Not nearly enough attention has been paid to how the media this year has reported on trans issues - openly hosting TERFs as reputable sources, constantly painting trans people as a threat rather than a vulnerable minority, and refusing to center trans voices on our own lives.
In retrospect it will be obvious how this sort of reporting was an intentional and transphobic choice. In retrospect this treatment will be considered highly immoral.
But in the meantime, trans people are dying.
But in the meantime, trans people are dying.
Trans people aren't that many. The highest estimates place us at about 5% of the total population. This means that we are especially dependent on allyship for survival.
Allies; you are failing us.
Allies; you are failing us.
So what can you do?
If you are a reporter, blogger, podcaster, journalist, writer, etc of any kind - report on trans issues centering trans perspectives. Without intentionally counteracting the prevailing media narrative, trans people will continue to be abused and scapegoated.
If you are a reporter, blogger, podcaster, journalist, writer, etc of any kind - report on trans issues centering trans perspectives. Without intentionally counteracting the prevailing media narrative, trans people will continue to be abused and scapegoated.
If you are a publisher or have any sort of platform you control - feature trans voices on our own issues. Publish trans writers, journalists, etc. Check your sources and do NOT allow anti-trans rhetors to speak on trans issues.
If you're a reader - read carefully. Check the credentials of anyone who is toted as an "expert" in trans issues. If they're cis, be even more cautious.
Think critically about what you're reading, where it came from, and the implications of it.
Think critically about what you're reading, where it came from, and the implications of it.
Most of all, for everyone, understand that societal transphobia is inescapable. You are transphobic. No one is immune to societal bias, especially bias so rooted in propaganda.
What this means is that it must be actively unlearned. Do the work to unlearn your transphobia.
What this means is that it must be actively unlearned. Do the work to unlearn your transphobia.
If you live in the United States, please keep reading. More legislative threats to trans rights have been proposed in 2021 than in all of history prior to that, combined. We are in crisis mode, and without allies stepping up to help #ProtectTransLives, our situation is bleak.
Myself and a group of volunteers have been working on a project to make it much easier for allies and trans people alike to combat this anti-trans legislation. It is a database with every anti-trans bill in the United States listed, including representatives to contact.
The database also hosts the bills explained in plain language, representatives contact information, where the bill has progressed in legislation, and much more.
PLEASE use and spread this resource to #StepUpForTransKids.
stepup.maclanelibrary.com
PLEASE use and spread this resource to #StepUpForTransKids.
stepup.maclanelibrary.com
You can also follow our twitter account at @StepUp4Trans to see updates about legislation progression, deep dives into bills and representatives, and more.
Likes and retweets don't matter. Actively unlearning your transphobia matters. Stepping up and ADVOCATING for us matters. Contact your representatives about these bills. Please. It is literally life or death.
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