Okay, I'm a few days late with this one. (I'm on vacation, okay?)
This past Tuesday was the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day set aside to remember all of the transfolk that have been killed by acts of anti-trans violence.
I have a couple of dear online friends who are currently experiencing tremendous distress and hardship because of their desires to live an authentic life. Not physical violence, fortunately, but vicious emotional violence that threatens to tear apart their families and destroy their professional lives.
And why, exactly? Is it ignorance? Fear of the unknown? Is it an irrational hatred born of misunderstanding what "righteous indignation" is supposed to look like, and when it's appropriate? Maybe. But in both of my friends' cases, their avalanche of suffering has been triggered by the actions of a family member!
"Tough love" or not, that isn't how love is supposed to work!
But as bad as these situations may be, I can't help but think of those who have it so much worse. A recent report by Transgender Europe (TGEU), a non-profit organization that monitors these things, stated that by their count, at least 265 trans folk have been murdered in the past 12 months alone (and that count is likely low, due to unreported or under-reported cases)!
That breaks my heart.
There may come a day when transwomen and transmen alike can navigate the world with the confidence of relative safety afforded most cis folk. Where even if someone disagrees with your worldview, they respect you enough not to kill you over it. (honestly, that seems like a such a LOW bar to clear! Has humanity progressed so little since Cain and Abel?). I pray that day will come soon.
It is sad that so many have been killed, hurt, abused or otherwise mistreated for really no reason at all other than hate. However, I am thankful that things are getting better, not just for us but for everyone in difficult situations that set them apart from others. I just have faith that things will keep getting better.
ReplyDeleteYou're right of course, and I'm certainly grateful that things have improved as much as they have in recent years. I just hope and pray, like you, that things will continue to get better.
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