Hi folks!
Itâs trans history week. And itâs never been more important and needed than it is right now.
âTrans people have always been with us and always will be with us, and the only real thing thatâs up for debate is whether we treat trans people with respect or we donât.â - Jo Maugham
âWeâre in a time where a lot of places, especially corporations [and] media outlets [are] going quiet,â says asexual activist and model Yasmin Benoit.
âIf you are an ally [of] the community right now, you need to make it incredibly obvious and be making a tangible difference and working with that community to make change, instead of just thinking [about] it.â
After recent attacks on the dignity and safety of trans people, I want to take a minute to share some truths.
trans and gender-expansive people exist. They always have existed, and always will exist.
gender is not sex (gender is what you know and feel yourself to be. For example, I know and feel myself to be a woman, so thatâs my gender. Itâs different from gender presentation, which relates to choices like clothing, hair and make-up)
sex is not binary (chromosomes, internal reproductive organs, hormones etc⌠can all vary: itâs not as simple as male/female)
the bathroom debate does not make women safer (why would anyone pretend to be a trans woman when actual sexual violence by cis men does not get stopped/punished? Predators donât need to impersonate anyone else to assault women and girls)
but trying to police peopleâs gender does do real harm. To anyone who looks or sounds like theyâre outside the gender binary. It can harm women of colour, Butch women, women whoâve had mastectomies, for example.
I am sending so, so much support and solidarity to my queer and gender-expansive siblings. Love you.
Itâs Trans+ history week
The fantastic folks at QueerAF are back with their campaign âAlways Been Hereâ.
This campaign brings Trans+ history into the public domain with their beautiful posters and press ads.
I love how theyâre showcasing how Trans+ people have been important innovators and world-changers throughout history.
âMaking our history visible is a radical act. For so long, our stories have been hidden or distorted. This campaign changes that. It puts our truth in the spotlight â on billboards, in print, and in spaces that have historically excluded us. Itâs a reminder that Trans+ people are not a trend. We are a fact of human history. If we are to plot a better course for our country we have to start with education.â - QueerAF
Sign up to QueerAF to learn more.
Image description: A poster on the side of a building. The poster background is pink/purple with black text that reads âWe made mobile phones possibleâ. Underneath, smaller white text reads âLynn Conway pioneered the technology that allowed for microchips to be made small enough to fit in your pocketâ. Below the white text, black text reads âAlways been here, always will beâ. There is a repeated image of a mobile phone, and in the bottom corners is âtrans+ history week 05-11 Mayâ and âQueerAFâ.
Get a history article every day of Trans+ History Week, plus understand the LGBTQIA+ news every Saturday with QueerAF.
Learn more: Trans history week
Get the Trans+ history lesson you never had
I absolutely love Ben Pecheyâs Queer History Lesson series on social media.
Iâve been watching on LinkedIn and oh my word they are SO GOOD!
Catch more of their #QueerHistoryLessons:
How are you celebrating Trans+ history week?
Lots of love,
Ettie
Resources
Pronouns are simple
No need to panic if you come across some unfamiliar pronouns. Pronouns are pretty straightforward, in fact, theyâre simple!
Learn more: pronouns are simple.
Being trans and LGBTQIA+ inclusive
It can feel overwhelming, especially with how attitudes we see in the media becoming louder and seemingly everywhere. But itâs really not hard to shift your language to be consciously, actively LGBTQIA+ inclusive.
Learn more: 9 ways to be trans-inclusive
Learn more: how to be LGBTQIA+ inclusive
Singular they is a-okay
âYou canât use âtheyâ as a singular pronoun! That goes against the law of English grammar!!â ⌠Um, no. Of course you can.
Learn more: singular they is a-okay
Some other resources I love
How journalists can improve their coverage of the trans community
FAQ about pronouns and trans people from sociolinguist Lal Zimman.
Whatâs the best way to refer to everyone who isnât cis? by Alex Kapitan, the radical copyeditor.
Take action
If you can, please consider donating to charities that support, protect and uplift LGBTQIA+ folks.
Akt
African Rainbow Family
Black Trans Advocacy Coalition
Black Trans Foundation
GLAAD
Kaleidoscope Trust
Mermaids
The Outside Project
Time To Be Out
Stonewall
The Trevor Project