The anthology will be available as a book soon and will be used for reflexive workshops relating to gender and sexuality.

This poem won a place in the LGBT Foundation Rainbow Art Trail celebrating 50 years of queer hope and joy.

There is even a poem about the experience of winning the competition.

I wrote this poem after the Trump administration issued the executive order “defending women from gender ideology, extremism and restoring biological truth to the federal government.” The order withdraws federal recognition from transgender people in the USA. In April 2025 the UK seems to be following suit.

As of June 2025 even small town councils in the UK appear also to be adopting these policies.

Fuck the Executive Order No. 14168

By Lynne Jones – 21 January 2025

When the world becomes more dangerous overnight, 
Loudly advocate for transgender rights. 

I came to the LGBT party late 
I’m a member, an ally, an advocate 
Can’t believe the transphobic news 
Proud Boys Trumpeting unhelpful views. 

I reflect on my stance on the Trans debate. 
Firmly on the other side to hate. 
Trans people are people brave enough to connect, 
To parts of themselves others make them reject. 

Its not just people on telly like Ru Paul, 
Or drag queens on Canal Street’s pub crawl. 
Trans people could be your kids, or their friends at school. 
Trans people should feel safe at public swimming pools 

At Sparkle the guy at the end of the bar, 
Stops you at Pride and she’s Zsa Zsa! 
Sometimes you’ll pass* and sometimes you won’t. 
Sometimes you do and sometimes you don’t. 

And in any setting, it would cause distress, 
To call out a transwoman as a man in a dress. 
So do not fucking do it, be kind. 
Let peoples’ gender and identity align. 

Afraid you might be let go of at work? 
Is the Micro aggression a joke or a smirk, 
An invalidation or active threat? 
Were you attacked by someone you have never met? 
Outed to friends and family? 
Encounter endless hostility? 
Wanting the freedom to be, 
Free to say, “This is really me!” 

Pronouns and toilets are taken as read 
Hate crime and community members dead 

Hearing stories of estrangement first hand. 
Alone for surgery in a foreign land. 
This massive personal rebrand, 
Something your parents (BOOM) cannot understand. 

She said, “I don’t need to tell you I’m six foot two 
She/her pronouns nor gender too 
For me all these things are true, 
I don’t need to justify my existence to you”. 

He said “Why can’t you see me as I am? 
The dating app clearly lists me as a transman! 
Not a man plus plus to fetishize. 
Your opening platitudes were just lies”. 

And if I am in a pile of gender neutral Pups 
Who do I play with who do I fuck? 

“Shall I undergo surgery”, overlook the fears 
“Or try HRT first for a couple of years?” 
Depression high, and motivation waning. 
So far to go with voice training. 
“Hate the way I sound and look”, 
In this body “feeling stuck”. 
Experience gender and body dysphoria 
Then “HE” makes the Executive Order 
And wonders why I suffer a mood disorder. 

Let trans people get on with their lives. 
Students, creatives, partners, wives … 
Treat all people with the respect they deserve 
Relaxing their poly vagal nerves. 

Cos trans people are people. Fact! 
Be a LGBT ally, and act. 

When the world becomes more dangerous over night 
Loudly advocate for transgender rights.