer spaces policy. The decision to delete comments was taken to moderate comments that violated our safe space policy, however due to the vast number of comments and the time of night when many of our admins were not available, this proved difficult and comments appeared to be moderated inconsistently. We would like to make it clear than any comments deleted are deleted as a result of violating our safer spaces policy, which we will make clearer in the future. This policy seeks to ensure that no one is discriminatory, abusive or threatening both in our meetings and on our social media platforms so that everyone can participate freely. We would also like to remind people that free pride is organised by people giving up their spare time and that we have no full-time members of staff. You can find our safer spaces policy
https://freeprideglasgow.wordpress.com/2015/07/20/free-pride-safer-space-policy/.
We would like to clarify that the Free Pride like page and twitter account are the only accounts that represent the views of Free Pride. Comments on the personal accounts of people involved in organising Free Pride, only represents their personal opinion. In addition, Free Pride cannot reply to every comment but instead will reply where appropriate, when a reply has been agreed by the group. We hope people can appreciate that we make decisions collectively, and ask for your patience when awaiting a reply.
We want to thank those who have contributed to the discussion constructively and wish everyone a happy pride, wherever you decide to go, on August 22nd.
When I was isolated and anxious the first time I went to a rainbow bar, it was a drag queen who made me feel welcome.
When U.S. law criminalised LGBT people, it was a drag queen who first lashed out and started a riot.
I've never had any doubt that drag queens are on my side or felt any shame or anxiety in associating with them.
Some of them might have been cis. Some of them might have been trans. I don't ask them to identify - or rather, publicly out themselves - one way or the other.
Drag queens have been the most visible and also the most targeted of the gay community for many years and have bravely made our plight felt over the years, it's an insult to those brave drag queens who suffered verbal and physical abuse, ridicule and persecution to BE PROUD Of who they were!
I for one will NOT be attending now as this is a total kick in the teeth to our drag brothers and sisters.
Yet here we have a massive group of cis people trying to shut down a grassroots event.
All this organisation did was decide against booking drag acts to perform. Perform. Not attend. Perform.
There is no dress code banning anything.
In fact since the whole thing started they are now inviting trans drag acts to perform.
And as I'm sure you've already been reminded, those Drag Queens you're so desperate to exclude were the ones that got the rest of us off our closeted asses in the first place.
So screw your Free "Shame" event. The rest of us will be with ones we love, whether they're in feather boas and heels or denim and sneakers.
By allowing transgender drag performers but not cisgender performers you are in violation of your own safer spaces policy... this is why people will not take you seriously.
How quickly we forget our own history. Trans performers being offended by cis-drag performers? Are you high?! Isn't drag, in and of itself, an art of creating the illusion? Have some trans people forgotten their gay history? It was the drag queens who fought the police the hardest at Stonewall. Had it not been for their efforts, life would be very different for LGBT people. Don't bite the hands that fed you, don't forget history, and put on your big girl panties by growing thicker skin for fuck sake.
The event is now so far removed from the supposed original cause.
The organisers clearly want this event to be a Trans specific event, which would be fine if they marketed it as such. They should get some guidance from the organisers of Sparkle, who actually know how to put on such an event, and can work WITH Manchester Pride.
Perhaps it was an oversight?
As for the rest, I understand the discomfort with drag by some - drag usually seems at least a bit misogynist to me, it relies upon stereotypes and characterizatio
Granted I'm not MTF or anywhere near that side of the spectrum, but I'm really so disappointed with your decision. It is not that I don't see a shred of logic behind what you're doing, but it is really so far off the mark that it is sadly quite comical. A well meaning group of motivated people that seem to be extremely relevant in their beliefs ending up portraying the exact image that us trans people are trying to distance ourselves from. Through bending over backwards in an attempt of accommodating trans people, you've temporarily damaged our cause. I'm too tired of this shit to be angry anymore. Any sense of hopefulness you gave to me over this past month is well and truly gone.
A blanket ban saying "cisgender gay people cannot perform at this event" when the event is aimed toward some of those individuals is the equivalent of saying "transgender people cannot perform at this event."
It is not discriminatory to ban specific content from an event. It is discriminatory to ban an entire group based on their group membership. For example, pride events often ban anti-gay speakers from "performing" at an event, but you will notice many performers are straight.
I have tried to remain quiet about this, since I am cisgender and may appear biased, but I am being consistent based on the definition of discrimination.
I understand the sentiment behind Free Pride's decision, but I also believe it is inconsistent with the message of the LGBT rights movement. I also understand some trans people consider certain performers to be misogynistic -- I agree. Ban them. But a blanket ban? That's discriminatory.
I believe in safe spaces. I don't think that means we should ever cut off communication with the majority group. Free Pride says they want to put the rights of the most marginalized first -- this is a terrible precedent. As a gay man, I don't think my rights should come before a straight man's. But I do think rights should be applied CONSISTENTLY.
There are some trans people who (clearly) may disagree with me, but I am applying the same consistent logic I've applied all other times for rights issues.
Icarus comes to mind.
1
If anyone posts anything you disagree with you will delete their comment under the guise of your "safe space" policy which you are blatantly breaching by discriminating against people at your event.
2
It is a point of principle under the "safe space" policy that the drag act policy excludes all drag acts as it would be oppressive to insist Trans drag acts be forced to reveal their gender identity.
Until it doesn't. Which seems to be now.
3
Your respect for everyone regardless of their gender identity is all inclusive and welcoming.
Unless you want to discriminate against "cisgendered" drag acts by discriminating against, censoring and banning those people from your event.
Question:
Is this really a Pride event or simply an event organised by a group of bitter trans and non-binary people who want the power to enforce their hatred of others under the guise of a Pride event?
If the Free Pride organisers do include a wider membership then where are the voices of people who genuinely want to be inclusive and welcoming of everyone who wishes to celebrate with friends, colleagues and allies regardless of their gender identity, sexuality, appearance, age, race, height, weight, religion, hair colour or any other personal characteristic?
I suggest the organisers of this event read about some of the terms and definitions they are so happy to throw around. Read about the history of oppression, hatred, marginalisation
Talk to more than a handful of intolerant extremists if you're planning a a Pride event.
You never know. You might learn something and stop making fools of yourselves so publicly.
I understand the need to separatist spaces and I'm always down to question the roles in which we play. But now to back track and start the policing of who and who isn't trans to be a drag queen is kinda mad lol... at an inclusive pride event... It would be interesting to know who is making these decisions,
...But high five at trying to do make something happen in this shit hole world....gettin
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