The life of a trans person is complicated Teddy Hope, 26, explained to me over an early morning phone call. The journey a trans person takes, not just physically but emotionally, is unique to every individual but one commonality still stands – they need to wait on the actions of cis-gendered people. 

Teddy (they/them) identities themself as trans non-binary, they spoke with great emotion about the struggle of coming to terms with their gender identity. “I went through quite a journey”, they tell me. “Initially I came out as gay. I didn’t really know about trans stuff. It was before the big trans tipping point in 2014.” This is in reference to the huge media backing of Laverne Cox, who made headlines after joining the cast of Netflix’s ‘Orange Is the New Black’. It wasn’t until Teddy started university and connecting with LGBT+ spheres that they realised, “there was something more going on here.” They explain that they have always felt quite effeminate and would get harassed by other gay men for being ‘too fem’. They speak of their realisation like an epiphany, “I just heard the word ‘non-binary’” *clicks fingers*, “that’s it, that’s me.” 

They said a lot of the struggle they faced coming out, came down to the stigma within the gay community about not being ‘too fem’. Whilst Teddy doesn’t agree with RuPaul’s questionable politics they still believe that RuPaul’s Drag Race did a lot for the acceptance of effeminacy within the gay community, but also believes it wasn’t the only thing to create change. Even though there is an acceptance of being effeminate now, they still don’t think being a cis-gay-man would ever describe their identity. “I’ve thought again that, “am I just a cis-gay-man who is just effeminate?” and I’m like nope, I’m definitely not. So, I’m like, non-binary, that makes sense.”

Teddy is also the Trans Officer for the SNP group OutForIndy. The group’s most recent challenge is trying to navigate the deep divide within the SNP on the Trans Issue. “I find it really disheartening,” Teddy expressed their feelings on the divide, “because I just see it as full blatant objectification of trans people.” They point out the fact that there is not a single trans person in parliament, “it is all cis-gendered, non-trans people, who are talking about trans people’s bodies and speculating about who we are. We’re not actually being given a place at the table. And it’s on just the most basic of things like if we even exist.”

Waiting to go through the Scottish Parliament is the reform of the Gender Recognition Act (GRA), the proposed reforms see the removal of medical requirements and decreased waiting time before changing their gender. Teddy expressed their opinion on it, “I have complex feelings about the Gender Recognition Act. At this present time, I don’t think the reforms go far enough.” However, they are extremely pleased that it is de-medicalised as that is very important to them. They explain, “there’s a very long history of trans people being oppressed by what is basically cis-gendered doctors describing back their gender dysphoria as a mental illness. I had a lot of issues with that.” 

Teddy is also disappointed that the reforms make no mention of non-binary recognition, but they explain, “I don’t see that happening however because the amount of legislation that would need to change just to accommodate that is ridiculous.” They admit, “if we don’t get non-binary recognition, I would still go for it as long as we don’t get any more delays.” The delays to the GRA have really upset Teddy not only because it means having to wait for trans people’s lives to get easier but because of the public argument surrounding the reforms and how they are questioning trans people’s importance. “This whole public argument has nothing to do with the GRA and they are just attacking stuff that is already enshrined in the equality act. Trans people are still gonna use toilets, they’re still gonna use rape crisis services. That’s not gonna change. All of this is deeply damaging to trans people.” Teddy believes getting the GRA out of the public sphere will help to deescalate this huge public argument.

In terms of hope for the future, Teddy solemnly says, “I feel quite sad at the current state of things, I think the state has failed us in many ways. But, where I am seeing hope is within the trans community.” Despite what their name would suggest Teddy has little hope for the governments help with trans issues but ultimately sees light for the trans community working together.