Latest news with #MunroeBergdorf
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Munroe Bergdorf says if you want to be a good trans ally 'do more than posturing'
Munroe Bergdorf has claimed allies aren't doing enough and said they are 'directionless' with the approach to helping the trans community - but here's what you can do After the Supreme Court ruling excluding trans women from the definition of a woman - it's more important than ever to be an ally, but according to one activist, not enough is being done. An ally is someone who stands up and supports equal rights for everyone, doing all they can to call out discrimination and make the world a better place for those who identify as LGBTQIA+. But according to trans model and activist Munroe Bergdorf, more needs to be done. Munroe was the UK's first transgender model in history. She has since used her platform to advocate for the queer community, especially in advocating for trans people and their rights. 'People want to say the right thing but it's directionless. Not meaningless, but I think it's important that people know where you stand," she told Daily Mirror. The 37-year-old, who has walked the catwalk for London and New York fashion weeks, continued: "Let's get a plan of action together. Directing traffic and money and support and awareness to services that support us is paramount, because it's not only us being impacted. Organisations are under constant attack. "[The Trans Charity] Mermaids were under attack so severe they couldn't have corporate funding, they had to survive on donations alone for a very long time. If people are going to be allies you need to make it worth it, they need to do more than posturing their image or how they want other people to see them or how they want to be remembered. It has to be directing traffic and support and awareness." For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror's Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox. A study by Zoah found that 49 per cent of trans and non-binary people felt their lives had been negatively affected and issues raised ranged from healthcare to finding work. The study showed that 72 per cent of transgender and non-binary people do not feel safe because of their gender identity. Trans lives are at risk now more than ever and a consortium of LGBTQIA+ organisations, which includes the trans charity Mermaids and Gendered Intelligence, released a statement saying that they, as a group, are "deeply concerned at the widespread, harmful implications of the Supreme Court ruling." Reach Out, a mentoring and support collective for young people state the importance of being a visible ally, whether that be attending rallies and events, "calling out homophobia, transphobia or queerphobia wherever you see it, and supporting businesses, charities or other initiatives owned or operated by LGBTQIA+ people". The group also recommend the following tips to ensure meaningful allyship: Listening to learn and being respectful: Take the initiative to educate yourself on LGBTQIA+ history, listening actively and not downplaying or invalidating people's experience. Being open to, and engaging with, these conversations helps ensure you and others treat those around you with respect. Using inclusive language and accepting gender diversity: We can do this by respecting names and pronouns chosen by members of the community, and opting for words that don't assume genders and relationship roles. For example, terms such as "partner" is inclusive. Uplifting diverse voices: Often, the queer community's experience is also effected by other factors such as religion, ability, culture and race. Seek these diverse stories out for a more well-rounded understanding of the complexities being LGBTQIA+. Seeing the whole person: It is easy to label someone by one characteristic or factor. Its important to acknowledge people are layered and complex, with many interests, passions and skills that and should be celebrated. Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
London Trans+ Pride's record-breaking march will return for sixth year in a row
In 2024, the London Trans+ Pride march made history with a record-breaking turnout of over 60,000 participants, making it the largest Trans+ Pride march ever. Organisers sifted through the data and announced that it had become "the biggest trans pride in the world". Looking ahead to 2025, they are aiming for even greater numbers and continued support. Celebrating its seventh year of bold protest, visibility, and unity, this year's London Trans+ Pride is centred around the urgent theme of 'Existence and Resistance'. The event has attracted strong backing from high-profile figures such as Jeremy Corbyn, Jessie Ware, Jameela Jamil, Eddie Suzy Izzard, Jake Shears, Will Young, Clara Amfo, Harris Dickinson, among others, who have all conveyed their messages of solidarity. MAFS star Ella Morgan shares mental health struggle since Supreme Court's trans ruling London Trans+ Pride hosted a press launch event, bringing together leading activists, celebrities, and advocates in anticipation of the monumental march. Among those in attendance were Munroe Bergdorf - the first transgender model to lead a L'Oréal campaign, Ella Morgan, Married At First Sight's first trans bride, Heartstopper's Bel Priestley, musician Romy, Hannah Jones and Alex Thomas-Smith from BBC's new drama What It Feels Like For A Girl, and principal organisers from action network Trans Kids Deserve Better. During the event, Munroe Bergdorf said: "That's what I love so much about London Trans Pride - I arrive feeling stressed, and then I leave feeling galvanised and seen and loved and held." Young campaigners from Trans Kids Deserve Better delivered impassioned speeches about the impact on their generation, with activist Merlin stating: "It's hard to explain, especially to a cis person, what it's like to feel like you're watching all of the pieces fall into place to take everything away from you. We're going to march in the streets of London and take up space, because we're not usually allowed to take up space." What is London Trans+ Pride? Initially a modest community event, what began as a grassroots gathering has grown into a bold and formidable, record-setting movement. This year's march occurs at a pivotal juncture after the UK Supreme Court verdict redefined "biological sex" in a manner that permits the exclusion of trans women from single-sex services - a verdict reached without input or consultation from any trans-led groups. At a moment when trans+ individuals in the UK are increasingly sidelined — via harsh laws, provocative media stories, and a significant regression of rights — this year's parade holds greater significance than ever. Amid escalating political animosity, the event stands as a bold rejection of erasure and a festivity of trans+ existence, history, resilience, activism, and joy. The key demands of this year's march include: an outright ban on conversion therapy, fully funded gender-affirming healthcare, and legal acknowledgement for non-binary people. The organisers of the march have made their intentions clear: "We don't want special treatment — we want to live in peace, to love freely, to build our futures without fear." When is London Trans+ Pride? Mark your calendars for a momentous occasion as London Trans+ Pride is scheduled for Saturday, July 26, 2025. Those participating or showing their support will gather on the street at 1pm, with the march kicking off at 2pm. Where is London Trans+ Pride? The assembly point for participants and supporters is Langham Place at 1pm, from where they will begin marching at 2pm. The march is anticipated to conclude around 4pm at Parliament Square Gardens and its adjacent streets (not Wellington Arch), featuring speeches from community members. For those with disabilities or others who prefer not to partake in the full 2-hour march, there's an alternative to join directly at Parliament Square Gardens any time after 2pm. Celebrities showing support In a show of unity, singer Jessie Ware has voiced her support, stating: "Trans rights are human rights. I proudly stand with the trans community - with love and respect, always." The Good Place actress, Jameela Jamil, has also come forward in solidarity with the trans community, declaring: "The trans community are leaders in freedom, passion, solidarity, and frankly, fun. It is in the best interests of our society to uphold and protect them. As they have always tried to uphold and protect others." Singer Paloma Faith has voiced her unwavering support, stating: "I stand in solidarity with the trans community and always will. Trans rights are human rights and they deserve our protection, empathy and understanding. I despise that they are being used as scapegoats for human suffering when the source of it is actually the very people who try and brainwash people into discriminating against them. My heart goes out to all my trans friends, I am a proud and loving ally." For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror's Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox. Former Labour leader and MP Jeremy Corbyn has also shown his backing for the trans community, saying: "There has never been a more important time to turn up in solidarity with the trans community. Trans people are one of the most marginalised groups in society, but they are so much more than that. They are artists. They are writers. They are campaigners. Above all, they are human beings who just want to live in dignity and peace." British comedian and actor Eddie Suzy Izzard has made her stance clear too, affirming, "Women's Rights are Human Rights and Trans Rights are Human Rights. End of story. We have to make this work," while singer-songwriter Will Young has declared, "I stand in full solidarity with all trans people. The political hijacking of your lives and bodies is driven by a minority, and please know that you are supported, cared for, and loved." A host of other prominent individuals have stepped forward to express their support for the trans+ community and the London Trans+ Pride march. Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Munroe Bergdorf says ‘conversation is always the solution – it enables a sense of freedom' (EXCLUSIVE)
Munroe Bergdorf – model, author and advocate for trans rights — has long been a vital voice in the fight for equality. Her documentary , which screened on 10 and 11 June, explores 'a documentation of how we got to this point' in the fight for . Here she calls for more empathy and meaningful conversation in an increasingly divided world. Lately, it feels as though we have reached a point in history where we are collectively overwhelmed by information, content and an incessant and rapidly changing news cycle. Whereas in the past something sensational might happen once a month, now every single day there's something mind-blowing occurring, and we're all encouraged to have an opinion on it. However, we're also now living in a society that's becoming increasingly polarised, to the point that many of our conversations aren't conversations at all. So often, we're encouraged to simply pick a side, rather than find a solution or a compromise. We're so concerned with being 'right' that we fail to meet each other with respect, understanding and empathy. We don't seek to understand how somebody landed on the views that they have, and this lack of genuine conversation is one of the biggest barriers we face to achieving real progress. Understanding how a viewpoint is formed is key to this. For example, in the UK, women's fear of violence at the hands of a man has been weaponised against trans people. But there are different kinds of transphobia. There's active transphobia, where people are actively invested in dehumanising and targeting trans people in a violent and incessant way. And then there are people who have ended up parroting transphobic rhetoric they've heard from others, driven by their own fears. It's for this reason that I believe it's so important that we first try to understand where people are coming from when we find ourselves engaged in a debate or an argument, be it online or in person. None of us was born with perfectly shaped politics. We don't come out of the womb saying, 'I'm voting Green.' We've all, in our lives, absorbed negative opinions or oppressive ideologies until we have a conversation which has helped us understand why that point of view is harmful. In my new book Talk to Me, I write about how it is crucial that we offer each other more grace in order to get to a better place, rather than just demonising each other for what is often the result of a lack of education, or in some cases the product of manipulation by those with an ulterior motive. Now, of course, when it is your own human rights that are somehow up for discussion, it's not always easy to offer grace to the person you're speaking with, but we must remember that it's all about intention. Sometimes it's important to choose peace over being right, which I often practise when it's clear that somebody isn't willing to see my humanity, and thus won't be able to understand what I'm saying. Give people chances, but when you find yourself in a conversation where you're constantly being presented with a brick wall, then I think you need to protect yourself, take some breaths, and remind yourself that not everybody wants to — and therefore not everybody will — see your humanity. I believe that conversation is always the solution, and so it's deeply concerning when we see attempts to shut communication down, because that's when we end up in a state of fascism or autocracy. Conversation enables a sense of freedom. For example, many people believe there should be no discussion of politics in a workplace, but you can't detach people from politics. Trans people are facing the potential introduction of segregation laws, whereby if you're a trans woman who has had gender-affirming surgery or care, and you look 'too much like a woman', then you can't use the women's toilet, but you can't use the men's either. That leaves you in the workplace with no access to a toilet. These issues are inherently politicised, so to suggest there should be no politics in a workplace simply upholds oppressive structures — which is inherently political. There's no getting away from politics, even if we try. Everybody should always be able to talk about their experiences and not feel silenced about what they're going through. Conversely, we must keep in mind that an opposing viewpoint is not necessarily a sign of bigotry, and jumping to hurl this accusation at someone is usually not conducive to progress. We must all interrogate how we choose to communicate and interact with the world around us. We must accept that someone with an opposing viewpoint is not always necessarily a bigot, and resist the urge to simply write someone off or cancel them. Only when we are able to focus on the humanity of the individual we are speaking to can true progress be made. Talk To Me by Munroe Bergdorf is out now. The post Munroe Bergdorf says 'conversation is always the solution – it enables a sense of freedom' (EXCLUSIVE) appeared first on Attitude.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Transgender Model Munroe Bergdorf Shares Her Journey from Cancellation to Comeback in New Documentary 'Love & Rage' (Exclusive)
Transgender model Munroe Bergdorf is releasing a powerful new documentary, Love & Rage, on July 15 Per a synopsis, the film "sparks a universal conversation on identity, feminism, race and hope" Bergdorf made headlines in 2017 when she was fired from her role as a L'Oréal Paris spokesmodel, after making history as the first transgender model to front a U.K. campaign for the brandMunroe Bergdorf is ready to tell her story. In a new documentary Love & Rage, the trailblazing transgender model looks back on her life and career journey, including her highly publicized firing from her spokesmodel role at L'Oréal Paris in 2017 (the company ultimately rehired her three years later). Per a synopsis, the film "explores her journey, activism, and the balance between personal needs and public responsibility. Through Munroe's story, the film sparks a universal conversation on identity, feminism, race, and hope." In an exclusive clip shared with PEOPLE, Bergdorf is seen celebrating her 36th birthday surrounded by friends. "There's always been a voice inside of me that was unsure whether or not I'd make it past 35," she says in a voiceover. "So to be 36 is exciting because I've got so much to look forward to and be grateful for." "I don't think that many trans people, let alone many Black trans people, really get to tell our stories whilst we're alive on our own terms, and show the 360-experience of what it means to be a trans person in today's society — what it means to be a trans woman, a queer woman, a black woman, all of the parts of who we are," Munroe tells PEOPLE. She continues, "We're in a very unique time in history where the assault on trans lives and trans rights and healthcare are being ramped up and being used as a wedge issue to attack all of our rights, so it is a really pertinent moment to tell my story but also it's not just my story. It's about all of us, about what it means to be human and not existing in a constant state of struggle and survival, and about what happens when we prioritize love and fight for that love." ! From struggling with identity in childhood to grappling with public scrutiny as a transgender activist, Love & Rage allows Bergdorf to reflect on her personal journey. "She got me to where I am today," she says of her past self. "Every single decision that she made got me to this moment. Sometimes I think there could have been a smoother way here, but at the same time I've learned so much from the negative experiences as much as the positive ones and turned the negative into the positive." Bergdorf continues, "I wish I could go back and say, 'I'm proud of you and thank you.' Even when some of the moments I navigated were difficult, and I wish there weren't as painful, they're all for something." In 2017, Bergdorf was named the face of a L'Oréal Paris' U.K. campaign, making history as the brand's first transgender model. However, she was fired shortly after when she wrote a Facebook post denouncing racism after a Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, left one person dead. According to NBC news, Bergdorf said in her post, which has since been taken down, that white people must "admit their race is the most violent and oppressive force of nature on Earth." L'Oréal Paris said in a statement at the time that they were terminating the brand's partnership with her because Bergdorf's comments were "at odds" with its mission to support "diversity and tolerance towards all people irrespective of their race, background, gender and religion." Then in 2020, the model called the company's Black Lives Matter Instagram post hypocritical and a form of "gaslighting." After Bergdorf called out L'Oreal Paris, the company announced they were forming a U.K. Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Board, which Bergdorf was appointed to."Munroe felt silenced by a brand, L'Oréal Paris, that had the power to amplify her voice," Delphine Viguier, president of L'Oreal Paris, said in a statement, via NBC news. "While we both agree today that negative labels should not be used to define all individuals in any group, I understand much better the pain and trauma that were behind Munroe's words back then and the urgency she felt to speak in defense of the Black community against systemic racism." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. With this documentary, the model is "hoping that fellow trans people feel seen." "I'm hoping that queer people feel galvanized and inspired to fight for their siblings," she adds. "I'm hoping that straight people see it and are enraged and understand the moment more. I'm hoping cis-gender people think a little bit about what they can do in order to provide safety, security, opportunity, for a community that desperately needs it. " Love & Rage will be available to stream on July 15. Read the original article on People
The Guardian
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Munroe Bergdorf: ‘The most expensive thing I've bought? Gender-affirming surgery'
Born in Essex, Munroe Bergdorf, 37, studied at the University of Brighton and worked in fashion PR. In 2022, she became the first trans model on the cover of UK Cosmopolitan and in 2023 she published her book Transitional. She hosts the podcast The Way We Are and presents MTV UK's Queerpiphany. She is a UN Women UK Changemaker and a founding consultant of the UK Diversity and Inclusion Board of L'Oréal Paris. Her latest book is Talk to Me; her documentary, Love & Rage, launched in the UK last month and is available to stream from 14 July. She lives in London. Describe yourself in three words Passionate, loving, driven. What would your superpower be? Invisibility, so I can spy on people and get the gossip. Which words or phrases do you most overuse? I say 'scream' when I should just laugh, and it really annoys my friends. Which book are you ashamed not to have read? The Great Gatsby. What makes you unhappy? Being misunderstood by people I admire. Aside from a property, what's the most expensive thing you've bought? Gender-affirming surgery. Contrary to popular belief, it's not widely available on the NHS and a lot of it you have to pay for yourself. What is the worst thing anyone's said to you? Apart from stuff on social media, an ex-partner telling me I'm unlovable. What is your guiltiest pleasure? The Real Housewives franchise. What do you owe your parents? As you get older you start to realise your parents are just people and they're often just doing their best, so I owe them understanding and grace. What is the closest you've come to death? Before transitioning, I had a severe eating disorder. The doctor said, 'Your body's shutting down and if you don't improve your mental and physical wellbeing, you'll die.' Shortly after that, I started transitioning medically and my eating disorder resolved. To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why? Everybody I've lost to suicide. When someone dies in that tragic way, you always feel you could have done more. Which living person do you most despise, and why? Every single world leader currently making the world less safe for us all. Which living person do you most admire, and why? Victoria Rose, a British surgeon operating on children in Gaza. What did you dream about last night? I have a lot of dreams that involve running and yelling. I've just had Botox in my jaw because I'm grinding my teeth in my sleep. What is the worst job you've done? At university, I worked at a hotel in housekeeping. We saw so many weird things in people's rooms. Guests would leave sex and party stuff behind! If not yourself, who would you most like to be? Grace Jones or Madonna. When did you last change your mind about something significant? Cancel culture: getting stuck on the discourse rather than looking at the system. How often do you have sex? As often as I get to see my boyfriend. Would you rather have more sex, money or fame? Money, because fame's so transient and empty, and I've got enough sex. Tell us a joke I was so surprised when the stationery store moved.
