Munroe Bergdorf’s defiant response after JK Rowling slams Glamour WOTY trans honour

Evening Standard

Munroe Bergdorf’s defiant response after JK Rowling slams Glamour WOTY trans honour.

Transcript

00:00The theme of the Women of the Year Awards this year, and the thing that is about me to you all, is sisterhood.

00:08An understanding of one another, and a knowing that no matter how much time passes, we will always have each other's back.

00:16As anti-trans sentiment grows around the world, especially here in the UK, it's heartening and encouraging

00:22to see passive allyship evolve into active advocacy, a lending of one's status, power, or voice to support us when we need you the most.

00:33That spirit is reflected here tonight, and in the Protect the Dolls campaign that broke through the noise of this year.

00:41We are so grateful for your protection, but please let that enthusiasm turn into action.

00:50Hey, the dolls!

00:52Employ the dolls!

00:59Take the dolls off that mood board, and put us in front, dolls, and behind the camera.

01:07Love the dolls out loud, and speak up to the dolls in the face of adversity, whether we're in the room with you or not.

01:15I hope that this award, and this cover, can stand as a celebration for our entire community, and a beacon for those not yet living authentically.

01:24It certainly would have been, for me, as a teenager, obsessing over the magazine rack.

01:31Monroe?

01:34Thank you, Gama and Connor.

01:35It's an honour to be part of this cover moment.

01:36To accept this recognition on behalf of my community with my sisters, it's really incredible, and love the cover.

01:41We found ourselves in a deeply disturbing and uncertain point in history.

01:42It can no longer be said that we're descending into fascism.

01:48Fascism is here, and it's up to all of us to keep each other safe, to, yes, protect the dolls, but also to protect each other.

01:55Whilst all of us standing on this stage are sisters, we're all your sisters, your allies, your friends, and your comrades.

02:09We keep each other safe.

02:11Protection will always be a two-way struggle.

02:14sisters, we're also your sisters, your allies, your friends and your comrades.

02:20We keep each other safe. Protection will always be a two-way street. The

02:27demonization of transgender people serves to not only segregate trans

02:32women from cis women, but the trans community from public life. It also serves

02:38to segregate society from its humanity and eventually human rights from us all.

02:43Safety, dignity, shelter, privacy, healthcare, protest, freedom from

02:51discrimination, and freedom of expression of rights that should be protected for us

02:58all. However, trans people are being failed by our government at almost every

03:03turn. Transphobia is and will always be the thin side of the wedge. The violence we

03:09condone for any of us is the violence we condemn us all to. Discrimination and

03:15exclusion can never be acceptable for anyone, regardless of your gender

03:19identity, race, faith, class, ability, nationality, or sexuality. Whenever you see

03:27it, regardless of who it is, be that protector, be that person. We keep each

03:34other safe. We protect each other. Thank you.

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