2024 was another very busy year for me and a very turbulent time for many of us worldwide. In the UK political violence towards transgender people, disabled people and other marginalised groups has continued to grow. The ban on puberty blockers for all transgender young people is the most recent attempt to bring us down. The team at AIM for the Rainbow and I have written an open letter to Wes Streeting and are collecting signatures here to overturn the ban.
Despite this, I have experienced lots of joy this year. Starting the Trans Aware Cancer Care project meant that I could spend time with other queer and trans people at Pride events across Hampshire. These connections give me hope for a better future within healthcare, and joy in the everyday.
I also had the pleasure of joining my friends from AIM for the Rainbow at London Pride and it was truly amazing to meet all my online friends! This also allowed me to really understand the needs of my friend Bobbi Elman. I started a fundraiser to get them a mobility scooter, as they got so much out of the one she rented on the day (we are still collecting here).
It’s also been a great year for books, writing and publishing. My favourites from this year: Autistic and Black by Kala Allen Omeiza; Creating Safe Spaces for Autistic people: by Scott Neilson and Laura Hellfeld; A Guide to Autism and Psychosis by David Gray-Hammond.
I’ve also published this year too! I published with the What I Would Like to Say… project team on cancer service experiences of disabled people (free to access here).
I’ve also written two chapters, one for The Palgrave Handbook of Research Methods and Ethics in Neurodiversity Studies and Exploring Autistic Sexualities, Relationality, and Genders: Living Under a Double Rainbow. I’ve also been busy with conferences, events and online speaking.
My biggest professional achievement this year was getting my PhD studentship. My research is called Exploring Health and Social Care Inequities for Transgender and Gender Diverse Autistic Adults Living in the UK. I can’t wait to get back into this after winter break.
I’ve got some exciting things coming up next year and of course, life will continue to surprise me too. I hope you have had a good 2024 and that 2025 is even better. Feel free to let me know in the comments. Stay beautiful.