East London-based music charity Sound Connections funded Alexander Pullinger (he/him) to write an article during lockdown, about a pressing issue within the world of singing – one that affects many transgender children and young people.
In his work as a classical singer, he’s seen that transgender people encounter significant barriers to accessing singing. Given its proven benefits for mental health and social inclusion, he believes greater access to the activity could really help transgender people struggling in these areas. This article is designed to raise awareness of the barriers that exist, offer some ways to address them, and highlight the importance of making the activity more trans-inclusive.