Trans Aware Cancer Care Interactive Flag

During the Trans Aware Cancer Care project, creative, art-based workshops were held to support our research. During these workshops, individuals from the trans+ community and allies used a range of craft materials to create a fabric square, showing their experiences of accessing healthcare. There was also an option to write an accompanying title and description. If you want to find out more about the project, click here. You can also contact us here.

Click on a square to find out more information

Two columns of text on a white square. The left is under a red X and reads (bold to show emphasis): "You can't have the morning-after pill unless you prove to me you're capable of getting pregnant." - pharmacist The right is under a green tick and reads (bold to show emphasis): "Here is some information about pelvic screening. I've checked it has gender-neutral language and I'm here to talk you through it if that helps. Just tell me what you need." - Practice nurse aka legend Text decorated with butterflies and blue felt shapes on a pink square. The text reads: TRANS is Beautiful Trans pride stickers on a white square. The stickers are a whale, a cat face, and a cannabis leaf, and (also in trans pride colours) a heart has been drawn and wavy lines along the bottom. A vortex of short lines around some buttons on a pink square. The corners are scribbled out black to make the image circular, and the lines in the vortex are trans pride colours plus some black. In the centre there are some buttons: a butterfly, some flowers, a circle and heart. A quote on a pale pink square underneath a trans pride flag. The first word ("Joy") is large and sewn while the rest is in pen and each line alternates between being blocky and blue or pink handwriting. The text reads: Joy is not unfettered delight driven by external circumstances; rather it is something that we create in spite of what's going on in the world around us - Imara Jones An image with four differing quarters on a blue square. The top left is just text and reads: If you miss us, you risk us. Trans+ people get cancer too. The top right is a yellow post-it note on a red square. The note reads: Healthcare professionals' chufty badge [arrow to button] Well done, you wear a rainbow! The bottom left is a post-it note stuck on with a butterfly sticker. There are beads, some sewing, and felt star about the note. The note reads: "I'm trying soooo hard to respect you! It's so hard for me!" The bottom right is a colourful square patterned with leaves. There are some plain scraps of paper stabled on that read: Wait, I have a GENDER‽ I was very drawn to the unicorn logo used on the cancer care graphics so thought I would recreate it as it felt like the perfect capture of trans and queer joy. Square with the title ’I served and defended my country for over 30 years but when I needed access to basic healthcare I was told to wait. When I even needed the loo I was told, I’m not "Woman enough"’ 3 characters on a white square: a woman with orange hair, black lipstick and a choker. To her left, a brown unicorn with a mane in trans flag colours. To the right/above the woman, an IKEA shark in trans flag colours. The woman has a speech bubble that reads: "I am lost in my doubts and feeling, I am about to pair close. ha they accept... me... I want to just feel myself and be treated as anyone else. I am just asking for understanding and to be able to stand in my shoes" A poem written over a picture of a rainbow going behind mountains next to a river. The poem is "Wonder Woman" by Ada Limon. A yellow post-it note on a blue square. The note reads: Dear Project I have always been hesitant to enquire in mainstream NHS GP services...... What were the chances of contracting some kind of throat or tongue cancer!!! Because a) of oral sex + b) one of my lesbian friend had cancer of the tongue. I've never plucked up the courage to ask + so from 18-65 – I could have but avoided asking. [name] xxx A selection of hanging trans+ pride flags plus the disabled pride flag, the neurodiverse pride symbol and the autistic pride symbol (all labelled) on a white square. The section under them has text that reads: Trans People Deserve HEALTHCARE!!! Speak out! we hear you [smily face] Disabled Trans people Exist! Autistic Trans people Exist! ADHD Trans people exist! Text on a blue square that reads: NHS WAITING LIST ARE FAR TOO LONG. BUT THE WAIT FOR TRANSGENDER PAITANCE IS JUST CRUEL AND SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED. Text on blue square decorated with foam shapes at two corners. The text reads: 7 YEARS of waiting and I still haven't had my first GIC appointment Blue and red text on a blue square. The text reads: My notes tell you my name & My Gender. DON'T add MISS to my name I AM HE/HIM A picture of a unicorn on white paper attached to a white square, decorated with ribbon. The unicorn is deer-like is watching water run into a black puddle. Text above reads: I worry about what's left to save… A felt depiction of the Earth wearing headphones while a small figure shouts from besides it. On a white square. The figure is shouting: TRANS LIVES MATTER!!! PRONOUNS MATTER!!! EQUAL ACCESS FOR TRANS PEOPLE!!! Branching chains of colourful paperclips safety-pinned to a blue square. Text along the paths reads: WTAF!? / SHARE EVERYTHING AGAIN / ROUND IN A CIRCLE / ARE WE GETTING THERE? / HERE WE GO / NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED HERE... Text at the end of the paths reads: NOT HERE / TRY AGAIN / EH? / NO. / NOPE! / END? A pink skirt made of felt attached to a blue square with several notes on white paper around/under it, some of which hide the notes. 2 trans pride stickers are used as decoration. The top note reads: I want to be respected and taken seriously for who I am. Understand doing something to a part of my body I don't relate to makes a smear even more uncomfortable than it already is. The left note reads: on GP's smear top tips Don't tell me to [skirt] a skirt The right note reads: Suggest something comfortable would be more helpful The fourth note is covered by the skirt.
A felt brick wall across a blue square. It has staples as barbed wire, and on one side there are felt shapes, a TACC sticker, and a felt sign saying: Every Contact Counts Together we can make a difference On the other side of the wall, there is a pile of bricks (by a "Build it up" note) and a pickaxe (by a "Break it down" note), with text in the middle that reads: We each have a choice Several crossing lines of stitching with text on a white square. The first section reads: If you miss us you risk us The text at the bottom reads: Trans+ people get cancer too Text on a blue square with some illustrations. The top reads: As a parent you feel helpless and disimpowered by the disjointed and under resourced system There is a picture of figures in a house saying "Help us!" and a barbed wire barrier ("Access denied") between them and the "Help here" side, which has papers (documents and/or checklists). The last section reads: Media stories are so harmful and everyday new spin on hate = Not welcome here A picture of a roulette wheel on a pink square. The six sections of the wheel have faces with different expressions (e.g. grinning, crying, angry) A picture of two people sitting opposite each other on a white square. The person with their back to us has a blue aura surrounding them, while the person we can see is looking to the side with their arms crossed Two stick figures on a pink square. One figure has a speech bubble full of lines while the other, wearing a nurse's hat, is smiling and covering their ears. Text underneath reads: NOBODY WANTS TO LISTEN! A picture of a snake eating its tail on a pink square. A yellow post-it note on a blue square. The note reads: I Don't trust NHS System allows ignorant managers to pass off trans people as lifestyle choices A question mark on a pink square. Text on a pink square. The central text reads "Trans Women need to know..." and text around reads: • they need to have regular mamagrams • Bone Health implications? • To get their Triple A test • They can still get prostate cancer Some figures at a table next to the Nando's icon on a pink square. One of the figures is smiling, the other is sad. There is a picture of a phone next to a note that reads: I was having lunch at Nando's with my friend, when the GP called to let me know I have to choose between my identity and healthcare. There is a picture of some chips in a basket, and below that a folded-up note. Unfolded it reads: - You can't change your title with us yet - Why? - Oh, because of the cancer screenings for women, of course - Oh - Is that alright? I look at my friend, at the other tables No, I think - Yeah, sure! I say One of the TACC chat images: a square speech bubble on a pink square. It depicts a figure with an exclamation point above their head, looking at their phone. The phone's speech bubble reads: Hope this talk helped your mental health. (BTW, we outed you to your GP) One of the TACC chat images: a square speech bubble on a blue square. It depicts two figures holding hands, an adult and a child. The child is asking (in a speech bubble with non-binary pride colours): Why does the GP get my pronouns wrong? One of the TACC chat images: a square speech bubble on a white square. It depicts a figure surrounded by orbs, all of which have outlines. All of the outlines are pale blue, apart from that of one orb and the figure, which are red. The text underneath reads: One misgender can negate a hundred affirmations A depiction of the famous photo of Marilyn Monroe's over the subway grating on a blue background (and a blue square). Monroe's dress has been coloured blue and she's been given white boots. She is partially obscuring text. The text reads: DON'T TELL ME TO WEAR A FU[Monroe]NG SKIRT Colourful text on a pink square. There is an upright smily face and a text bubble that reads: What gender where you born as?! The main text reads: I avoid the doctors: WHY • They always ask for the gender I was born as • I have to tell them I'm on testostrone • Because I go private my GP refuse to give me a blood test for my testostrone levels and for a full health work up • I dred for when I have to go for my breast cancer cheak as I won't belong there and fear I will be judged. Underneath is "Trans and proud!!" with two hearts. A picture of a torso above text on a white square. The torso has top surgery scars and a red button heart, and the text reads: "Well, there's a waiting list." Text on a pink square decorated with trans pride stickers and hearts. The text reads: TRANS HEALTHCARE IS A RIGHT Text in trans pride colours around an image on a white square. The image has a trans pride planet sticker and two stick figures skating over top surgery scars that are dripping with trans pride colours. The text reads: TRANS HEALTH CARE SAVES LIVES
A brain-like shape made from letters inside a circle on a pink square. The letters are squished together but can read: ALONE HELP! Text on a pale pink square. The text reads: LGBTQ+ (+trans especially) RIGHTS Should be Human rights WITHOUT Question Text on a pale pink square with a picture of an ear. The text reads: Really Listening [picture of an ear] to what is being said. When people don't listen to me they miss things. Don't pass me off. Colourful text on a blue square. There is a speech bubble ("Your not a boy it's just a phase!) and several sections of text. The text reads: AVOID Public BATHROOMS: • Get called a girl saying I don't belong here • "Just because your on testosterone doesn't make you a man" • "you should be dead" WHY because I'm trans I have to wait for a stall to be free. WHY I Avoid doctors: Call me by my dead name they use she/her pronouns even after I have said. People always say it's just a phase. "you'll out grow up" Felt images and speech bubbles on a blue square. The top image has a smiling face with a pink speech bubble ("!") that is surrounded by black scribbles. There is a white rectangle with a line attaching it to what could be an arm. There is a knife by a skin-coloured rectangle with a line on it. There are two partially unfolded pink paper clips that have been crossed out with red felt. The speech bubble at the bottom reads: IM JUST SO TIRED Text on a blue square decorated with a trans pride star and some felt hearts. The text is in varying fonts in trans pride colours and reads: MEDiCAL SPACES especially for mental health first aid MAKE ME FEEL judged, unsafe and ashamed, and too AFRAID TO BE MYSELF A picture of a letter and text on a blue square. The letter has "MR" on the envelope and "Miss" and "Her" on the letter. The text reads: DON'T GET MY HOPES UP! Your letters HURT A spiral with text on a white square. The spiral is sewn on and is more chaotic in the middle of the square. The text that follows it out from the middle reads: I DESERVE CARE & SAFETY A picture of a person lying down, partially obscured by felt shapes on a pink square. The head is replaced by a line of three teardrops, the chest is covered by a square, there is a star over the belly, then a line of triangles coming out from the groin. Two corners of the square are scribbled out so that the person appears to be lying on a rectangle. Text on a pink square decorated with butterflies and flowers. The text is several phrases that read: • "But our doctors don't do that" • You can't guarantee a 'Safe Space' • WHERE DOES THE £ GO? • WHAT ARE MY BOUNDARIES!? • HORMONES CHANGE EVERYTHING • [Next to a picture of a safety pin] QUEER HEALING • ADMIN IS A FULL-TIME JOB. • Radical Imagination = [ribbon made of felt] • TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS ARE HEALTHCARE RIGHTS Text on a blue square decorated with trans pride stickers ("LOVE IS LOVE" and a cat face). The text reads: WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FIGHT TO GET PROPER CARE A picture of a hairy torso with breasts on a pale pink square. The text around it reads: MY BODY MY CHOICE Text and a crying stick figure on a pink square. The stick figure is wearing a skirt and the tears are raining down towards a blue line that goes along the bottom of the square. The text is a list that reads: • Abuse • Deadnaming • Misgendering • doxxing • The long wait • getting disowned • Media • People thinking they know better than us • not understanding A bullet-pointed list on a blue square. The bullet-points are stars. The text reads: • A&E never has my updated medical files or name. They will turn me away + accuse me of false identity. No matter how ill I am. • Doctors will try to remove my binder, they don't know what it is. They have no idea what to do with me. I have to do my own ECGs. • My nhs GIC appointments are full of anger that I access hrt privately. They threaten that my clinic will be shutdown + I will have nowhere to turn. • I am a guinea pig at my local surgery, I I am told I am the only trans patient they've ever had. I have to walk them through basic trans healthcare. • I won't get cancer screenings, how can I trust I will receive healthcare with dignity after my experiences? • I hope more is taught about our healthcare! A picture of a lower torso with text on a pale pink square. The text has a line pointing to the groin and reads: tumour. less the [blurry] no [blurry] just [blurry] I wait [blurry] prevents [blur] going secondary Text on a pink square decorated with two trans pride stickers (star and "TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS"). The text is in several sections and reads: • You are valid • Just keep swimming • Things will get better • You are loved, always • One day we won't have to fight A picture of a heart monitor display with text on a blue square, with a trans pride sticker. The text above the display reads: You cant tell im trans from my ECG The display has a very jagged line and [heart] 250 underneath. Below that, there are top surgery scars and a (realistic) heart with text that reads: MY HEART IS THE SAME! Four hearts inside the text on a white square. The text reads: Trans rights in epilepsy A plain white square.
Several patches of felt sewn onto a white square. Three of them have buttonholes (two with buttons in), and some have beads. There is one button by itself and some beads are behind a line. The text "THERE ARE MANY PARTS OF ME" and then numerous buttons paired with text on a white square. The text reads: RESILIENT / AUTISTIC / MUMMY / CREATIVE / HAPPY / QUEER / KIND / TRAUMA / COURAGE / ADVOCATE / WRITER / WIFE / FRIEND / SURVIVOR. / TRANS+ Text on a white square that reads: IF WE CAN SUPPORT THEM Why can't you! Text on a pink square that reads: From the perspective of an ally and friend of trans people, the inequality within the system is disgusting and inappropriate. Help the fight for their rights. One of the TACC chat images: a square speech bubble on a pink square. It depicts two figures: one holding a red cross away from the other, who is speaking about two figures holding the cross together. One of the TACC chat images: a square speech bubble on a blue square. It depicts a figure of a person, a greater-than symbol, and a book. "BE AN ALLY" in big letters with a prominent shining red heart on a white square. It is decorated with swirly buttons, hearts and stars, plus some ribbon. Three green frogs with a trans pride umbrella and some trans and gay pride decorations, on a white square. An upside-down V-shape of colour with black on the outside: the colours start at red before going through the rainbow to purple, then finish with blue, pink, and white (trans pride colours) around the centre. On a white square. "Allies are groovy!" in colourful text with stars on a white square. A green frog with a small trans pride flag on a white square. A trans pride flag with text on a pink square, decorated with stickers, buttons, and ribbons. The text reads: "We are just people who want to be loved + RESPECTED" A green and black heart on a blue square with several sections of text. The text above the heart (on a floral card) reads: "Bart's Hospital. London, Thank you" The text on the black section of the heart reads: "Mammograms are super SCARY and dysphoria inducing..." The text below that reads: "but you make it SO MUCH EASIER when you RESPECT MY PRONOUNS" Some stick figures walking up stairs that go from black to colour, with a heart in the highest steps. There is text in the background that goes from negative phrases (e.g. weird, stop, no) to positive ones (kindness, amazing, friends). On a blue square. "LONG LIVE TRANS PEOPLE" written on a blue square with a "Trans Rebellion" lighter sticker. "TRANS ALLY" with trans pride decorations (e.g. stickers, flower shapes, ribbons) on a blue square. A big eye in a mouth with "I Love u!" written around it, decorated with swirls, flowers, and more. On a pink square. A big red felt heart on a blue square with trans pride stickers and text reading: "Allies Aligned at Heart" 3 trans pride flag stickers on a blue square.
Two columns of text on a white square. The left is under a red X and reads (bold to show emphasis): "You can't have the morning-after pill unless you prove to me you're capable of getting pregnant." - pharmacist The right is under a green tick and reads (bold to show emphasis): "Here is some information about pelvic screening. I've checked it has gender-neutral language and I'm here to talk you through it if that helps. Just tell me what you need." - Practice nurse aka legend A yellow post-it that reads: God and Love is for Everyone! On a white square. Colourful text decorated with trans pride stickers and on a white square. The text reads: Together we can Transform healthcare Two people standing next to each other underneath a cat holding a trans pride flag. Text underneath them reads: T4T wins [heart] I [heart] my enby gf It is decorated with stickers and on a white square. A trans pride flag sticker continued to make a betta fish by some plants. On a white square. A clock face on a blue square surrounded by text and decorated with woven ribbons. The text reads (starting from 11, with brackets to show emphasis): [weave time] creatively making [more time] for understanding [extra time] for safety [make time] matter and work. A person made of felt and string on a pink square. Decorated with notes and hearts and with text that reads: CHRISIE EDKINS BE TRUE TO YOURSELF A rectangle of colourful lines on a pink square, decorated with trans ally flags and a "PRIDE NF" sticker. A person in a black dress with long yellow hair, playing with ribbons on pink square. A black square with colourful shapes coming out from under it. An "unapologetically ME" sticker surrounded by buttons. On a white square. Colourful text decorated with three foam shapes on a pink square. The text spread about reads: Sharing Stories / listening / Being Seen / Thought About / Support. / love / Caring / Being heard / Being Understood / Given the Chance Large quote on a blue square. It reads: "VALIDATION OF YOUR NHS GENDER JOURNEY IS KEY TO YOUR RECOVERY AND A SOURCE OF STRENGTH!" A circle with "BRAIN" in on a pink square. There are little hearts above it, some rainbow lines below it, and speech bubbles that read: "They Them" and "we support you" The corner reads: I am LOVED! A big heart in trans pride colours decorated with stickers on a white square. Text below it reads: I [heart] Trans Who doesn't?! A bisexual pride flag above the words: LOVE PRIDE DAY It is decorated with owls and elephants and on a pink square. Plushie sharks "swimming" through the colours of a trans pride flag One of the TACC chat images: a square speech bubble on a pink square. It depicts one figure saying "I think I might be trans..." and another replying with "Here's a trans support group to help you figure it out!" Rainbow text and a line on a white square. The text reads: Chiropractors love all backs (and everybody!!) The first "o" of "chiropractors" is a heart that a big, wavy, rainbow line comes down from.

The original flag

These 94 squares were lovingly sewn together by the project team, the trans+ community and allies. The flag measures approximately 6m x 3m and weighs over 10kg.

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