UK billboards commemorate trans history with message: “Always been here. Always will be.”
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May 6th marks the commencement of the U.K.’s inaugural Trans+ History Week, a celebration of the history of trans, nonbinary, gender-conforming, and intersex individuals. This initiative, spearheaded by the organisation QueerAF, showcases a series of billboards across major U.K. cities emblazoned with the message, “Always been here. Always will be,” according to ‘LGBTQ Nation’.
Image Credit: Canva
Marty Davies, the creator of Trans+ History Week, shared that the inspiration came upon discovering the Nazi book burnings that targeted trans texts. “Exactly a year ago, I found out I’d been denied important history about myself and my community,” they explained. “Learning that one of the most famous Nazi book burnings was at a trans clinic was a huge surprise to me. But it made me wonder why – if it’s an image we all saw in school, what else was denied to us?” In a piece for QueerAF, Davies pondered the impact of learning this history in school.
“Perhaps if my class and I had learned that the Nazis had targeted what is understood to be the world’s first Trans+ clinic. That it was host to one of the first of these infamous incidents, maybe it would have sent us a signal? That attacking the Trans+ community leaves you on the wrong side of history.”
“Perhaps I would have been able to embrace my gender identity as a child. Perhaps I would have felt able to share that with my friends or found community and solidarity with other Trans+ kids.” Davies said that denying individuals their history is also a denial of their humanity. “If we deny people their history, we deny them their humanity. Writing about this moment set me on a path to learn more and make our history accessible to everyone.”
Davies also highlighted the significance of trans individuals narrating their own stories, as they are often spoken about but seldom heard. “We have created space for all of us to stand joyfully in our present with our hands wrapped around our past. Using this knowledge to steel us as we carve out a better future.”
In addition to the billboard campaign, this week features a series of events that spotlight trans creatives. In March, QueerAF launched an educational workbook. Those interested can also subscribe to receive a history article every day throughout the week.
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