"Transgender people should have their own visibility and voice"

Trans people across Merseyside are being encouraged to speak out, get support and not to suffer in silence.

Today is International Transgender Day of Visibility which aims to shed light on some of the discrimination trans people face in everyday life.

To mark the day we caught up with 12-year-old Emily Waldron, who, around five years ago started her journey to become her true self.

Emily told us: "If a child or young person is trans or wanted to be, you should support them no matter what, because at the end of the day, we're all people and there's nothing really be fighting about."

"We should all have human rights. There shouldn't be second class people."

She says after speaking out she was able to speak to people who understood the issues and recieve help

"Since I was nine I started to go to those meetings and it really helped me out."

"It's been four years, almost five since I started going there it's changed my life because I've got to learn about those people who have struggles and talk about it to people who can actually understand my problems as well."

"I would say don't judge people before you get to know them because they could be someone who in later life could change your life."

"It's good to be visible and all transgender people should have their own visibility and voice."

According to LGBT charity Galop's annual hate crime report, in 2020, 80% of trans people had experienced some kind of transphobic hate crime.

Additionally, 70% of people who were surveyed for the report said transphobia had disrupted their daily routine and more than half feared leaving their house.

Reports of transgender hate crime to Merseyside police almost doubled in the year 2019-2020 with 72 incidents being reported compared to 46 the previous year.

However, it's also feared that the vast majority of hate crimes go unreported. A study by the University of Huddersfield in 2016 suggested police aren't told about more than 170,000 hate crimes every year in the UK.

Emily Mum's, Emma has been right by her side but told us, at times, it's been a tough journey:

"I think those that feel that they can speak out really should, especially allies."

"The transgender community seems to be constantly under attack. That is one common trait that has been there throughout Emily's journey."

"There is always a very small but very vocal minority, that scream and shout about transgender people."

"At the end of the day, they're just trying to get on with their lives and to have the same rights; the same qualities; and the same respect as everybody else."

"We should all be treated equally, and we should all be treated with kindness and respect."

Help & Support

If your struggling, help is always available somwhere, check you the below resources.

LGBT Helpine: https://lgbt.foundation/helpline

Supportline: https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/gender-identity/

Mermaids: https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/parents/