Ep 53 Francis Myerscough

Episode 53 features Francis Myerscough, who was part of the panel
discussion on diversity chaired by Wendy Magee at the 2021 BAMT
conference. Francis Myerscough qualified as a music therapist
from the University of South Wales in 2018. They work in a number
of different settings, with a background in adoption support and
more recently in a local children’s services harmful sexual
behaviour team. Other roles have included supporting LGBTQ+ young
people at a local youth club, and as founder of and music
therapist at Phoenix Song Project – a therapy organisation
co-directed with and offering therapy for other members of trans
and non-binary communities.


There is some discussion here about language, and Francis also
discusses their clinical practice, musical training and
upbringing, shifts in musical identity, including instrument
choice, and the importance of the voice in their therapy work.


Resources


Practice Your Pronouns:


https://www.patreon.com/PracticeYourPronouns


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjZ0Kl2fL5gC4BkYd0oQKbQ/


Jessica Kingsley list:


https://uk.jkp.com/collections/gender-diversity-gender-diversity-pid-906


Ruth Pearce book


https://ruthpearce.net/books/understanding-trans-health/


GIRES


https://www.gires.org.uk/


Gendered Intelligence (this is one example of an organisation who
offer training for talking therapies, but broader resources also
available that might be relevant for music therapists too)


https://genderedintelligence.co.uk/


Mermaids


https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/


BISH examples -
https://www.bishuk.com/about-you/whats-your-gender/


https://www.bishuk.com/parents/teach-yourself-sex-ed-gender-you-and-culture/
(includes a chocolate bar gender map!)


TransActual https://www.transactual.org.uk/


TransActual UK was founded by a group of British trans people in
2017 as a response to increasing press hostility, transphobia and
misinformation. They are run by the trans community, with the
trans community, for the trans community.


In June 2020 they expanded their scope and remit so that they
may:


share reliable information about trans people’s lives and
about trans rights in the UK, as well as dispelling common myths

amplify the voices of trans people so that the wider world
may hear the experiences of a wide range of trans men, trans
women and non-binary people

educate people about trans people's lives and the issues we
face

advocate for trans people

empower trans people to make bring about change in their
lives and in the community



They are working to improve:
Trans people’s experiences of healthcare.⁠ Legal recognition
& protections for trans people. Media representation of trans
people and an end to press transphobia.⁠ ⁠

University of Wisconsiun, Milwaukee LGBTQ+ Resource centre:
https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc


Includes page about gender pronouns:
https://uwm.edu/lgbtrc/support/gender-pronouns/


CliniQ - https://cliniq.org.uk


The film KIKI (Dir: Sara Jordenö, 2017) provides an update from
the iconic 1990 documentary Paris is Burning. Both centre around
ballroom culture and vogueing. Francis recommends both as intros
to this rich area of history and creative practice, spearheaded
by queer people of colour.


Luke's blog post:


http://jazztoad.blogspot.com/2018/11/curiouser-and-curiouser.html 


Francis' response:


https://facethemusicandtrans.wordpress.com/2018/12/17/working-with-voice-and-trans-clients-musings-in-response-to-luke-annesleys-curiouser-and-curiouser/