Sunshine on Leith, May 16th

A big thank you to the Equality Network for the invitation to Pride in Our Community.  We were blessed by a day in the sunshine, the company of friends, and some dance lessons from the wonderful Bollywood Dance Community.

Scotland elects two trans MSPs in historic first, May 9th

RTiE would like to extend our hearty congratulations to Dr Q Manivannan and Iris Duane, Scotland’s first trans MSPs! We were privileged to hear Dr Manivannan speak at our march last year, when thousands of people joined us to protest the notorious For Women Scotland decision. Edinburgh turned up then, and we have turned up again, as Dr Manivannan will be representing us in Edinburgh and Lothians East.

It’s also worth noting that the Scottish Green Party, the only party to include trans rights in their manifesto, elected their first constituency MSP in Edinburgh Central. Lorna Slater joined RTiE members recently at last month’s Guiders Against Trans Exclusion protest.

Read more about these results, including Dr Manivannan’s acceptance speech, at The Canary. 

RTiE joins May Day rally in Edinburgh

Several RTiE members joined the radical bloc on 2 May in Edinburgh, where the emphasis was on solidarity and included a Palestine bloc. It was a great turnout, and lovely to see so many people standing against the attempts to divide us.

Supporting the right to abortion, 25th April

Bodily autonomy is a human right.

RTiE have been welcomed as supporters of this Abortion Rights Scotland protest for the last couple of years, and we were there to fly the flag again in April.  Every year is a reminder that the anti-abortionists have not given up, and that we will show up to oppose them and to support free, safe, legal, and local abortion services.

Help save the Lavender Menace Queer Books Archive

Time and time again the Lavender Menace have stood in solidarity with the Trans Community.  They are the only queer books archive in Scotland, and they need our support to continue protecting queer history – and to create more!  Please help them out if you possibly can.

Thank you!

A big thank you to everyone for the Trans Social Space at the Augustine United Church, for the counter protest at the Scottish Parliament on 11th April and for supporting Guiders Against Trans Exclusion on the 12th.  Please follow the links above on how things went.

Trans Pride Scotland, 28 March

With Trans Pride Scotland happening on 28th March and no plans for a march, some of us teamed up with friendly faces in the Radical Independence Campaign for a stroll down the High Street.   We then gently detached ourselves at the Parliament for a proud party.

Trans Day of Visibility, 27 March

On a day dedicated to celebrating the Transgender community and our allies, we celebrated Trans Joy with storytelling, zine making, refreshments, crafts and placard making for Trans Pride Scotland at Augustine United Church.  This event was organised in partnership with Augustine United Church, Resisting Transphobia in Edinburgh and Metropolitan Community Church.

RTiE join counter-demo against racist rally in Edinburgh

21st March saw a far right group hold a racist rally outside the Scottish Parliament.  These weren’t just a disorganised bunch of hotel shouters – two of their key speakers were members of the Homeland Party and the Patriotic Alternative, hardcore Nazi organisations. Folk from RTiE joined a counter protest, marching to the Parliament and making friends at a thousand strong anti-racist party led by ‘Cabaret Against the Hate’.  Nazis can’t dance.  Have a look at  Instagram for more on this.

At International Women’s Day

8th March was International Women’s Day in Edinburgh, and the theme of the march and rally was “Rights, Respect, Revolution”.  Speakers included Jo Clifford and the event was highly inclusive, featuring chants such as “One struggle, one fight, women’s rights, trans rights”.  They are looking for helpers for 2027…