Trans Day of Visibility 2023
Today is Trans Day of Visibility. This is a reminder that it isn't the work of trans people to educate cisgender people and to bring an end to transphobia, although they do it anyway. I would imagine it's for the same reasons that I try to help non-Black folks learn about racism. Necessity.
Here are 3 things that cis people can do right now, TODAY, to help improve outcomes for our trans friends and family.
1. Follow a trans led account. But, not for the reason you think. Yes, they should absolutely be the ones telling their stories and leading the advocation for their human rights. But, I want you to follow their accounts to see them just living. To see them wearing a pretty dress or sharing their favorite music or snuggling their honey. This will help you build empathy. It will help you visualize their humanity. And honestly, art is so great especially when it is collected from a diverse set of lenses. Drop your favs in the comments.
2. Practice responding to anti-trans language and 'jokes'. We have to make others uncomfortable with being a bigot around us. We have to let it be known that if our trans friends are uncomfortable then we'll ALL be uncomfortable. I say practice because it can be hard to come up with a response in the moment. Maybe you are afraid to say the wrong thing or that you'll get hurt in some way. Practice will help build your confidence. And honestly, our cis discomfort with speaking up isn't as important as the actual lived experience of trans folks. We are talking life and death. Literally.
3. SPEAK WITH YOUR WALLET. One of the ways that marginalized folks are oppressed is by a lack of access to resources. Yes, including monetary ones. I know money can be tight but can you drop 5 bucks in a fund that supports trans folks? Can you find a trans biz and buy a product from them? Can you add money to a mutual aid fund benefitting trans folks? Every dollar counts. Literally. Drop some orgs that support trans people and some trans makers.
Listen cis people, yes, you can be marginalized and also wield privilege. It's our job to acknowledge it and use it to benefit others.
Cisgender: denoting or relating to a person whose gender identity corresponds with the sex registered for them at birth. -Oxford languages
