RESIDENTS BY MING DE NASTY

CONNIE

Trans Woman, 28, Toxteth  

Liverpool is a cool place to be – it’s a place where a lot of people are trying to make something of themselves and full of generosity. 

There is a vibrant and thriving LGBTQ+ community in Liverpool across different areas of life, which is growing in meaningful ways every single day. 

Visibility is increasing, from non-binaries on the bus to trans lads behind the bar, to dolls in clothes shops. Ten years ago you didn’t often come across trans people in day-to-day life, whereas now whenever I’m in the city centre I’m seeing people living their lives and it’s a beautiful thing to see! 

There’s a national and global narrative against trans people which is unfair, cruel and radical. Safety is a complex thing to talk about, as our community is so intersectional. As a trans woman, I won’t access some parts of the city, but as a privileged white trans woman who has lived like this for nearly a decade, I realise I have more social mobility than some of my other queer siblings. 

I’m turning 30 soon and I think back to the places in the city I used to hang out with my friends when I had just come out at 15/16. So much has changed, but a lot has stayed the same.