Over the past three years, I’ve learned a lot about the ways in which my brain and body work. I’ve learned that the intense sadness and stress I dealt with in high school did, in fact, qualify as depression and anxiety, and that I could and should seek support for these things. I learned that the extreme physical and mental exhaustion I felt after completing a few days of … [Read more...]
In the Age of Rising Anti-Semitism: What Being Jewish Means
When I was growing up, being Jewish meant to me that we ate challah on Friday nights, put on a Purim play once a year (in which I always got to play Queen Esther), and lit Hanukkah candles while the Christmas tree gleamed in the other room. I loved learning about Jewish history, reading the stories, and celebrating the holidays with all their delicious food. Synagogue was a … [Read more...]
Transicionar como persona no binaria
[Descripción de imagen: dos fotos, una al lado de la otra, de le autore de cintura para abajo. Elle está de pie. Es una persona joven, delgada y blanca. En la foto de la izquierda está vistiendo camisa de cuadros con rayas azules, moradas y grises, un reloj verde, vaqueros negros, y zapatos con formas azules, moradas y grises. En la foto de la derecha lleva un vestido rosa con … [Read more...]
Yes, I Deserve Help: Disability and Asking for What We Need
I went back to college this past fall after taking two years off. I've always been good at school, often to the detriment of my mental health, but I'd assumed that I would be able to pick up where I’d left off and keep up with the workload demanded of me. It wasn’t true. Suddenly, the workload was too much for me. During my first three weeks back in school, I must have had a … [Read more...]
On This Edge: Creating Safe Space for Gender-Neutral Youth
I started going to Rowe Camp, a small summer camp nestled in the mountains of western Massachusetts, when I was twelve years old. I fell in love with the camp immediately and spent every subsequent summer of my teenage years in the verdant woods and graffitied cabins of Rowe. Everyone I've met who has gone to Rowe laments how hard it is to explain what is special about the camp … [Read more...]
Transitioning While Nonbinary
Many people have asked the question, how can you transition if you’re not male or female? What are you transitioning to? The answer is different for every non-binary person. I know some people who have started hormones or had different surgeries. I know some people who started dressing differently. I know some people for whom the only transition they needed was to … [Read more...]
Coming Out in Class
I've been identifying as non-binary for three years. Until recently, being misgendered in my college classes was something I simply lived with. Being a non-binary person in class can be a difficult experience. In the beginning, I was much too shy and anxious to announce my identity to anywhere from thirty to three hundred strangers. I had no idea of my classmates’ knowledge … [Read more...]
4 Things Cis Folk Are Clueless About Trans Folk
I appreciate all the cis people in my life who have worked hard to learn about trans issues and become better allies to me and people like me. Despite their sincerity and hard work, there are a few habits that are so deeply engrained into our culture that I notice cis people have trouble remembering to step out of them. So I put together a list of a few things I notice my cis … [Read more...]
At the Intersection of Asexuality and Queerness
Earlier this month, I was asked to be part of a panel of young queer folk who were visiting a luncheon for LGBT seniors. It was the beginning of a conversation between generations in which youth and elders got to share their stories and to work to understand and honor the differences among their experiences. Before the panel started, everyone was asked to share a brief bio … [Read more...]
Pronoun Round Etiquette: How to Create Spaces That are More Inclusive
In trans and trans-friendly spaces, it's becoming more common to announce one's pronouns in a “pronoun round” before a group discussion or event begins. This practice takes the pressure off trans people to announce their pronouns to the rest of the group and makes asking for and sharing pronouns a normal part of introductions. If a space is made for everyone to share … [Read more...]
Identidad de Género 101: La guía definifiva para analizar el género
En una cultura que al mismo tiempo está trabajando para romper con normas de género (Jaden Smith nombrado como la cara de Luis Vuitton para la colección de ropa de mujer primavera/verano 2016, Caitlyn Jenner, David Bowie, Janet Mock) y sin embargo tenerlo cautivos (todas las reacciones negativas que Smith recibió), estamos adentrándonos en las formas en las que en realidad … [Read more...]
Gender Identity 101: The Definitive Guide To Discussing Gender
In a culture that is at the same time working to break gender norms (Jaden Smith being named the face of Louis Vuitton's SS16 womenswear, Caitlyn Jenner, David Bowie, Janet Mock) and yet hold them captive (the backlash Smith received) we are diving into the ways in which we actually talk about gender in hopes of educating and evolving your discussions. What is gender, … [Read more...]
How to Make Mistakes Without Beating Yourself Up
Being an ally in social justice spaces means messing up and making mistakes that can hurt other people. Dealing with the guilt that can come up when you make such mistakes can be difficult. It's important to recognize that guilt is not always a useful tool for righting a situation or making change. Instead, it can stop you in your tracks. I have messed up in attempts to be an … [Read more...]
5 Ways Cis People Can Help Make Life Safer for Trans Folks
Every day, I have to make the decision about whether or not to come out as transgender. There's a good reason why so much of my friend group is composed of trans people. I don't have to explain myself to them, I don't have to worry whether they are seeing me as I truly am, and I don't have to worry about any unintended microaggressions they might say relating to my gender. … [Read more...]
