LGBTQ+ People Are Not Going Back! Trans Folks Are Normal Folks
I’m A Little Old Lady And I’m Not Shutting Up
Full Disclosure:
I’m cisgender, straight, and white. I’m sixty-six years old, and never did I ever imagine that at this point in my life, I’d face so many in my country who pledge allegiance to Don’t Say Gay, to banned books, to endorsing violence against transgender people. I never thought that in 2024, so many wouldn’t understand that the LGBTQ+ spectrum is a part of the Spectrum of Normal.
Growing up, I never would have predicted that a campaign of unhinged rage and hatred would put a completely unqualified candidate in the Oval Office, and that he and his followers would immediately launch themselves into a bloodthirsty human fox hunt with the LGBTQ+ community, especially the trans community, in the crosshairs.
But here we are.
To all cis, straight, white allies — this isn’t the time to be silent.
Yes, it can be uncomfortable and frightening to step forward. But it’s not as uncomfortable and frightening as being the person with the target on their back. Yeah, as a woman I’ve got a target on my back as well . . . but I’m also granted a ton of privileges for absolutely no reason except that I’m white, cisgendered and straight. So, calling on every fiber in my being to muster eloquence: I’m writing for a stronger today and a better tomorrow. Putting it bluntly and straight from the heart: I’m a little old lady and I’m not shutting up.
Amy
In a college town, on a cold winter evening, a woman was delivering dinner from a restaurant. A man approached and they conversed. He punched her. She fell. She was brought to the hospital where a long and confusing intake process ensued. She tried to give them her identifying information, but they never managed to enter her correct name into the system.
Does this make sense?
No.
Are you outraged on her behalf?
Yes.
Is this understandable?
Absolutely not.
Let’s retrace our steps.
In a southern college town, known as a liberal enclave in a conservative state, a Black woman was attacked while delivering food from a restaurant on a cold winter evening. A man approached her and was verbally confrontational. He quickly turned physically violent and punched her in the face. She fell. She was brought to the hospital where they weren’t able to enter her correct name on the intake form. She finally let them enter the wrong name in order to get the medical care she needed.
Does this make sense yet?
No.
Are you outraged on her behalf?
I hope so.
Is this more understandable?
It shouldn’t be.
Let’s go over it one final time.
In a southern college town that prides itself on diversity, equity and inclusion, a Black trans woman was delivering food from a restaurant on a cold winter evening. As she carried the delivery to the front door, a man walked up and demanded to know her gender. She remained quiet. He stepped toward her and demanded an answer. When she still didn’t speak, he shouted that she had “no right” to call herself a “real girl.” He then punched her in the face and fled, leaving her on the ground. He hit her so hard that she needed medical attention.
When she arrived at the emergency room, she gave her name. Somehow, they couldn’t manage to enter the correct name into their intake information. The woman tried again, and more confusion followed. They ended up unable to put her actual name on the form and instead used her “dead name,” along with “male” as her gender.
Injured and in pain, having been verbally attacked and physically assaulted by a stranger, in the immediate emotional aftermath of trauma, with no choice but to use a name and a gender that invalidated her identity — she obtained medical care.
Does this make more sense?
It shouldn’t.
Are you outraged on her behalf?
I hope so.
Is the incident more understandable with the added information?
I hope not.
