What Transgender Day of Visibility means to me

Hi, I’m Trans*! This realisation of disconnect between body and identity came to me early in life, but it wasn’t until much later that I decided this was something I needed to realise in order to be my ‘authentic self’. Perhaps it was my reluctance to believe in the notion of the authentic self that delayed my self-acceptance for so long. Once I did accept it, and that living in the world as the sex that I identified with was something that I could do, and that it made me happy to do so… then I had to contend with ALLLLLL of the other shit — from society, from people I knew, from employers and landlords and doctors and train ticket inspectors and cops and co-workers and so on — that was a difficult step too.

And yet I am so grateful. Grateful to all of the trans people who came before me. Grateful for the acceptance of the people I now have around me. Grateful that social awareness and understanding of trans identity is growing stronger each day. I mostly don’t read the papers — I don’t have to — to know that there are still some holdouts who shout about ‘gender insanity’ and trans people ‘indoctrinating children’ in schools. Come on. I’m grateful for all the people who choose love over ignorance, fear and hate, time and time again.

We exist. And I am grateful that we do. I am grateful, trans comrade, that you exist. You are wonderful. We have been through so much. We have so many stories to share. I am grateful, supportive ally, friend and family member, that you exist, and your acceptance gives me strength to continue.

We will continue to exist, no matter what. And we will prevail. The future belongs to us.