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...]
How Gay Marriage Misses the Mark
Gay marriage is an important goal for many, but it has become the goal of the gay rights movement, and it has erased many other issues and needs from the agenda. Simply the name the gay rights movement makes it clear that people are being left out. Looking back at LGBTQ history, there are several events that built up to the start of today's “gay rights” movement. These … [Read more...]
Todo lo que mis seres queridos aprendieron cuando salí del armario
No tuve una experiencia perfecta cuando salí del armario como transexual. Muchos amigos y conocidos no fueron capaces de cambiar su percepción sobre mí y no entendieron los nuevos términos que estaba usando para describirme a mi mismo. Al mismo tiempo que conocía nuevas personas y hacía nuevos amigos, tenía que luchar diariamente con salir del armario. Pero tuve suerte porque … [Read more...]
Talking to Family Members about Transphobia
Talking to family members about transphobia can be an incredibly difficult task. So often, our family members, who should be pillars of support, are the first to turn away and close their minds and hearts to our identities. This can be incredibly painful emotionally, and can also involve emotional, verbal, or physical abuse or disownment. With these hard truths in mind, how do … [Read more...]
An Open Letter to Congressman Sam Farr on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)
Source: HRC [Image description: Three black silhouettes of people stand on either side of a red circle with a slash through it. In the middle of the circle are the words “Workplace Discrimination.”] Dear Congressman Sam Farr, I am writing to you today about the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013. I live in the 20th district of California, your district, and I am … [Read more...]
Calming My Senses, Part 3: An Inside-Out Approach
[Image description: A photo of the author from behind. They are a young, white, thin non-binary person wearing a light blue t-shirt and dark pants. They are meditating, sitting cross-legged in front of a shelf with candles lit on it.] So far, the strategies I've been outlining all follow an “outside-in” approach: physical activities I do to regulate my inner systems. And … [Read more...]
