As an artist who identifies as trans non-binary, I’ve always felt comfortable sharing my work online. But when far-right social media accounts started targeting me after sharing photos from my art portfolio, everything changed.
It all began in December last year when Libs of TikTok shared images that showed me topless and in a netted shirt – both appearing to show a double mastectomy. The person claiming to be the parent of at least one student at the school, who goes by Blonde Bigot on X, made allegations of student abuse and accused my school district as having child grooming and “pedophilic” activities.
The mother has since been identified as Joanna Evenson. Thousands of people commented on X, a majority harassing me and calling me names. It was a violent experience that left me scared.
As an artist who’s always felt comfortable sharing their work online, I never expected to be targeted by far-right groups like Libs of TikTok or Blonde Bigot. But when they started spreading misinformation about my art portfolio, it became clear that this wasn’t just about me – it was a coordinated attack on the LGBTQ+ community.
Canadian lawyer Barbara findlay with Lawyers Against Transphobia explained that this is the first time in B.C. that they have used the human rights code to go after online “hate speech”. And we’re expecting this will be a useful mechanism to hold accountable people who spew hate speech online.
Findlay noted they are also hearing from other queer and trans teachers whom she said are being harassed and doxxed, “for sure”. In a statement, Lawyers Against Transphobia claimed that Evenson misrepresented me as a teacher of her child. They accuse Evenson of using online language that is “profoundly discriminatory”, who has been suspended on X several times.
“The right is deliberately targeting trans youth and their teachers,” said Jadine Lannon with Lawyers Against Transphobia. But this is the thin edge of the wedge – you only need to look at Saskatchewan, where the government has enacted legislation which overrides constitutionally-guaranteed equality rights, to see how far they are prepared to go.”
As I stand up against online harassment and discrimination, I know that it’s not just about me or my art portfolio. It’s about creating a safe space for all trans teachers who have been targeted by hate groups.
I may be an individual person, but this is part of a bigger context that is dangerous – the silencing of marginalized voices through violent online attacks.