The Brighton BMECP Centre have made a statement following the large and vocal QTIPOC ( Queer, Trans, Intersex People of Colour) & allies community lead protests outside the venue during the Labour Party Conference when Women’s Place UK held a meeting. The BMECP Centre said-
“Following the Women’s Place UK (WPUK) event held at the BMECP Centre we would like to state that we have no affiliation with WPUK. WPUK have been known to express sentiment which is harmful to trans and non-binary communities and this does not align with our organisation’s ethos around equality and inclusion. We were not aware of WPUK’s ethos of trans exclusion and erasure when we received this booking.
BMECP is committed to equality and inclusion – we are a not for profit community organisation that champions Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in Brighton & Hove and supports BME communities and their families. We recognise the intersectional nature of people’s identities and we believe in supporting and protecting the most vulnerable people in our city.
We are aware of the subtle but harmful narratives aiming to roll back the existing rights of trans people, particularly trans women. We know that trans women, including trans women of colour, experience some of the worst discrimination and oppression in our society. BMECP have a strong ethos towards supporting all women, especially the most vulnerable. We stand by our trans and non-binary communities through this challenging time – and want to make sure than no women feel excluded, or made to feel like they don’t belong.
We have worked with a diverse range of community groups and organisations across the city to support equality and inclusion. We are honoured to be a space chosen to host one of this year’s ‘Transgender Day of Remembrance’ events, in support of the local Trans and Non-Binary, and Queer, Trans, Intersex People of Colour (QTIPOC) communities.
We recognise that we have lessons to learn and we would like to work together with local community organisations to do more together. We would like this negative experience to be one of learning where we can reach out to other organisations, venues or community spaces to raise awareness of the subtle and harmful ways that some groups can use our carefully nurtured spaces to platform views tainted with prejudice.
Our resource centre is a safe space for everyone to come together, be themselves and be free to express every part of their identity. We unreservedly apologise to trans and non-binary communities, including trans people of colour, and partners organisations for any harm caused to you by our event space being used for this event”
You can read more about this statement and also other information about the BEMCP here.
Learn more about the community lead event marking Transgender Day of Remembrance being held at the BMECP on Sunday 17th November 2019 here.
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