Person is Not a Rude Word

“It wasn’t all cupcakes, candy and condoms”…

Trans* Pride, Brighton kicked off with a film night inside Dukes at Komedia cinema in the Laines:  a sadly shocking documentary about the lives of Transwomen in South America; a *MyGenderation’s short: ‘Alice’– living her (poetic +) life in Kemptown, BN1; a French film, ‘Tomboy’ – depicting a young person’s gender identity exploration amongst friends and family… (*see MyG’s work – inc T*P documentary video via F’bk link here)

https://www.facebook.com/MyGenderationDocumentaryFilm?fref=ts

Saturday’s Pride event in New Steine Gardens exceeded all expectations in terms of persons-attending-numbers, weather, cycle-powered juice drinks, tip-top-performers, organisation, political-yet-personal-friendly-vibe, hen party attendees, non-corporate-ness, & gingerbread (trans)men…   Thank you Universe!

Mx Andro HisHerself
Foto credit: Ludo Foster

Privileged to be a perfomer on the (inflatable!) stage, I/we belted out my proems (very loud & rather proud) to beat the rain and squall – and beating-a-retreat punters… & invited audience members to join me in the chorus (in italics) of the verse:  ‘Just Call Me You / Person* / Luc’ (as below –  & as in *Person is Not a Rude Word…)

Having ‘snapped’ the setting-up, and sat out a damp-dismantling of the park event, I lasted a few hours only of the Trans*frau cabaret/dance event at The Blind Tiger pub&club: amazing performances from guest stars Lazlo Perlman and Rhyannon Styles (and one dance to Depeche Mode, ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’ ).  See more evidence of the whole (s)hebang on the Trans* Pride F’bk page…

https://www.facebook.com/TransPrideBrighton?fref=ts

(Proudly wore my large “tranny lanny / well ‘ard trans lanyard” on the night bus home – emblazoning ‘Trans* Person’ to the world…)

Sunday blazed blue & peachy for the great-Tshirts&Tattoos-exposure that coloured the Trans* Beach BBQ-Picnic.  Kites were flown; shoulders got burned; chargrilled haloumi was delish (sans relish); some braved the waves; dogs sheltered beside T-hairy’d legs; shadows stretched…

Huge gratitude & respect to all those who put in vast amounts of work (up front & behind the scenes – past & present) to make this wonderful weekend happen:  Alex, Claire, Elliot, Fox, Jane, Lewis, Nick, Nicky, Phleim, Phoenix, Rory, Sabah, Sarah, Sharon, Steph, Tanya, Vicki – and other unknown / unnamed persons & organisations…

All revealed right here…

(with ‘sound track’ : Daylight & the Sun, courtesy of Antony & The Johnsons)

Just Call Me You / Person / Luc

I’m quite a dapper dresser me,
My many hats can cause a stir:
Recycled, bargain togs are up-my-street
(And I’ve been spotted in faux fur).
I’m a case of ewe/ram dressed as lamb,
But still,  I think you will concur that
“I’m not a bloody Lady
And I’m not a bleedin’ Sir”
 
I like a parasol/umbrella me;
My trolley: not just a Hoppa shopper;
My walking stick folds up quite neat;
My bus-rides-cushion is fake fur.
You’ll oft’ find me with my shades & fan;
And yet,  I think you will concur that
“I’m not a bloody Lady
And I’m not a bleedin’ Sir”

Always been a comfort-eater me…
Beer?  No thanks – I’ll have a cuppa.
Sometimes spirits, yes – but never neat!
(Me ‘meds’ more-like to make me slur…)
No, I’d rather scoff scone, cream & jam,
And so,  I think you will concur that
“I’m not a bloody Lady
And I’m not a bleedin’ Sir”

I’m an Aspie ‘tranny’ person see –
With quirks & moods & temper.
Colours & words make me complete
(And umpteen snaps wi’ mobile camera).
It’s everything friggin’ ‘queer’  I am
So,  please,  you must concur that
“I’m not a bloody Lady
And I’m not a bleedin’ Sir”

© Luc(e) Raesmith
July 2013-07-23
(for Trans* Pride UK, Brighton & Hove, No. 1)

…and The Pride-ness continues (ever-remindered as a wet-park-tideline on my best Spanish leather shoes)