Lynne Jones – March 2025

Written after interviewing Spirit to the tune of the Beastie Boys song.  

Poem – You gotta fight

You’ve gotta fight 
for transgender rights 
Of safety 
 
You really hate school, do you really have to go? 
diagnosed on the spectrum and in gender limbo 
You run the risk of losing your job in Christian youth work 
If you’re outted as LGBT by some kind of jerk 
You’ve gotta fight 
for transgender rights 
Of safety. 
 
Your mum caught you chest binding, and said “no way!” 
That hypocrite is wearing her spanks today 
Living at homes a financial necessity 
But my folks won’t use my pronouns and deadname me 
You gotta fight 
For your right 
To identity 
 
Personally I can’t think of anything worse 
Than going to school in 2025 when you’re gender diverse 
Well that’s my experience, how was it for you? 
Do you have a preferred name and pronouns too? 
You gotta fight 
For the right 
For dignity 
 
At school it’s all please “Sir” and “Miss” 
No space for non-binary, only cis 
So my counselling zoom is a safe place to talk 
Feel free to take yourself off for a wee or a walk 
Rock on your chair, 
Twiddle with your hair 
With Safety. 
 
Could you tell your dad you’re trans? I said “hell, no way!” 
He’s never “knowingly” met anyone trans or gay. 
For some, school is a place that’s safe 
Was it like that for you or do you have a wedgie burn chafe? 
You gotta fight 
For transgender rights 
To live happily 
 
You gotta fight 
 
Kick you outta this house 
For incongruent gender wear 
Kick you outta this house 
if you cut off your hair 
 
Your mum busted in and said they are the wrong gendered toys! 
Mum your just indoctrinated toys are just toys! 
You gotta fight 
For your right 
To question the arbitrary 
 
You gotta fight 
For transgender rights 
Of safety