What Public Opinion Can Do

by Stephen Whittle

(The Gender Centre advise that this article may not be current and as such certain content, including but not limited to persons, contact details and dates may not apply. Where legal authority or medical related matters are cited, responsibility lies with the reader to obtain the most current relevant legal authority and/or medical publication.)

Dear All,

Just so we know why we continue to fight the battles, I have included below a verbatim copy of a piece of hate mail that has been sent to at least 100 people in our neighbourhood. It refers to my house, and though much of what is said is factually incorrect, I tell you it is still incredibly frightening when it happens. The letter was not sent to us, but was brought to us by a very shocked neighbour, ­shocked that anyone should consider writing such a letter!

We are okay, but as I'm sure you realise we are very disturbed by this, not least because we have 4 kids to care for and protect. Do I give up work, do we move house or do we fight back, or do we just do nothing? It's Sarah who is stuck at home with the kids and an 18 year old Czech au pair, and they feel very vulnerable. Please keep us in your thoughts, all the best, Stephen.

The Stockport Family Values Society
Mauledeth Rd
10th March 1997

Dear Friends and Neighbours,

It has come to my attention that we have a group of transsexuals with children living in our community, on this very road at number twenty five. I wish to state that I have absolutely no prejudice against the gay community but it is a well documented medical fact that transsexuals are suffering from a form of schizophrenia so where is the wisdom in allowing these children to be brought up in a household boasting three transsexual women and two lesbians? One's mind can only boggle at what dubious activities are going on, polluting these children's minds. I certainly do not relish the thought of my children attending the same school as the offspring of this commune.

It is time to stop this moral degredation and return to decent family values where a child is brought up with one mother and one father. How many couples would raise a family in these conditions, and what effect will it have on these innocent children in later life irrespective of how much love the "parents" give? What on earth are social services thinking of?

I knew many gay couples who lead a normal decent, hard­working life but transsexuals do not or cannot integrate into normal society because of the nature of their mental disease. I understand that they are obsessed with sex with men, women and even each other.

I genuinely feel sorry for these people and I know that they have to live somewhere but I know that I and many other neighbours do not want them to reside in Mauldeth Road, if you have any opinion, either for or against then please attend our meeting at: The Crown Inn, Didsbury Road, Wednesday March 19th, 7:30pm.

The letter was not signed, nor an address given. We have reported it to the police ­but what now?

(Many people expressed empathy and support, urging Stephen and his family to gather their supportive neighbours and go to the meeting to confront their accusers, or to send a delegate, or to go with a camera and take photos of as many people as possible and threaten them with a lawsuit. Two days after the meeting, Stephen reported on what actually happened. - Editor).

Just to keep you all Informed: The meeting that had been proposed by Stockport Family Values to condemn our household was to take place in a local pub on Wednesday night.

The publican knew nothing of the meeting and was horrified to hear of it. He proposed that it was allowed to go ahead, in order that the perpetrator be identified, and then he would sue them for using the name of the pub.

A member of the local judiciary, he also contacted the police. Sarah and I were met by 2 neighbours, who walked down to the pub with us. When we got there, there were already about 10 people who greeted us, as supporters, including the local community police officer and his wife. There were 2 other people there ­who left after about 5 minutes, having muttered and pointed at us: we think it was them who sent out the letter.

Gradually over the next 20 minutes the pub filled up and up and up, with people in support of us. It was a wonderful feeling to see so many people turn out: colleagues from our workplaces, the publican and his friends, and many neighbours and their friends.

The local newspapers sent a reporter and photographer, we didn't ask for them, they had been sent the anonymous letter by its writer, suggesting they turn up. The police officer, Adrian Palmer, and the publican, Peter Hitchin, spoke to the reporters and suggested they do a story about how many people had turned out in support, which is what they did. So we had our photos taken with all the "supporters" and the story is going in this weekend's evening paper.

Then we got everybody to introduce themselves to each other and we had a party in the pub. A great night out was had by all, a real neighbourhood feeling was generated, and we all must thank the writer of the letter for enabling so many people to make so many friends and to have such a great time. Incidentally, about an hour into the event, a colleague of mine turned up with her whole evening class of students, whom she had rallied.

Sarah and I, along with our housemates, Jon and Alex, really would like to thank everybody for the support we have received, and I want to say that all the email was great in that it helped us a great deal in keeping our sanity during this week.

Obviously, the people who write letters like this or worse don't go away. We will continue to fight, and if I ever find out who they are I will prosecute, for at the very least attempting to incite a breach of the peace. But I was horrified to realise how few offences the perpetrator had committed.

We recognise that we live amongst friends who are supportive. It is important that we all remember not to be complacent, and that bigotry still needs fighting. There are many isolated people without that support and with no protection. It is imperative that we fight for anti-discrimination laws so that trans people can be afforded at least some sort of minimal protection.

Polare is published in Australia by The Gender Centre Inc. which is funded by the Department of Community Services under the S.A.A.P. Program and supported by the N.S.W. Health Department through the AIDS and Infectious Diseases Branch. Polare provides a forum for discussion and debate on gender issues. Advertisers are advised that all advertising is their responsibility under the Trade Practices Act. Unsolicited contributions are welcome, though no guarantee is made by the Editor that they will be published, nor any discussion entered into. The editor reserves the right to edit such contributions without notification. Any submission which appears in Polare may be published on our internet site. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, The Gender Centre Inc.I, the Department of Community Services or the N.S.W. Department of Health.