Importance of knowing your community

I loved something I heard on a podcast this morning during my walk. It’s a great podcast (sadly it finished its run a few years ago) on trans writers, and the creator/interviewer themselves are trans. I’ve read so many of these folks that it’s wonderful to get to here their physical voices and listen to an interview. The podcast is called t4t, created by Hazel Jane Plante. By the way, Plante’s own works are amazing. Check out Little Blue Encyclopedia (for Vivian) and Any Other City. They’re worth it.

Anyway, back to the quote. The interviewee was Morgan M Page, a Canadian writer, artist, historian and activist. She was commenting on a conversation she had with trans youths in Toronto and how they knew who they were in the present but didn’t know that they had a history and could be artists, writers, etc. themselves since others had blazed a trail before them. She explained a lot of this history and their eyes widened.

Page said, “Once you reconnect someone to their lineage, they no longer feel like they are adrift and alone in an empty sea. And it just has such a powerful impact on people’s lives and what they think their lives could be.”

This. This is how I felt when I started reading trans writers and watching films written and directed by trans people. I saw this whole community unfurl before my eyes. I knew I wasn’t alone before I read/viewed these works, but still, to see it physically before me, I was blown away. It was like the sun coming out from behind a cloud, the warmth of a home after coming in from the snow, the embrace of a true love after a hard day.

This is also why I get so angry and fight so hard to keep books in libraries and in front of kids and adults. As I’ve said in my “About” page, never underestimate the power of seeing yourself positively portrayed in popular culture.

It’s been an amazing week. I really need to get a longer post out but I need to find some time to do it justice. Leave it to say that I have some amazing friends who while I never doubted their support, receiving it has so deeply touched me and energized me.

A little pride

I got this delivered yesterday. It’s a pride pendant on a really delicate and beautiful chain. The pendant is a love knot of the three colors of the trans pride flag 🏳️‍⚧️, pink, white and light blue.

I simply adore it. It made me tear up a little when I put it on. No matter how hard they fight against us, I can still hold my head up and say I am who I am and I’m proud of who I am. It’s little gestures like this that help me keep moving forward.

I never realized how many wonderful friends I’ve had. As I’ve unveiled myself to an ever widening group of people, the love and acceptance I’ve felt has warmed my heart and wiped away some of the sadness in my world.

Hope, no matter how small or fleeting, is still hope and I will cherish it.

It’s been a hard week, but some things have rescued me from the abyss. One was a single word, the power of which can’t be underestimated. Another was seeing micro.blog posts by people I follow. It’s so amazing to see them look at the world we live in and react thoughtfully to it. There is hope. 🩷

Then Dawn arose from bed beside Tithonus to bring new light to deathless gods and mortals (Iliad, 11:1-2)

Swung back today. Wore my pride shirt proudly and clothes that express who I am. Was out at a Home Depot and a BJs, also filled up my car. It’s sad (and great) that little moments where I can just be a person are so wonderful.

First time painting my fingernails. I’ve done toes before but never fingernails. It’s eye opening. To my sisters, I can only say how powerful it is. I’m not afraid. Sounds silly but it’s not. We are here and we will not go away. Ever.

It’s such a wonderful feeling to have this urgent need to tell people about me. I’ve kept things bottled up so long that it’s exhilarating to be less secretive, more open, more proud.

Crying I am so happy. Trans joy is possible in these times. I swear it’s true. Some care about us. And that is something powerful.

It’s amazing how a simple thing like painting your toenails with a new color can heighten a day and brighten a mood. 🩷