Importance of Transgenders Coming Out: Why Visibility is Necessary

[Shana A]

Importance of Transgenders Coming Out: Why Visibility is Necessary

Sep 06, 2012
By: Deja Nicole Greenlaw*/TRT Columnist–

http://www.therainbowtimesmass.com/2012/09/06/importance-of-transgenders-coming-out-why-visibility-is-necessary/

My name is Deja Nicole Greenlaw and, in the spirit of Harvey Milk, I'm here to recruit you! I am asking you, no, I am imploring you, all of my transgender brothers and sisters, to come out of the closet and to show your friends, your relatives and your coworkers that you are transgender. Yes, come out! We are part of this world. We add value to society. There's nothing wrong with us! We need to show the people whom we know that we are transgender and that we are a vibrant part of society. There's nothing to fear from us.

Many transgender people live in the closet. Staying in the closet does no good for our cause. Staying in the closet does not pave the way for us in society and it keeps doors shut for the young and future transgenders. We need to open those doors and keep them open. We had older transgenders, back in the day; take the hits for us, which gave us an easier opportunity than they had. Because of the Stonewall Riots, the Compton Riots, all the transpeople who lobbied for state and federal rights, all the transpeople who made it easier to change the gender marker on your driver's license, all the transpeople who were murdered for being transgender, all the transpeople who were refused medical help, all the transpeople who worked to change their religion's views and all the transpeople who led the various transgender support groups, things are getting much better for us. We still have a ways to go, but we do have it much easier than our older brothers and sisters did. We now have a moral responsibility to keep the torch moving forward and to make the upcoming transgenders' lives even easier than ours. Coming out makes a big difference in making our lives easier.

[Jamie D]

Good post.

[Noah]

Visbility is essential if we wish to flourish as individuals and as a community. Unfortunately many of us make the decision to remain in 'stealth', and can we blame them? Society constructs  violent arena for the trans person to exist. When we are visibly trans, our lives are in danger, and our quality of life is often greatly threatened. So, I can not say to any trans person that they should not make that decision to remain in stealth. That is not for me to say.

But I can say that so long as we are kept secret, we shall stay shamed. Our existence is scarcely acknowledged, let alone understood. It is essential for younger trans people to see archetypes of trans reality, yet we offer few. Not every trans person wishes to engage in the cause, or wants to endure the trauma of being part of it. Yet, what is the alternative? It is not a life of freedom. For just as we are authentic men and women, we are also authentically trans. And unless we can be proud of being trans, we are not living in full support of our selves.

This is a big deal, and I also advocate visibility as an essential component to survival. Though I do not take the decision lightly.

[Arike]

I do think that visibility is the better choice

Since I transitioned, I didn't actively tell that I'm transgender. Until the moment I told a co-worker that I was having my SRS and she replied: "I thought you were just a lesbian too..."

From that moment I realized that I had lived 34 years with a secret and I didn't want to live the next 34 years with another secret Although I hardly ever experience any real trouble in daily life, I don't believe in real stealth.

Furthermore, without any exception, all of my transfriends who told their story on television, received positive comments only

(allthough I have to admit I and most of my friends live in a relatively "transfriendly" country)

[Devlyn]

That was great, thanks for posting it, Z. Hugs, Devlyn