Gender whisperer t-shirts, bags, and cushions are being sold with profits going to charities that help young transgender Australians (Photo: Red Bubble)
Transgender rights activists in Australia have rallied against recent anti-trans comments from Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
An anonymous group of advocates have launched a range of T-shirts and bags branded ‘gender whisperer’. The merchandise references the Prime Minister’s comments ‘We do not need “gender whisperers” in schools’.
Morrison shared an article which claimed training teachers to be aware of transgender students had lead to a surge in young people transitioning.
‘Gender whisperers is a political act of the oldest kind, taking the taunts and names our oppressors throw at us and turning then into words we proudly celebrate and own’, one coordinator behind campaign, who wished to remain anonymous, told Gay Star News.
‘Our Prime Minster used the term “gender whisperers” to deliberately smear the reputation of the many wonderful educators and school staff who stand by our trans, gender diverse and non-binary children and young people everyday in schools’, they said.
‘We are taking the term “gender whisperers” off him and taking it for ourselves.’
Importantly, the organizer said they hope trans, gender diverse and non-binary young people see the T-shirts and tote bags in and around their communities. ‘We want them to know that we have their backs’.
All profits will go towards Victoria-based groups advocating for young people. These are Ygender, Parents of Gender Diverse Youth and Queerspace youth.
shhhhhh gender whisperers do ya wanna buy a t-shirt? All profits go to @Ygender @pgdc @queerspace_ds programs supporting our trans, gender diverse and non-binary kids. #genderwhisperers https://t.co/aDnayt2Fcg
— Gender Whisperer (@WhispererGender) September 18, 2018
‘Skin curling’
Australia’s new Prime Minister has made a string of anti-LGBTI comments since he took office.
The new Prime Minister said he found it ‘skin-curling’ that schools taught children about LGBTI topics. He also said he would not ‘get involved’ in outlawing gay conversion therapy.
Meanwhile, activists and politicians have denounced the Prime Minister’s comments. Advocacy group Just.equal asked Morrison to meet with gender diverse Australians and also survivors of gay conversion therapy.
The group also urged Morrison to ‘better understand the terrible impact of prejudice and ignorance.’
Furthermore, Senator Janet Rice last week called on Morrison to ‘stop his repeated and unacceptable attacks on LGBTIQ+ people, especially his awful comments about young trans kids’.
‘Young LGBTIQ+ kids already suffer enough without the hateful comments coming from the Prime Minister’, Rice said.
The gender whisperer campaign organizer also warned attacks on LGBTI youth may increase ahead of state elections in November and federal elections in May next year.
