Sparkle

[Squircle]

Hi all,

Here in Manchester, there is a yearly event called Sparkle. It's traditionally a weekend in July that advertises itself as a trans celebration. However, the general attendance is mainly TV/CD, with the majority of them being 50+. In the past there's been very little support or provision for anyone who is transitioning, and even less for trans men or non binary people. It consists of a series of events on a main stage such as a beauty pageant called Miss Sparkle, along with music from bands called things like 'The Tacky Tarts', and a range of stalls selling wigs, breastforms and makeovers. If you were to go you can be guarranteed you'll see plenty of suspenders and mini skirts, along with a few 'sissies' (their word). I have no problem with this, its extremely popular with that audience and the event itself has a nice friendly atmosphere.

However, this year there is new people running it. They are now calling it 'The National Transgender Celebration' and claiming that it is the country's no. 1 event representing everything trans. They talk of becoming more inclusive but then release posters that say things like 'Hair, Boobs, Makeup all my own (courtesy of American Express)' and persist with the general 'sooo fabulous' rhetoric. I only have a problem with it to the extent that it claims to speak for and represent me when the truth is that many transitioning trans people want very little to do with it. It feels like we get marginalised at an event that's suppose to increase our visibility. Compared to events like the trans part of Liverpool Pride or Brighton Trans Pride it seems slightly outdated. They have made an effort to engage with trans men but found that many of them want nothing to do with an event that has ignored them for years, and then compounded the ill feeling with a poster that offended most of that community (I haven't seen it myself, only the fallout).

I realise that this opinion might not be all that popular but it's just the way I feel. Am I being unreasonable? I feel that by claiming to represent all they are taking away our chance to have a truly inclusive trans pride event in the city that is perhaps a bit more political and representative of younger trans people, and avoids problematic things like beauty pageants.

I'm only posting this for debate, not argument or to offend. If you have been to it, how did you feel about it? And how do any British trans men feel about it being 'The National Transgender Celebration'?

[emma5410]

I live in Manchester and I am post op TS. I have never been to Sparkle because of the reasons you have given. I feel it is really intended for CDs. The following is a link to a report from the Manchester Evening News with a gallery of pictures that supports what you are saying.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/sparkle-park-transgender-sackville-lgbt-7413394

There is nothing wrong in having such an event but it does not attract me.

[Girl Beyond Doubt]

I won't be paraded by the organizers of such an event for their gain
I won't advertise my trans status publicly shoving it into everybody's face
I won't acknowledge that they somehow represent me or my interests
I won't support a presentation that suggests that all transgender persons are the same

[sam1234]

That's too bad. Events that clump transgenders as all the same does damage to the rest of us. I can understand why some transgenders would want to be active in events, changing laws etc., but we aren't all like that. What you are describing reminds me a little of the some of the gay pride marches. Not all are bad, but some are made up of overly flamboyant people who step over the line and retain people's poor image of them.

When Those who run such an event depict a group of people as cookie cutter numbers, problems start to arise. It may increase visibility, but the wrong invisibility to a large group.

sam1234

[Squircle]

Hi Emma, I think we are already acquainted from a different website?

The thing for me is that the event as a whole presents a stereotype of trans people. If it was just presenting itself as a Manchester crossdresser/drag event then that would be fine, but what it is at the moment is far from inclusive. Trans men have been so under served by the event that they started their own, and yet Sparkle still claims to be the national transgender celebration whilst continuing to aim 90% of what they do at MtF crossdressers. I don't see any way of communicating this to anyone because the community that loves it don't want it to change in any way. The truth is though it would have to change drastically to be the kind of event that was truly inclusive, starting with the name.

EDIT: I do feel that its important to point out that the event has a new board of trustees and that they are trying to make it more inclusive, so they deserve a chance to do so, but it doesn't appear to have changed much so far. The posters that have been released are still aimed at crossdressers, the one about boobs and hair courtesy of American Express particularly irritated me. It might take a few years for them to shift it around but I think they may find it difficult, given that they have a loyal audience that love it as it is, and the people they want to feel included have long since lost interest.

[emma5410]

I just have realised who you are.   Really nice to see you around. It looks as if we have both moved forward with different surgeries since last we were in contact. Would love to hear more details of yours as I am considering the same. Hope the electrolysis is going well.

As far as Sparkle is concerned I think it will be difficult to make it more inclusive. As you have said it has already alienated transmen. As a trans woman it does not appeal to me.
I assume that the people who attend are more varied than the pictures on the MEN website show but it presents a very stereotypical view of crossdressers as middle aged men dressed as teenagers.