At the start of the year we lost a long time comrade and a dear friend of several members to her own hands. She was a lively soul who would often get lost in science fiction and loved to share the ideas for a better worlds she found in her reading, Worlds she worked towards by putting her considerable skills to work for several groups working hard to make the world a better place.
I
first met Danielle, in a midge infested Scottish field where they
were fighting against the industrial destruction of the environment
for capitalist gains. She was full of passion and fire, we had a
wonderful hike running recon that I'll never forget, A few days later
we spent the day lay down, locked on, talking about The Culture
series. We spent a night in the cells together for that and what a
night. We spent it discussing and arguing politics, science fiction
and boardgames. She spoke against the atrocities of this world with
an erudite, compassionate voice and changed fundamentally who I am
and how I approached the revolution.
She taught me to listen, to understand and put mutual aid and solidarity with the oppressed at the core of my politics. I'm sure on her travels she planted many such seeds and made the world a better place.
Unfortunately the world is not always a better place and when it came to transitioning she was hit with an uphill struggle. In the words of her close friend Alice:
“In a large
part, it was transphobia that meant she could no longer face life.
It was having her gender questioned and doubted and fetishised
and mocked in popular culture, and most painfully of all, amongst
those that pre TERF wars, (TERF is someone who is anti trans people,
but claim to come from a progressive, feminist, perspective) she
would have thought were on the same side as her, as an Anarchist. ...
She is not with us because the world is transphobic. When we argue
with those who use language that insults, minimises, fetishises or
stigmatises trans people its not just an abstract political
theoretical debate. These things matter. Real people suffer. Their
lives are made unliveable. And we lose dear people from the world,
and from progressive political movements.”
Those who
knew her will mourn her passing with love and fury in their hearts.
Please take time to reflect on those around you, touch base with
your mates and hug your comrades. Suicide can sometimes happen in a
moment of passion but often it builds up over time, the depression
permeating every aspect of your life until you feel unable to carry
on. If your mate's sharing dark memes, check in on them, let them
know you love 'em. Give your transitioning pals a hug and tell them
they are valid and worthy.
We will miss
you forever sister.
Thank you for the last night we had playing
games and chatting shit.
As
she might have qouted “The light that burns twice as bright, burns
half as long.” and she burned so very, very brightly.
She will not be forgotten.■
Rest in Power x
If you are suffering from depression, trauma and/or suicidal thoughts, please contact a friend or family member before you do anything drastic. Let them know what you are going through, contact a helpline, talk to folk, surround yourself with people and weather through this storm with those who love you.
You are not alone, you don't have to go through this on your own. You are not an island and your existence is important to those around you.
Helpful numbers:-
MindLine Trans+ - 0300 330 5468
Samaritans - 116 123
LGBT+ helpline – 0300 330 0630
Young Minds Crisis Messanger - Text 85268
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