AUthor: metro.co.uk
Despite being very welcome in a certain bed in Brighton for the last few years, the rest of the UK hasn’t been quite as welcoming to this Icelander.
Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t all bad – there are things that I love about the UK.
To name a few: the thrill of scoring choice items at charity shops, the joy of a Sunday roast and having my life forever changed by having your shopping home delivered.
But with Brexit looming over the United Kingdom like a bad yeast infection, it’s safe to say that being an immigrant right now feels frightening.
I’ve seen Muslim women harassed by white men on the tube, who threaten to rip off their hijabs because they believe these women are being ‘oppressed by men’. I’ve seen multilingual people attacked on public transport for daring to speak their native language with their Nana.
Even I think twice before speaking Icelandic in a public place.
With growing prejudice towards immigrants and people of colour, perhaps the real reason people voted for Brexit has less to do with independence, economic gain, and self-sufficiency than leavers claim.
If anything, it seems to be more about the luxurious prospect of British citizens being able to once again grip a gloriously blue passport, signifying their historically colonial empire.
Alas, the excitement seems to have dissipated as some realise, in reality, Brexit might not look how they expected. And when they want to retire somewhere hot in Europe they may no longer be seen as expats, but as immigrants.
Perhaps the real reason people voted for Brexit has less to do with independence, economic gain, and self-sufficiency than leavers claim
In a country famous for its politeness, I’ve also found it amazing how rude people can be.
My partner and I were interviewed by Piers Morgan, where my name and identity as trans was mocked in front of millions of people on national TV.
According to Morgan, and some people commenting on parenting website Mumsnet, people like me are apparently damaging to British society.
My mum has called me more than once to tell me she is worried for my safety due to the fact that I’m a trans person and an immigrant living in the UK.
But as a white immigrant, I know that I’m seen as one of the ‘good ones’. My Nordic heritage and blue passport allow me to integrate more easily than people from the ‘less desirable countries’ can.
This was perfectly illustrated when the prime minister of Iceland and the UK recently met to ensure that Icelandic immigrants would retain their residency rights, regardless of what happens with Brexit.
Essentially, the UK government made the decision that it was okay with immigrants from one of the whitest countries in Europe to remain in the country.
As a white immigrant, I know that I’m seen as one of the ‘good ones’.
Yet at the same time, my mother-in-law faces potential deportation for being a part of the Windrush generation, even though she has lived here for the past 65 years.
Source: https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/02/trans-immigrant-feel-unwelcome-in-uk-8228467/
