Had a call from a friend tonight asking if we're ok. The truth is no. Trying to hold down a busy full time job, our kids, a relationship, the school run, late nights early mornings -normal busy life PLUS, another world of advocacy, research, writing, campaigns. Its exhausting 1/
On top of this is run of the mill low level transphobia that's been bubbling under the surface for years and then a new, specific, targeted campaign of transphobic hate, aimed at a tiny, vulnerable group. Many of us are fighting, but there is no breathing space, no contingency 2/
This means when stuff comes up, even normal, run of the mill, life stuff, it knocks you down. Like if you get an injury - as happened to me last year, or one of the kids is sick, (all the time), or if you hit a snag at work, or in your social life, this hits hard 3/
Then I have this child, this beautiful, incredible, amazing kid, who is so full of joy and love and light, that I just want to tell the world about her. Well she's also transgender, and she's hurting, and she's in the middle of this horrible, overwhelming media frenzy of hate 4/
She's in the playground, in the classroom, she's going to the shops, walking past the newspaper stands, listening to the radio she exists in this society. This country where grown people are taking out attack ads in newspapers against her and her friends. 5/
We started speaking out, because we want to make the world a safer place for our child & kids like her. We want our kid, & all trans kids, to have the best possible chance at a happy & successful life, to be able to access an education, health care, & participate in society. 6/
Things are changing for the better & there is so much to be cheerful about but there is so much left to do & we're exhausted & struggling. We'll keep going, because we're making a difference, & can see the changes happening around us, but I'm not going to pretend this is easy 7/
If we are struggling, two cis parents, then you can be sure that the trans people you know have been running on empty for a while. We need help. We need cis people, allies, friends, neighbours, humans, to step up. To speak up, to advocate, to care, to shoulder some weight. 8/
Don't ask me how you can help, figure it out for yourself, google if you need to, but if you care about trans people, about your fellow humans, now is the time to stand up and show it. We need you. #ComeOutForTransEquality #recogniseme #ProtectTransKids
Thank you for all the messages of support and solidarity they mean a great deal, I'm getting there on responding to DMs but may take a while. ❤ to all.
