'Trans Kids Deserve Better' raises almost £5000 after disrupting LGB Alliance conference with 6000 Crickets
Young UK trans activists take bold action against anti-trans hate group
A group of young trans activists, operating under the name "Trans Kids Deserve Better," have raised almost £5,000 to continue their direct actions, after disrupting the anti-trans hate group LGB Alliance’s conference in London by releasing 6,000 crickets into the conference hall.
The kids were taking direct action against the LGB Alliance, which spreads transphobic misinformation and works to undermine transgender rights in the UK and abroad. The event took place at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster, causing a halt to the conference as attendees were forced to evacuate the main hall.
"We are so proud of ourselves for ending their spewing of violent hate," the group stated on their JustGiving crowdfunding page. "A bug's gotta eat and we can't feed them forever. Thank you so much to anyone who can support us financially; you make this and all our future actions possible."
Trans Kids Deserve Better have been doing several types of direct action in recent months to highlight the need for real positive change for transgender people in the UK, particularly youth.
The group’s website speaks to the dire conditions, “our supportive parents have been threatened with child safeguarding referrals, our pharmacies have been forced to hold back our medications, and our schools have been made battle grounds with us at the same time as weapon, aggressor, and victim. We refuse to live like this. We deserve better.”
TKDB organises direct action in an attempt to draw attention to the dire reality that transgender people face in the UK.
The UK is working to implement the recommendations of the Cass Review, a review into transgender health widely seen to be a political document designed to justify the removal of healthcare from transgender people. The Cass Review has been widely rejected by international health organisations and authorities, including those in Australia and the US.
The Trans Kids Deserve Better crowdfunding campaign initially set a goal of £1,000 but quickly surpassed it, reaching over £4,500 with contributions from more than 200 supporters. The funds are intended to support the activists in their efforts to advocate for transgender rights and counteract organizations they believe harm the transgender community.
Videos circulated on social media showed the chaos inside the conference hall as crickets spread throughout the venue. Attendees were seen leaving the auditorium while staff worked to manage the situation. The Metropolitan Police confirmed they were called to the scene and are investigating the incident.
"This action highlights the frustration and desperation felt by transgender youth who see their rights and dignity under constant attack," said Alex Turner, a spokesperson for LGBTQ+ advocacy group Stonewall. "It's a vivid demonstration of the lengths to which marginalized people will go to make their voices heard."
Speaking hours before entering the conference, the youth said, “They may try to ‘sound the alarm’ on trans youth accessing life-saving healthcare but we cannot and will not let them. Trans youth are powerful and we will let them fucking know it.”
Heroes.
You can donate to them here.