Last spring 32-year-old Lucy Meadows of Accrington (England) committed suicide after the press hounded her for the supposed “devastating effect†that she would wreak on her students by transitioning genders. Seven-year-old Daisy Moreton wrote this poem that was read at a march for Lucy Meadows:
Makes you happy
in high spirits
smiles
said kind things
Made us feel good
ever helpful
always nice
delightful
one of a kind
wonderful teacher
scientist.
Four months after Lucy Meadow’s death, MP Graham Jones, who represents Accrington in Parliament, wrote the following:
“I believe that the consideration of a child’s welfare should be based on happiness and quality of education. Parents I spoke to were concerned that they had lost a great teacher; that the majority of parents allowed their child to attend Ms Meadows funeral service is testament to her popularity…. What transgender people deserve is accurate reporting, and to be treated with the respect that every human being wishes to feel. Denigrating innocent people serves little purpose but potentially destroys their lives and impacts on family and friends.
“The Equality and Human Rights Commission estimated that in 2009 there are between 65,000 and 300,000 transgender people in the UK, and everyone, including politicians, need to challenge the unthinking attitudes that often pervade about transgender people, and that begins by at least talking about them. In a small way, this could move the debate forward, put it on the political landscape and reframe the debate into something more positive.â€
