On Saturday third January 2015 I photographed two protests. First was a vigil following the suicide of a transgender teenage woman and the second one other protest within the lengthy collection of actions calling on John Lewis to pay their cleaners a residing wage.
Vigil for Leelah Alcorn – Trafalgar Sq., Saturday third January 2015
Leelah Alcorn was a 17-year-old who threw herself below a lorry after her Christian dad and mom pressured her into ‘conversion remedy’, refusing to acknowledge her gender and forbidding her from transitioning.
Earlier than her loss of life Leelah had written a poignant suicide word on her Tumblr weblog blaming her Christian dad and mom, saying that from the age of 4 she had felt she was “like a lady trapped in a boy’s physique” and describing her aid when she discovered the potential for transgender transitions – however her feeling of hopelessness after she realised that her dad and mom “would by no means come round” to her transition.
Leelah wrote: “The one approach I’ll relaxation in peace is that if at some point transgender individuals aren’t handled the way in which I used to be, they’re handled like people, with legitimate emotions and human rights.”
“Gender must be taught about in faculties, the sooner the higher. My loss of life must imply one thing. My loss of life must be counted within the variety of transgender individuals who commit suicide this yr. I would like somebody to have a look at that quantity and say ‘that’s f**ked up’ and repair it. Repair society.“
Even after her suicide her dad and mom remained unwilling to simply accept her transition, burying her with a headstone below her former identify ‘Joshua’.
These collaborating within the vigil included numerous individuals who had additionally transitioned in addition to different supporters of transgender rights. Audio system condemned the observe of ‘conversion remedy’ which has no foundation in medical science and carries a excessive threat of suicide, calling for it to be banned and for these carrying it out to be prosecuted. It’s already banned in some US states. In addition they demanded that her headstone carry her chosen identify of Leelah.
The protest ended with the lighting of candles and a two minute silence in reminiscence of Leelah.
Extra at Vigil for Leelah Alcorn
Pay John Lewis Cleaners a Dwelling Wage – Oxford St, Saturday third January 2015
Members of the Cleaners And Amenities Department of the IWGB (Impartial Staff Union of Nice Britain) protested together with John Lewis clients protested outdoors the flagship Oxford St John Lewis retailer calling for them to reside as much as their moral popularity and pay those that hold the store clear a residing wage. The cleaners complain the corporate treats them as second class residents.
They have been additionally protesting on the assaults on protesters by police at their earlier month’s protest inside the shop, the place many have been attacked as they have been making an attempt to go away after a peaceable protest. This time the protesters made no try and enter the shop which was guarded by a line of police and additional safety officers, however protested on the large pavement outdoors.
Over 125,000 John Lewis clients had signed a petition calling on the corporate to make sure that it reside as much as its moral popularity and make sure that the cleansing contractor pays all cleaners working within the retailer the London Dwelling Wage. Neither John Lewis or the contractor recognise the IWGB as representing the employees, though it’s the registered commerce union which just about all of the cleaners belong to.
In addition to not being paid sufficient to reside on, the cleaners have a lot poorer situations of service than the straight employed workers they work alongside – who additionally get a big annual bonus as “companions” within the enterprise. By outsourcing the cleansing John Lewis is refusing duty for work achieved in its retailer and important for its working. They may embody situations for correct pay and situations for the cleaners within the specification of their contracts however fail to take action.
The protest was led by IWGB Basic Secretary Alberto Durango and President Jason Moyer-Lee. There have been brief speeches of assist by others together with Inexperienced Get together London Meeting member Jenny Jones, (Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb) and Mick Dooley of London TUSC, in addition to an excessive amount of noisy shouting and blowing of horns.
Lots of the public on busy Oxford Avenue took the flyers being handed out and expressed assist for a correct wage for the employees and disgust on the failure of John Lewis to deal with them correctly.
After round an hour and 1 / 4 the occasion ended with a march across the outdoors of the massive constructing, with safety and police dashing contained in the store to satisfy them at each door. However although the protesters typically arrived earlier than them, they made no try and go inside.
Extra footage at Pay John Lewis Cleaners a Dwelling Wage
Tags: Alberto Durango, candlelit vigil, candles, cleaners, Situations of Service, conversion remedy, moral popularity, gender, human rights, IWGB, Jason Moyer-Lee, Jenny Jones, John Lewis, John Lewis clients, Leelah Alcorn, residing wage, London, London Dwelling Wage, Mick Dooley, outsourced staff, outsourcing, peter Marshall, polic assaults, police, protest, second class residents, suicide word, transgender, transgender individuals, Transgender Rights, vigil
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