In light of what is probably the foremost authority on genocide coming out to say, yup, trans people are right; it's a genocide.
I would like to submit a point-by-point explanation on how I think we should strategically approach this eventuality. This is point-by-point because I do not know everything and I am very eager for perspectives that disagree with these points.
Part 1) Genocide - Background
Denial is one of the stages of genocide. Also, the stages of genocide are like the stages of grief. Not exactly stages per se, but identifiable periods that interweave with each other. Denial exists at the beginning, middle, and end of genocide. Be really careful not to internalize society's denial that this is happening to our people. We don't have time for denial.
1.2) Liberals are not going to save us
I need you to understand that when Michael Knowles said that 'Transgenderism needed to be eradicated from public life', it sparked debate in liberal circles. Not debate on how to respond to such an egregious display of anti-trans genocidal rhetoric.
But rather, a debate on whether Michael Knowles explicitly meant the physical eradication of trans bodies. It was a clever rhetorical trick, because it meant that liberals conceded ground: "Are we talking a physical genocide or just a cultural genocide, cuz if it is just cultural genocide, that's okay with us."
This is good for trans people. Liberals have showed their hand on what they are willing to accept. Cultural genocide is the easy precursor to physical genocide. Often the two come hand-in-hand. But, this is "kill the Indian; save the man" logic. Liberals will accept a moderan equivalent to residential schools for trans kids.
Our strategy can no longer be appealing to liberals better nature and informing them. They know and are okay with living in a society where this happens.
1.3) The law isnāt going to save us
At this level of marginalization, the law doesnāt matter. It doesnāt matter that itās not constitutional. The law exists to protect people society values. Once society is considering genocide, your value has fallen below the threshold of the law protecting you.
Be prepared for institutions to simply ignore judgments without any consequence.
As Andrew Jackson said, āthe Supreme Court has made its decision, now let them enforce it.ā (Right before committing indigenous peoples to the trail of tears.)
A lot of the current trans organization revolves around asking institutions to intercede on our behalf in the name of justice, fairness, and human decency. We need to plan now for when those institutions fail.
1.4) In genocides, there are no allies
There's trans people, closeted trans people, and family of trans people. There's a senator from nebraska who has vowed that she will filibuster every single bill for the current session until banning trans healthcare for minors is taken off of the legislative agenda.
She keeps getting praised as a great ally.
She's not. She's the mom of a trans kid. I know alot of us have complicated relationships with our parents and gender identity. But the normal and appropriate response of a mom, is that she will physically burn the state capitol to the ground if it means keeping her child safe.
That's not allyship. That's family. Pay attention to who is family. They are a part of us now. Any genocidal project will include them out of necessity.
1.4) Genocide lines are blurry
You cannot "eradicate transgenderism" if you leave the people most deeply connected to it alive. Family of trans people are trans now. The state is a clumsy instrument. It's not going to be fine-tuned to the difference between someone who identifies as non-binary but not trans and someone who identifies as non-binary and trans. In fact, it won't notice the difference between an intersex person and a trans person. It's not gonna dive into psych records to find your innermost truth about your gender identity that you don't even know for sure.
The state will set forth gender norms. Anyone who breaks those norms (or builds familial ties with people who break those norms) will be labeled 'trans' and subject to state violence.
It's still in the air whether this latest project will include or exclude lesbians and gay men. But, it's more important to remember that it will include anyone GNC and it is already starting to include bi and pansexual identities (socially, not legislatively). The "gender norms" that are being used to differentiate have yet to be concretely defined. But, I am watching for that definition. The tennessee bill that targets male and female impersonators will require semi-concrete definitions for broad enforcement.
Part 2) Genocide - The State of Things
2.1) We have already lost
I have a clear rule in my head. Genocides are not stopped; they are survived.
I don't know if that's true or not. But I know that if you look at Erin's map (erininthemorn) of the states where anti-trans legislation has taken root or is on the precipice of taking root. We live in two different countries. I don't mean 'conservatives vs liberals'. I quite specifically mean places trans people are institutionally encouraged to stay alive and places trans people are institutionally encouraged to die.
The clearest rule on this is whether or not the state has come for trans kids. I've watched as a lot of people have had this flipped, seen attacks on trans kids as bad but the attacks on adults as the genocide. They are wrong.
The point of a cultural genocide is to erase a people-groups identity within a single generation. This is done by erasing that identity from children. That is exactly what is happening. At least 11 states have banned gender-affirming care from children. Another 20ish states are high risk for doing so in the near future.
Make it illegal for children to be transgender and you have cultural genocide within 10-20 years. Children are the future of the trans movement in America.
The answer to 'is a state salvageable still?' can be easily answered. Has that state chosen to ban healthcare from children? If the answer is yes, no amount of staying and voting is going to save that state. They have chosen genocide.
2.2) Genocide is not incompatible with revolution
The Weimar republic was a product of a socio-communist revolution in Germany at the end of world war 1. Revolutionary energy actually correlates with a descent into fascism. They are not mutually exclusive. Do not let the hopes of political realignment reset your understanding of what is happening to your community. And. Do not put your energy toward socio-economic revolution as a cure-all when it comes to protections for your community. Take note of other marginalized communities in America who time and again refuse to make that mistake.
2.2.1) Mass mobilization is a tool of imperialism
Mass mobilization has brought good things. But if you are a minority, do not look to mass mobilization to be your savior. Mass moblization concerns itself with the rights or with whims of the many. Not of the few. We are the few.
2.3) Do not entrust yourself to place.
America is the trans cultural center of the world.
As someone who lives there that feels biased as hell to say, but no where else in the world are the western notions of gender being so completely deconstructed as they are in america. America is exporting this deconstruction energy. If America falls to anti-trans fascism, it will start exporting those ideas instead. If the need arises to completely abandon america, prepare to transition to being a nomadic people. Other people-groups have done this and survived.
2.4) You cannot bootstrap your way out of genocide
American rugged individualism is a trap. You are a burden on the people around. Only burdens will survive.
Aside from the fact, to have humanity is to be a burden on your community. No one survives genocide on their own. Shift your perspective from trying to do it on your own to building a community of people whom you can be a burden to and who won't themselves try to bootstrap their own way and get you killed. Learning how to find community is incredibly difficult. It is the most important skill to build right now.
Part 3) Genocide should be treated as a natural disaster
During natural disasters, we don't endlessly debate how many feet deep the flood waters are. Or beg the government to do something. Or try to convince people we are human too.
We get people out. We need to shift to an organized evacuation of trans people from unsafe states.
If you are reading this and having these conversations already, you need to accept the fact that you are already a refugee. Refugee status isn't the moment you decide to cross the border. It's the moment you decide to leave. And, refugee is a different lower social class.
I've come across so many sentiments of "I can't leave because ...". And to me, that comes out of a refusal to realize that you have dropped yet another social class. As a refugee, you recognize that your life is of more importance than your ability respect laws or borders.
So, you can leave. You just have to weigh the scenarios where the cost of leaving is worth the potential of life.
This does not negate the 'be a burden' argument aforementioned. It's not your job to save yourself on your own. But, you can start working through the scenarios where you would leave. Recognizing exactly where the cost-benefit analysis flips the no to a yes.
Then you can start to pinpoint the specific obstacles in your way and your community can work to remove them for you specifically.
3.3) We need mitigation strategies for obstacles
I've identified some very basic obstacles and mitigation strategies to approach those obstacles.
3.3.1) Too disabled to leave
You need more community to assist in the move itself. Able-bodied trans people could travel to unsafe states on a case-by-case basis to help disabled people move from one location to another.
I would say we need to fundraise. But the reality on the ground is that most blue states are considerably more expensive to live in. We need a detailed map of the safest and most affordable places to live where we can start to settle refugees. We need support networks that can take care of housing and food and medical needs until refugees are able to be more financially independent or are embedded in a community that has capacity to absorb their needs.
3.3.3) Too medically fragile to leave
We need medical supply and support stop gaps to allow for as smooth a transition as possible from one network of providers to another.
3.3.4) Too young to leave
We need to give the youngest trans people the tools to safely flee red states on their own. And have stations set up to take them in and get them legal protection once they are in a safe state.
3.3.5) Trapped because of a shared custody agreement
We need state goverment protections that will void the custody agreements of other states and protect families that relocate by force. This could aslo include support to help relocate the families of exes so that the shared custody agreement can simply transfer to another state.
3.3.6) Trapped because of a parole agreement
We need state government protections that will take over parole agreements from other states so that trans refugees are able to move to locations where they can thrive.
Part 4) Community organizing is key and functions differently under genocidal threat
4.1) We do not have time to organize our physical community
The trans community is, by far, one of the most tight-knit digital communities in the world. Many people make digital connections that are closer and more intimate than any family they have.
Ignore the way you have ever been taught to community organize. Do not organize your physical community. Do not waste time with brand new relationships with people it will take you years to trust. But also, do not try to scale your existing digital community. that leads to burn out and a lack of actual relationship.
Organize your deepest closest connections into actual physical community.
Listen. You have shit chance of fleeing the country if your best friend and the person you would never leave without is 3 states away. Re-organize to get those people in physical proximity to you so that you can make moving decisions together.
Turn your digital relationships into physically connected familial networks.
You already have these relationships. You are building community with people you trust. You are preparing for the eventualtiy of needing to be able to move quickly as a unit.
This is a project that might take years to bring into fruition. As you start the process of identifying those people, you will quickly learn that not all trans people are your people. You need to find YOUR people.
The goal. Is to keep getting ahead of any state-sanctioned violence. So orient your body and your mind around moving to move, not moving to stay. Your home is your people. And with every move, move toward community. Make moves with the intention of expanding your family unit. Do not move towards isolation. Isolation is how they get us. Also, moving is a costly ... financially, socially, mentally. Community can help insulate aginst the brunt of those costs.
Your first move does not have to flee the state. Your first move might be close friends in the same red state. That is still worth it. Your first priority is moving toward community. Your second priority is moving toward places that are institutionally safe.
4.3) Learn how to be part of a family
This is a mental health thing. So many trans people have family as their primary trauma. It's why they lean so much towards abstract community organizing around ideas.
Your tiny trans anarchist cell isn't gonna be worth shit if it's centered around an ideology or a google signup or even a facebook group. Your tiny trans anarchist cell is your family. The people that you will leave, run, stay, fight, and die with. Organize the people you have. It's the tight-knit personal relationships that will get us through the coming years, not the multi-million dollar non-profits.
You're gonna have to wade directly into the deepest part of your trauma for this. That is gonna be hard as fuck. Family is worth it. But I guarantee you will learn who you can and cannot trust the hard way. You will miss the red flags the first time. No one parented you on how to do this. But. We parent the next generation by parenting ourselves.
4.3.1) Family is how we network
Not every one is going to incorporate into your family. You might be able to build a personal relationship that is healthy and beautiful but they might not want to have that same kind of intimacy across the members of your family unit.
If they are healthy, those people will have some distance from you to create their own family units. And your connection, your relationship, will be the what connects your two family units together.
If they are unhealthy, they will blow up your relationship over anger that you didn't choose them over everyone else. Those people are not safe. Learn to let them go.
4.4) Don't try to save everyone
Saving your own community, your own family, your own tiny collection of trans folk means not trying to be a hero.
Save your people. Get your people out. We will naturally network to share ideas and tools. To organize major movements together. But if you want to avoid burnout, you need to always come back to someone's face, someone's story, someone you are personally invested in making a difference for. Otherwise, you will burn out trying to save everyone whilst your very own loved ones suffer. Who you count as "your people" will naturally expand as more and more of your people are safe. But act out of a place of having your people safe. Start from there first.
Part 5) When you get to a blue stateā¦
5.1) Work on legally enshrining protections for trans refugees
Specifically build protections for people in custody agreements, people in parole agreements, and for minors.
5.2) Work on building solidarity with communities that intersect with your own
I know it feels like trans people alone are being targeted, but fascism is already accelerating the targeting of other groups who are generally considered societal castoffs.
Not only do trans people often also belong to these groups, but others in these groups will make for natural allies.
Get your blue state to ratify (or sign into law) the UN convention on the rights of the child. Child rights will help to inoculate against the primary tool of the current genocidal project.
Get your blue state to decriminalize sex workers. The campaign against sex workers has been a precursor to every bad thing that has happened in the past few years. Their safety and our safety are intertwined.
Not to mention, alot of us are sex workers.
Disability is how they oppress us. Societally, being disabled is being less than human. Being associated with a disability is the first step to being further marginalized. We need to give full legal agency to every single person with a disability and to make it impossible to strip them of legal agency.
They've already used mental illness and autism as reasons for these laws. Protecting those groups will protect us.
We need some kind of right to be unhoused. Not only support for unhoused people and the places where they live. But moreso legal protections for unhoused people to not be discriminated against at the workplace, during hiring, or at establishments.
Being unhoused goes hand-in-hand with being a refugee. Alot of trans people are unhoused even now. Solidarity with this group of people keeps us safe.
We need to fully protect the rights to those who are imprisoned. At the very least, they should have full rights to information and fully rights to free speech.
The nations that were present on turtle island first ā¦ those who have survived -they have first-hand experience with what surviving American genocide looks like. We need to follow in their footsteps. And also to recognize that when we run, they will more likely than any one else be the first ones to open their homes to us.
5.2.7) We are targeting our solidarity
Their freedom is our freedom. Once they are safe we can expand. This isnāt top-down āintersectionalityā. It is bottom up solidarity where we tangibly see how our interests and survivability are inextricably linked.
We should do more, but each of these was to specifically recognize a need that directly impacts the trans community. Prisons will be weaponized against us. We need to be able to still stay connected to our trans siblings when they are imprisoned.
5.3) Harass LGBT organizations to take the trans refugee crisis seriously
If we have to name and shame their leaders. Force them to build programs for people fleeing, now.
The people who are leaving are a trickle compared to what those who would leave under a regime that coordinated the full enactment of these laws.
Many Jews escaped Germany before the Holocaust. They escaped to surrounding countries. The Nazis chased them to those countries with their war machines.
Do not assume your blue state is impenetrable. Keep building community so that when/if it is time to go. You have the network you need in place to get out.
6.1) Climate change is coming
I mean climate change is here. Empires are locking down on the hierarchies in order to prepare to duke it out for supremacy of the world.
Refugees are becoming more common. Wars are becoming more common. This is all connected. Even trans genocide is just a tiny part of a bigger global movement for empires to clash with one another. Because imperialism in the face of crisis has one response. Consume more.
To be queer is to give and express freely. We will always be a threat to empires.
It gets worse. In the future.
6.2) But we are the future
If you believe as I do that humanity is destined to not extinguish itself, then queer people, trans people, are the future. We are defining what it can mean to build multi-ethnic people groups with zero respect for the empire from which they emerge.
The future of a world without empires is queer families that become nations. (Granted, nation-states imply borders and heirarchical governments. No, what I mean are clans. Interconnected groups of trans folk throughout the world existing as their own people-group separate from the definitions of colonialism).
6.3) One day, our kids will be trans, not even "trans", a different word. Our kids will be us, our own ethnic group where being related makes you one of us. And in these groups, our kids, our grandkids, our chosen great-grandkids will be free. Their gender will be wholly and freely shaped by them in a community that supports their existence and self-expression. And our people will be known specifically for that freedom.
We are in labor giving birth to that world for the next generation.
I, for one, won't stop until it is reality.
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