Top writer Juno Dawson to speak at Southampton transgender conference

Juno will be the keynote speaker at Transinclusivity, the second annual conference of local transgender charity Chrysalis, being held at Solent University on April 9.

Juno, who was a primary school teacher before turning her hand to writing young adult fiction, transitioned in 2013, when she was 32.

She is recognised as the 'Queen of teen' and is also a school role model for LGBTQ charity Stonewall.

She told the Echo that she thinks events like the Chrysalis conference have an important role to play.

"I think it's good to see trans people thriving, especially in the current media climate," she said.

"I was the best selling UK author of YA fiction last year. I think that's worth celebrating!"

She added that she thinks that much of the media is currently very hostile to transgender people.

"I think the media is going out of it's way to demonise trans and NB (non-binary) people. That on top of inadequate NHS provision is driving us, literally, to suicide."

She adds that everyone can help oppose this.

"A lot of transphobic rhetoric is dependent on voices in the media expressing 'this is what everyone thinks...'. If you aren't 'concerned' about trans people, speak up!"

Juno was already a well-known author when she transitioned, which meant that she had the pressure of going through a very personal process in the public eye, which was particularly challenging.

"The first couple of years of transition are incredibly difficult and I had to do it with a lot of people watching," she said.

"I said stupid things, I made mistakes, but my whole life was under construction.

"I think I allowed myself to be exploited by media outlets who rely on trans people participating in their trashy 'debates'.

"Perhaps I should have gone into hiding for a couple of years!"

Juno now often finds herself referred to as an 'icon', which could put her under a new set of new pressures.

"As long as I'm still allowed to make mistakes and learn from them, I'm OK with it," she says of the status.

"I love going in to schools as a Stonewall ambassador and meeting all the Pride groups. Most high schools have an LGBTQ society now and I think it's a real privilege that I get to meet them. I think, if I am a role model, it's because I'm a trans woman who is also succeeding in her career."

As well as Juno's talk, the conference will include sessions on trans awareness, a panel discussion on domestic abuse, honour violence and hate crime, transinclusion in the 21st century, innovation and inclusion in institutions, including youth and inclusion in support services.

An address will also be given by psychologist Teresa Bentley on raising awareness and engaging the majority.

Andi Maratos, CEO of Chrysalis, said that the event is set to be bigger and better than last year's inaugural conference.

"The conference is aimed and small and medium enterprises – people who want to be accepting and inclusive, but can't afford £300 for a conference. It's aimed at people who made the decisions, but anyone can come.

"We want people to go away with practical tools to improve their industry for transgender people, to create better environments for people to be able to do their jobs and to understand what the real challenges and opportunities are.

"When people are happy in their workplace, their productivity goes up and we want our communities to be happy and inclusive."

She echoed Juno's comments about much of the media, saying: "Transgender people have been demonised. It's been whipped up into a storm to create an enemy that doesn't exist. People's very identity should not be debated as a way to sell copy.

"The conference is there is part to challenge the negative press.

"We know a lot of people want to be supportive to transgender people, and this will give them the practical skills to do so."

* Tickets for the conference are priced £40, which includes food. For more information, email info@chrysalis-gii.org or visit Transinclusivity –Chrysalis Conference 2019 on Facebook.