Happy tdov I didn't have time to make art for it but here's last year's art.
I think I could have worded it better but I still really like it.
I have more I want to say this year, as I don't think I quite said it enough last year:
It is a transgressive act to live as yourself, both to be honest with yourself about who you are, as many of us struggle to do, and to pursue and embody that truth in your day to day life.
For this transgression, many of us are punished, but we are punished disproportionately, and we are afforded visibility unequally. We are silenced, gaslit, beaten, kidnapped, tortured, and killed all on the basis of who we are.
Trans women, especially Black trans women are disproportionately targeted. They are subject to massive harassment campaigns, lies are told and spread with no consideration for the truth or whether the punishment fits the crime. Trans women can be and HAVE BEEN banned from Tumblr for absolutely no reason. Just recently a trans woman and upwards of 200 of her followers were banned from Tumblr over nothing. Trans women have always been the target of public political outrage against trans people, from lies about them grooming children to lies about trying to gain a competitive edge by competing in women's sports and much, much more.
To fight for trans rights is to identify and protect our most vulnerable. I'm tired of seeing the "first they came for the Jews" poem spread in regards to this- because it's still centering ourselves as opposed to our most vulnerable. We should protect our most vulnerable because they deserve to live and be happy. Not because after they're dead they'll come for you. Get fucking real.
Edit: this posted early. Whoops. Basically, yes, live for yourself and live for the people who couldn't, but fight like hell for the people who are here NOW. You have to protect your trans siblings. You have to foster good relations with those who are at greater risk. You have to listen to them and elevate their voices. We cannot tolerate the threats being made to our community.