There are officially 100,000 of us rooting for Tara. We've received the news that there will be an appeal hearing for her tomorrow (Oct 30) at Bristol Crown Court, between 10am and 1pm. Join the support rally: http://on.fb.me/1HdxQVM The response to Tara’s case has been overwhelming: the support for the petition grows each day; we’re constantly receiving more of your well-wishing letters; and more and more influential politicians, celebrities, and organisations are making their support known to the public. This all comes together to add ever-increasing pressure on those who have the power to make decisions. This campaign is a wonderful example of the strides being made for LGBT+ rides, as well as those in other minority and oppressed groups. That all of you have taken the time to voice your discontent with the current treatment of transgender people, constantly punished by out-of-date system (and not just the judicial system), is inspiring, and we hope that this will be another step towards the fair and equal treatment of all people. Emily Senft and Sophie Tyler, two trans-women who have been working tirelessly as part of the Bath Gender Equality Network, had this to say to everyone who has supported us so far: “The support shown has been nothing short of tear-inducing. It means so much to know that, despite there being constant injustice and transphobia in the world, over 100,000 people are willing to stand behind us and help fight for what is right in such a short period of time. You are all beautiful people, please remember that, and please don’t stop fighting. For too long, we trans people have not had the opportunity to be heard – but things are changing.” These opinions, and these statements, are crucial. We MUST give a voice and a platform to the trans community, and not speak on their behalf. I have received media attention for this campaign, and I’ve been very aware that I, a cisgendered female, am an ally to the transgender community, and that does NOT mean that I, or any other ally, can speak for them. What I — and you — can do, however, is elevate the community, defer to them, and let them voice their opinions and experiences, instead of simply speaking over them. Being a good ally means doing all that we can to ensure transvisibility, whilst remembering that, for trans people, it is a double-edged sword: this increased visibility for the trans community will also lead to more danger of hate and abuse. We also need to work to provide opportunities to the entire trans community, and not just the handful of trans people who ‘fit in’ with the status quo (white, binary-gendered, wealthy, thin, able-bodied, and English-speaking). If you’d like to learn more about trans issues, I recommend most articles on EverydayFeminism.com. As well as that, GIRES (gires.org.uk), the Gender Identity Research and Education Society, and GLAAD (glaad.org) have plenty of resources. Trans isn’t new; it’s just that space is finally being created within the mainstream to challenge what we perceive as ‘normal’. In fact, the oldest documented instance of people whose gender identity was distinct from their assigned sex dates back to the Stone Age. By signing this petition, you have taken a step towards being an ally. Please don’t stop here; there is so much more that you can do, and you can really make a difference. Our job is not done until Tara is safe. Lots of love, Ceri x