Diff.Voices

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#INDYWALES Football fans for freedom

PRIDE CYMRU Using art as expression

BE HEARD

Safe spaces for strong voices

SIARAD CYMRAEG? The importance of Welsh language

Winter 2018 Issue 1

Welcome to

DIFF.VOICES Diff. Voices began as a positive project to amplify the quieter voices of Cardiff. We want our magazine to be a safe space for people to share their voices.

In this issue, we introduce you to people who are fighting to get their voice heard.

Each of them use different ways of expression, and different platforms to get their voice heard.

We hope our magazine will encourage you to do the same. This week’s issue features transgender artist Joe Simpson - he finds expressing himself with words doesn’t have the same impact his art posesses (P.4-5). Elsewhere you’ll find foodball fans fighting for indepence (p.7), safe spaces to talk (p. 6) and Welsh success stories (p.3).

Meet the

MEGAPHONES

Advice

Turn up the

T

E M U L O V

rying to be heard but feel like a small fish in a big pond?

Penny and Camille have experienced first-hand how successful it is to join forces with other like-minded individuals, and what happens when a whisper becomes a shout By

Kate Morgan

COMMUNITY ISSUES Penny Bowers is part of an informal group of individuals came together to voice their concerns about the same issue: the proposed dog ban by Cardiff council.

She says: “Cardiff Dog Action came together to prevent dogs being excluded from marked sports pitches, thus fragmenting dog walking areas.”

“Karen Stephens organised the online petition, Clare Fanson organised the mass dog walk and others like Jeremy Sparkes, Richard Parnham and Jane Joughin added to the debate with their own research, including applying for FOIs and going through what the council said in finer detail,” says Penny.

Penny is thrilled to report that their methods were successful and the council have reconsidered the ban.

.

GLOBAL ISSUES

Camilla Elizabeth set up the Cardiff arm of Sustaining All Life, an organisation that works at a grass-roots level to address climate issues. She explains: “The reason I set up the Cardiff arm of SAL is because I wanted to start sharing my voice on the topic of climate change.

She says: “I struggle to be heard often, but that’s because I struggle to recognise the value of my own thinking and so end up not sharing it.

“People should be reminded that they don’t have to do things alone - we should never feel on our own with what we’re struggling with. I’m finding ways to share my voice because I built a support network that I didn’t have before,” Camille says.

3

t r A e c i o v y m s

i

Due to his dyslexia, Joe finds it much easier to express his voice through art and photography. By

J

oe repeatedly apologises for his lateness with a sheepish grin, confessing he slept in. He wriggles uncomfortably and laughs “he’s up my sleeve.” The “he” is revealed to be Maurice, Joe’s pet rat.

Joe expresses his voice as a transgender man through his art. This means his work tends to be heavily profile and body-orientated, with body disassociation being a common theme. He uses art and photography to explore what words cannot, confessing his dyslexia makes writing difficult.

Joe believes he has always expressed his voice through art, even from a young age, without realising. However, he credits his time at

Corrie David

Aberystwyth University for expanding his understanding of art. “I realised it could be more than just renaissance paintings,” he explains. “You’ve got a lot of freedom.”

The critic Joe describes art and photography as the most freeing thing he has ever done. But he is highly critical of his work. “It really stresses me out,” he admits. “I always feel like I could have done better with it.”

He partially credits the scrutiny of his work to social media platforms such as Instagram, causing him to pick at every fault he can find.

However, one piece of photography stands out as Joe’s favourite: ‘Underneath

the Table’. He claims it was the first photo he ever received a genuine response to. It was taken on a first date with an ex-partner. “He didn’t know I took it, and you can see he’s really nervous.”

Fine art has been more of a challenge for Joe as it doesn’t have the same personal connection that photography does. He finds himself being more critical due to this outlet, admitting: “I have drawn since I was really little and I’ve never ever liked what I’ve done.” To tackle his inner critic, he completed his entire watercolour series with his eyes shut. He found this meant he was a lot happier with the outcome.

His gender dysphoria has played a significant part in lowering his self-confidence.

Feature

Portrait of the Artist

“Even when I’m presenting my work or going to workshops, if I’m not being seen as male then I’m not going to be taken seriously,” he explains.

Matching his voice Joe’s journey to transition has not been straightforward, but he hopes once he becomes more comfortable with himself, then he will become more confident in sharing his work.

Two years ago, Joe saw his doctor for a referral to a gender identity clinic, only to find out that his doctor was dismissed shortly after

“

Melting Bodies

If I’m not being seen as male then I’m not going to be taken seriously

”

the appointment. His referral was never sent off and he had to go through the whole referral process again.

One night in November, Joe set up a GoFundMe page to support his first appointment privately at the clinic. The next morning, people had donated £200, and three days later he reached his target. “My life has completely changed in three days,” he beams.

“My appointment is on 5th January and I am buzzing about it.”

Underneath the Table

5

Advice

Safe spaces to get your voice heard

G

etting your voice heard is not always about getting a cause trending on social media, or making a difference to an established policy or law.

Sometimes, getting your voice heard is literally just that — knowing that someone is listening to what you have to say.

The best thing to do in these situations is find a place to go where you feel comfortable talking about your problems, especially as according to Time to Change Wales, 1 in 4 people in the UK experience mental health problems. Here we help you discover some of best places to to help you feel safe and ready to talk it all out.

By

Kirstie Sutherland CHOP AND CHAT

Everyone knows that getting your hair done is always the prime time for a chat. At Sleep When You’re Dead, a tattoo and barber shop in High St Arcade, barbers are trained to notice the warning signs of mental health problems. Although not trained mental healthcare professionals, you could get a trim and some take-home advice, all for one price.

6

DROP A LINE Cardiff Nightline is a listening service for all students across the city. You can call or instant message the service, run by anonymous student volunteers every night during term-time, to talk about problems you may be having. They provide all necessary information for your problem and everything is confidential.

SUNDAY TALK Each Sunday evening, an inclusive LBGTQ+ group, The Gathering meets at City United Reformed Church.

They welcome everyone from all walks of life, and neither gender or sexuality is a barrier. You can take part in each session as openly and freely. They update each week’s topic of discussion on Facebook.

If you are experiencing emotional distress and want to talk to someone, call Cardiff Samaritans on 029 2034 4022, or visit their website: www.samaritans.org.

Q&A

The

FIGHT

Andrew Benjamin, 34, Tredegar

for Welsh Independence

s Brexit looms,, there is talk of another divide, or as many view it, a unity. The argument for an independent Wales has long been called for by ardent advocates, and it’s a call that’s getting louder. We spoke to Andrew Benjamin, a member of Welsh Football fans for Independence about why now is the right time for an independent Wales.

A

By

Andrew Lloyd

Q A

: How did you get involved in the movement? : I first became interested in politics and independence in my late teens. It's only in more recent times that the idea is being taken more seriously, largely I’d say thanks to events in Scotland and Catalunya. The serious economic arguments for independence are starting to be had, and won.

Q A

: What is stopping Wales from being independent? : Not having an indigenous mainstream media isn't helping. Most people in Wales get their news from London owned and run media outlets that rarely mention Wales, especially in a positive light. Fantastic online news sources such as Nation.Cymru are starting to address this.

Q A

: Why do you think Wales should be independent? : It isn’t natural to be governed by another country.

Westminster rule consistently fails us and always will. We get told that we’re too small for independence but there are 18 smaller countries on continental Europe and many have less resources.

81%

Q A

: What does an independent Wales look like? : An independent Wales will look exactly how the citizens of Wales want it to look. We will, for first time in our history, get the governments that we actually vote for, not the governments our neighbours in England choose.

"It isn't natural to be governed by another country" Gov.uk published a study in 2018 which found that just 19% of Welsh adults supported Welsh independence

7

Speaking your mind

This week we took to the streets of Cardiff to hear your thoughts on the Welsh language

T

he 2011 Census revealed only 19% of the Welsh population can speak Welsh and only 14.6% are able to speak, read and write the language. The Welsh government are now aiming to have one million Welsh speakers by 2050. Are the Welsh public on board with the aim?

Louisa Turcu, Romania

“I see the emphasis that is put on Welsh language in schools and it’s really important in terms of your national identity.”

Norman Lowe, Birmingham

“I’d say the Welsh language is important today. It’s the national language of this country so it shouldn’t be allowed to die out.”

Natalie Pillinger, Llantrisant

“Yes, and no. It’s part of our heritage, but I don’t speak the language so I don’t use it enough.”

Vicky Sewell, Cardiff “I’m learning Welsh — I’m doing a foundation course. I learned it in school up until the age of 14, and I’m learning it for work as well.”

NEXT ISSUE Tattoo art: my permanent voice