Andrea Thompson - Author

What dangerous ideas could I possibly hatching today? Roger, if you’re still snooping, it’s not illegal to read books, yet, is it?

Today is Trans Day of Visibility.
As a writer, I’m visible, with thanks to the support of ❤️
As an activist, I fight the micro and macro aggressions that are a big part of what it means to be trans in a world that hates difference. This means everything from taking on the government’s legislative discrimination against trans people to pushing back against the lazy discrimination of the cishet majority that mostly ignores me but all too often condescends to me, treats me as less and actively excludes me.
As a PhD student, I have the privilege of being gifted time to study the impact of dehumanisation on trans people. I’m currently reviewing research on medical gatekeeping and discrimination against trans people. It’s fu***ng harrowing, particularly as it is a story I have lived for ever. My aim is to produce research and creative work that ties to my own experiences to give a face to the research and humanise the trans experience.
In the context of my life and work, I only use the term ‘trans’ to help people to gain a first toehold on understanding and empathy. Labels reduce and dehumanise and the term ‘transgender’ Is a pretext for othering and discrimination. I’m a woman. I used to try to emphasise my sameness by referring to myself as an ‘ordinary’ woman, but that’s not true. I have had the most extraordinary life forced upon me because the world has marked me as different. I may as well be wearing an armband with the trans logo emblazoned on it.
I intend to spend the rest of my days telling stories about my life and the world I live in. Whether you take notice is up to you, but I have one guarantee for you — if you care to look, you will see yourself. We’re not that different.

I went to parliament on 24 Feb to deliver a letter to the premier, Roger Cook.

I was trying to stop the government legislatively discriminating against trans and gender diverse people.

I was trying to stop the deaths that result from that discrimination.

I’ve been trying for years.

I was told by the police who came to my house on 23 Feb that they would help me. State protection investigations no less.

They didn’t visit to protect me from the state. My only crime is my existence.

They called me intelligent while they treated me like I was stupid.

I played along.

When I handed my letter to their colleague on the steps of parliament the next day, he told me it would be weeks before I got a response. Wait A while.

I have no more waiting, or anything, left in me.

I’m exhausted and I can’t see the point anymore.

Also, Geraldine, my debut novel, was published a year ago tomorrow. People are still reading it. Maybe its impact will outlast mine?