Trans Rights are Human Rights
My heart has been heavy for the trans community. These vicious, continuous attacks on trans rights are a disgusting and unacceptable violation of human rights. In 50 years, people will see these attacks for what they are, but that does nothing to protect trans people from harm right now; it does nothing for the children and adults who are going to be killed as a result of these violent bills.
To my cis friends: if you don't yet understand what being trans means, please start learning from trans folks about their experiences. If you're a skeptic, great! Please look into the actual science and learn how it supports both the existence of trans people and the life-saving benefits of gender affirming care.
Learn what gender affirming care actually means for minors- that no doctor is performing surgeries on children or handing out hormones like candy. Learn the process of social transition, or how puberty blockers were used on cis kids for decades without any public uproar.
Learn the difference between sex and gender! Learn about the many aspects that make up biological sex (external and internal anatomy, hormones and hormone receptors, gametes, chromosomes, secondary sex characteristics), and the social constructs of gender that vary between cultures, time, and people. Learn how neither sex nor gender are a strict binary (intersex and non-binary people exist!) and that sex and gender do not have to align (trans people exist!).
Yes, the majority of people's gender identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth, but 1% of the population has a different experience, and that doesn't make it evil, wrong, or abnormal. Being trans is a normal and valid human experience that has been documented in many cultures across the world and throughout history.
It's okay not to know everything about a new-to-you concept, but it's what you do with that lack of understanding that's important. Please choose to learn from the experiences of trans people and the science of the experts, rather than listening to the baseless fear-mongering of those who are dangerously ignorant. This demonization of trans people, this taking away of rights to healthcare, this attempt to eradicate trans people from existing at all- is genocide. Yes, genocide.
Cis friends, we need to help fight for our fellow humans- as fiercely as we would fight for our own rights. If you have the spoons, please consider using your voice to speak out against this bigotry, whether that's speaking to family and friends or to your representatives in government. Call. Email. Vote. Donate. Listen. Learn. Share.
Trans friends, I hope you are taking good care of you, and that someday you will be safe, have equal access to healthcare, and feel the love, warmth, and support of the communities that surround you.
5 People & Resources That Helped Me Learn
For anyone who is looking to start learning or continue learning about what being trans *actually* means, here are a few people and resources that have helped me learn a lot over the last few years and continue to help me learn today:
Pink Mantaray
Schuyler Bailar is a trans athlete, speaker, and advocate who discusses a wide variety of topics, including trans healthcare, trans people in sports, anti-trans legislation, and 101 info, such as correct terminology. His Instagram posts are great bite-sized lessons full of important, yet easy-to-understand information, or you can go more in-depth with one of his blog posts or podcast episodes.
IG: @pinkmantaray
Website: https://www.pinkmantaray.com/
Podcast episodes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dear-schuyler/id1680970043
Trans Atlantic Call In Show
Jimmy Snow's YouTube channel The Line hosts a call in show where you can talk to two (“real live!”) trans people and ask questions. The primary hosts are Katy Montgomerie and Arden Hart, but on occasion they feature guest hosts like Josie Caballero and Dr. Ben (formerly Student Dr. Ben). You can catch up on a few years of weekly episodes to learn from previous conversations, or catch them live on Thursdays at 2 pm central.
Go to www.youtube.com/@thelinecallinshows
Transplaining
AC Goldberg has created a consulting agency that aims to create “a safer world for trans people through intersectional education, community conversations, and radically empathetic, transformative consulting.”. AC offers training, workshops, and classes for companies and individuals, but he also has an Instagram where he shares everything from studies and statistics to trans joy and tips for allyship.
IG: @transplaining
Book a consultation: https://transplaining.as.me/50consult
Several reddit users have put together lists full of amazing resources with information on studies, myths, healthcare, and more. The first two links are by Reddit users u/musicotic and u/tgjer, who assembled these lists of studies and citations to help dispel myths and provide folks with a better defense of trans people. The third list was put together by u/_Scoops and features a ton of resources for trans folks, including subreddits, support networks, and guides. All three lists were put together about four years ago, so some links may be broken and there are likely additional studies that are available, but this is a fantastic place to start.
https://www.reddit.com/r/musicotic/comments/8ttud4/a_comprehensive_defense_of_trans_people/
https://www.reddit.com/r/asktransgender/comments/8vo33r/my_master_list_of_trans_health_citations_in/
https://www.reddit.com/r/trans/comments/dn6qd2/ellies_master_list_of_trans_resources/
Trans friends & activists
Follow trans activists on social media and learn from the thoughts and experiences they share. Just remember that if you don't understand something they've said, it’s best to think of it as a jumping off point to go search for more information rather than demanding answers from that individual, because it creates a lot of extra unpaid emotional labor for the person sharing their story, and can be particularly frustrating when that person has answered the same question over and over again in numerous places (note: this is generally a good rule to use when following any activist of a marginalized community). Also remember that not every trans person is interested in doing advocacy work or wants to explain and justify their existence all the time, so learn from the people who are putting themselves out there and if you have questions, then do a Google search or call the Trans Atlantic Call in Show!
