The Odd Uneven Time (Late Edition)
(A very late) Aug. 2019 Newsletter, Gender from the Trenches
Apologies to all! It has come to my attention that this newsletter, originally written on Aug. 18th, did not get emailed.
Hello, lovely GftT community! It’s the middle of August already, and I’m only one week away from going back to my day job — the one that pays the bills — for the public school system. I can’t promise that a GftT newsletter will continue to arrive monthly, but I’ll try to send one as often as I can.
Time marches on… it seems like I just woke up on the first day of summer break with nothing before me but time and a clean slate, and yet, here we are at the tail end! I don’t know about where you live, but here in south, August is miserable. My mom recently told me something she heard, and it is absolutely true:
“If you want to know what summer in N.C. is like, take a hot shower, get out of the shower, and then put all your clothes on, without drying off.”
Yep. That’s what it feels like.
In the south, summer heat turns heavy. Oppressive. With an added top layer of humidity, the atmosphere becomes more tropical rainforest. Mosquitoes who nagged a bit all summer now descend on our yards like birds flying south for winter.
The whole month is like one last heave of summer’s breath before nature’s green parches and expires. It’s almost an ending, and yet, a beginning — new seasons, new school years, new activities — they’re all coming… but we’re not quite there yet.
Syliva Plath described it best:
“August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time.”
But, there’s still comfort in the odd uneven time; there’s always comfort in the familiar. Every morning a cacophony of crickets and cicadas awaken with their summer song, and they return to serenade at dusk. The sound is instant nostalgia.
As we prepare to enter fall, I hope you’ll take some time to look back over some of the pieces shared on GftT since July. We’ve gained more writers, and have published some poetry celebrating being trans, as well an essay on the toll it takes on a trans person when they’re called “brave,” from Branwen Rhiannon Drew.
Starting off the month of July was our first non-binary writer (woohoo!) Zanne Nilsson, on discovering their identity in a century-old comic strip called “Krazy Kat.” Mid-July, Ryan Theodosia revealed an instance of cisgender privilege on full display in the NYT — from the perspective of a non-binary person, as well as thoughts on navigating non-binary existence in a binary world. Laura-Ann Marie Charlot wondered, what defines a “real woman,” Mx. Drew-Marie Lewis (They/She) explained “finding my truth,” as an identity evolution, and Kira Wertz uses her powerful voice to speak from the heart on dating experiences, hating the player and the game.
From an ally’s perspective, I wrote about what I’d learned from another trans woman, Louise Carole Sumrell (she/her), regarding what’s really behind homophobia and transphobia. And I was super-thrilled to find this website of CC images which uses real trans people as subjects, doing we we all do — living their lives. (See image below):
As I mentioned last month, we’re living in a time of dire need for trans visibility, and especially, for authentic voices from the trans community — not just the glorified Hollywood movie stars. From the unique perspectives of both trans adults, and parents raising trans kids, Gender From The Trenches (GftT) aims to inform, enlighten, and inspire. Through authentic storytelling, GftT is committed to amplifying transgender voices to help connect, foster empathy, and spark meaningful dialogue.
We’re seeking more writers who’d like to publish their stories here at GftT. Of course, we’re open to anything! Have an idea? Send it! Specifically, we’d still love to hear about and share your personal experiences regarding victories and celebrations — whether big or small, as well as stories that dive deep into obstacles and low points. We’re still seeking more stories about the road to coming out (or not coming out) as transgender; your small moment stories, or your bigger than life ones, that reflect on what it is to be a trans (or genderqueer, or two spirit, etc…) person, and especially, a trans person of color.
Will your voice be added to the conversation?
If interested, contact Martie Sirois at: martiesirois@gmail.com (double-check your spelling on that!)
Also, we have a fledgling Facebook and Twitter presence — be sure to link up and follow us if you’re there — and share, share, share!
Til next time, be well, and live authentically!
In solidarity,
Martie Sirois, Gender from the Trenches
