Sorry if this is weird but I'm a younger trans kid and I suppose you'd be smarter on this with you being y'know. Way fucking older. Sorry about my language can't rlly help it
How the fuck are you supposed to survive right now. Genuinely what the fuck r u supposed to do.
That's it. That's the question. Okay cya first bump dude
You learn to hold on to your anger at your oppressors while still leaving room to celebrate as much as you can.
I'm not sure where you're from Anon, but lot of us in the US are confronting oppression that others worldwide have already been enduring for generations. It's scary and I think many of us, especially we who are white, forget that people before us - and who currently live alongside us in our own country - have been coping with oppression much longer. And I think it's very important to be humble here and recognize that us "newbies" have a lot to learn from other communities -- those who have endured systemic racism, endured generational poverty and war, incarceration, etc.
This is not a call to see "who has it worse". It's a gentle, "take a deep breath and see how people can still thrive the best they can." It's a reminder that human beings have always sought solace in each other, be it through art, mutual aid, etc. And how human beings persist with their identities and express them however they can, even when expressions of those identities are outlawed.
Take advantage of what you still have access to. A lot is still being fought over on our behalf, especially in the courts. Transition is not universally banned and even if it was, we still have sympathetic allies. The news can be overwhelming, so pull back a little if it's too much -- political pundits attempt to predict, and trans pundits know it is wiser to be pessimistic so people can plan. But all that pessimism also makes it easy to forget what we still have.
Engage with queer art and make your own. It doesn't have to be profound (I write trans fanfic); you just need to see yourself in it. Especially support working queer artists where you can, even if it's checking out a writer's book in the library -- they are putting a lot on the line to stay visible.
Engage with queer history - we have always been here. Learn the stories of those who loudly -or- quietly stayed true to themselves, and draw inspiration from them.
Meet other trans people, especially IRL. Hang out in person. Build and share resources, keep lights on and mouths fed. Organize what you can, even little things like swimming at a safe person's house or having a potluck or clothing swap.
Remember that humanity has an entire history of people doing their best to live and love in the absolute worst of conditions. We can be angry that the future we hoped for is in the process of being taken from us, and if it is stolen, we still should persist to the best of our abilities.
And above all, turn your despair into planning. Figure out other opportunities for your healthcare, education, work, legal protections, etc. Maybe you will need to start using telehealth or cross a border for care. Maybe it's time to download DIY resources and print out to keep in a safe place. Maybe a career/education change is in order, or it's time to do redundant estate planning with a spouse. Maybe we'll have to return to secret parties to truly be ourselves. We all need to have backup plans.
So, yeah. I will not patronize you and say, "things will get better." The future is anyone's guess. But even when things do go to shit, there's art and meals to be made, birthdays to celebrate, animals to pet, and people to love. Including yourself. â¤ď¸