UK trans organisation has released a powerful new short documentary, titled , starring an 11-year-old trans girl named Emily.
Featuring a compilation of damaging headlines from the UK press, the film highlights the ongoing damage caused to trans people - especially young trans people - by the media, emphasising how rarely trans young people are given the platform to speak for themselves.
Emily, who lives in Liverpool, says in a statement: "I am very proud of who I am. I have spent my whole life fighting to be heard and understood by family, friends, doctors, school teachers and even strangers."
She added: "Some listen to me and some don’t. Some take a while to understand and some never have. I know that there is a good chance I will have to fight my entire life to be heard."
In a that accompanies the 1-minute film, Mermaids dives into, which examines the negative impacts of "ill-informed" and "cruel" news media on trans or gender non-conforming young people.
In a , Mermaids CEO, Susie Green, said: “Over the last few years, we’ve seen an explosion in media stories relating to children and gender issues and, while some of it has been responsible and understanding, much has been misleading, ill-informed and even, at times, cruel."
“One consistent issue we’ve found is that politicians, presenters, campaigners and influencers are eager to speak about trans and gender-questioning children without listening to them first."
to help expand their helpline service, Green added: “Today, we’re making a fresh plea to everyone involved in the important and complex debate around gender issues, to stop for a moment and think about the impact their articles, broadcasts and social media posts have on real kids living real lives.
Green said that Mermaid's new research "goes to show we still have a long way to go before transgender young people get the fair and free voice they deserve in the media and online.”
The powerful video has already left a mark on viewers online.
"Most people don't have the privilege of knowing trans kids," one viewer wrote on Twitter. "I've had the pleasure of getting to know some of the most inspiring people I've ever met, kids who have fought a hostile world beyond their years. They shouldn't have to fight. Listen to trans kids. Support trans kids."
11-year-old Emily features in Mermaids' #IfIHadAVoice campaign. Source: Mermaids
Another tweeted: "Having met and worked with many young trans people I know all of this is true, that given the chance they would dismantle many of these false claims simply by being themselves."
They added: "But they should not have to do that, they should just be allowed to be children."
