My dearest and most beloved trans people,
Today is Trans Day of Visibility! ๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ And of course, it's just as important as the last. Actually, I'd argue that this one is extra important. As many of y'all know, the U.S. and its relationship with trans people is.... not good. Honestly, it never has been. But this year? It's terrifying. They've been attacking us with bills and laws, discrimination, oppression, physical & emotional harm, etc. much more these past few years, but now, things are declining much, much faster for... obvious reasons. And it's scary. I won't lie, I am scared; a lot, if not all of us, are.
But I am begging you to please stay here on this earth. And I am begging you to please stay visible in any ways you're able to. The faster we give in, the sooner we hide ourselves and shove ourselves back into the closet, the easier it will be for them to erase us. And we cannot let that happen. We will not let that happen. They can try all they want, but we are here, we always have been, and we always will be. Trans people have existed for millenia across all cultures, and we will never go away and die out no matter how much they want us to. So please, PLEASE be visible as much as you can. And please protect each other, ESPECIALLY!!!! Black & Indigenous trans people, other trans people of color, disabled trans people, poor trans people, etc. Please do not forget our most vulnerable in this fight to survive through all of this. Because they are just as deserving of life, love, respect, and acceptance, and they are just as deserving of being seen and heard.
And I get it, believe me I GET IT, that you might not want to come out publicly or be as visible because you're scared or in an unsafe environment or whatever else, so I am asking you, if possible, to please be visible in any other ways that you can, even if that's something as simple as being out as trans online. We just need to be here for each other. We need for others like us to see us and know that they are not alone in this. We need to be able to find each other, offer comfort and love, and support each other as much as we can to be able to get through this. And we need to fight like hell, speak out, protest, call/write/email representatives, build community with one another, help feed each other, and more to get through this, too, so we can achieve a better future for ourselves and our community! And if you have any form of privilege, I'm extra asking you to please use it to help out your less privileged counterparts during this time because we are in desperate need of it!!
And yes, I know that this post is very U.S.-centric. But I'm saying this to those of y'all outside of the country, too. PLEASE DO NOT STOP BEING OUT AND VISIBLE IF YOU CAN HELP IT!!! And even if you really cannot do so, please don't stop giving love and support to your fellow trans people in whatever ways you can. Whether you're just across the pond or across the whole world, we can still support one another and help one another! We can still help each other feel like we aren't alone, we can still make each other feel understood and seen, and we can spread love and kindness everywhere we go.
Please don't give up, no matter where you are. And please never stop being proud of who you are. Never question who you are. Never feel bad for who you are. Never give up on yourself either. Being trans is beautiful. YOU are beautiful and perfect and amazing and strong just for having the courage to accept yourself and be you! That is true strength. That is incredible. That is admirable. I am proud of you for recognizing who you are, whether you're closeted or not, and you should be proud of yourself as well.
I love each and every one of you so much, and I am here for you always. I see you, I hear you, I accept you, and I respect you. And I hope you have a great TDOV! ๐ฉต๐ฉท๐ค๐ฉท๐ฉต ๐ณ๏ธโโง๏ธ ๐๐ค๐๐ค
Sincerely and with all my love,
