Heather's Belated Attempt at a Marathon Fundraiser

I'm running the London Marathon this Sunday - my Mum wants someone to watch run it cos she's marathon crazy, and I was lucky enough to be the member of our family whose name came up in the ballot! I've spent not enough time hauling my sorry body around Rotherhithe in preparation, and I've put off setting up a fundraiser for ages because I don't like admin tasks, but the time is almost nigh so I'd better pull my finger out! I am raising funds for The Outside Project, an LGBTIQ+ shelter charity with the aim of assisting some of those who will be most negatively impacted by the recent Supreme Court ruling. They run a trans+ night shelter in the winter months.

Unfortunately, once again, the national press are talking about trans people, with many dissecting whether we should be believed when we say who we are. Sadly, for so many people it is inconceivable that living within a different gender to the one society gives you at birth could improve life for some people. When they espouse this view it's so clear that they have simply never met one of us. Our motivations for transitioning are called into doubt and we are made out to be a threat that others must be protected against, despite it being clear that predatory cis men are treated far better by this society than any transgender person is. Not all men are threats of course, I am friends with many lovely men. This isn't a competition to decide who we blame for the world's ills, but to be clear - it should NOT be us!

(For a longer version of my thoughts on the last week, see here, it would be great if you gave this a read, it's a different perspective to what you'll read in the BBC or the tabloids, upto you though: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bJNO2As0bp4Lu_btLu_9c0YuhNDgCwhRXkUTHpcepm4/edit?usp=sharing)

Homeless trans people are now likely to find it much harder to access shelters, since it seems inevit

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The UK’s first LGBTIQ+ Community Shelter and Centre. A grassroots movement led by LGBTIQ+ ex-homeless, homelessness professionals and activists.

In winter 2017 we opened the UK’s first LGBTIQ+ Shelter. In Spring 2019 we opened our Community Centre in Central London, just a stones throw from the Lesbian and Gay Centre of the 80’s. Over 7000sqft of open, office and residential space, this unique and innovative project is home to our shelter and the support, creative and activist groups we work alongside.

During the 50th anniversary year of the Stonewall Riots it is fitting to flip the narrative, centring our homeless siblings and those who feel left outside of mainstream and LGBTIQ+ spaces. The centre and shelter has made an immeasurable difference to our guests who will always be loudly and proudly at the centre of this project. We’re grateful for the support from the Mayor of London and our LGBTIQ+ community and allies across the country. We can’t thank you enough for standing beside us.

 Carla Ecola, Founder and Director.