Zines

Historically, self-publishing has been hugely important to activists whose voices have been censored.  This is currently writ large in the UK, where the cheap and nasty populist tabloid media intentionally perpetuates misinformation about trans people to increase its astonishing profit from hate. Despite the struggle to coexist alongside the seemingly impossible-to-beat, rapid-fire dissemination of disinformation on social media, the esteem of the trans community for offline content can be seen at trans events and festivals around the UK and Ireland.

And the same passion and talent is evident, not only for the content, but also for the way in which it’s made. Zine workshops are hugely popular, with the little low-cost independent publications produced in free workshops, organised around themes of trans joy. Leeds and Norwich’s Trans Pride festivals are centred around craft fairs as a form of creative resistance. Similarly, the immense popularity of Boe Studio’s LDN Queer Mart’s Queermas! also reflects the extent to which the tremendous regard of the LGBTIQA+ community for alternate media, zines being one of the most popular offerings.

The methodology employed by Juno Roche – whereby she talks back to oral history recordings with affection and wisdom (a conversation on a couch we are all invited to sit on share with her) – really highlights that the immersive experience with all these things speaks to our need to be in touch with each other gently, to be given space to speak thoughtfully: sometimes with anger and sometimes with love. Ultimately, we are creating spaces to speak our truths above (or perhaps, below) the clamour. To be free to say it as it is, to be heard, to value the spoken and printed word, in turn, enables us to exist.

The Museum of Transology’s collection is bursting with contributions of zines and books on trans life and politics. We will not be silenced.