Being Fearlessly Out And Trans Is A Revolutionary Act

[Natasha]

Being Fearlessly Out And Trans Is A Revolutionary Act

http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2013/01/being-fearlessly-out-and-trans-is.html
1/31/13
Monica Roberts

"We have to constantly battle as transpeople the unholy trinity of shame, guilt and fear.   One of the reasons we get so much violence aimed at us is not only because we are trans,  but the haters want to intimidate us into silence so they can go back to demonizing us with impunity and claiming we don't exist..

Umm no.  This is the second decade of the 21st century.   We are now 60 years beyond the February 13 day Christine Jorgensen returned from Denmark to popping media flashbulbs and overwhelming media attention.   

Trans people need to be out, proud and claiming their rightful place in the beautiful mosaic of human life. We  need to be and are demanding our human rights be respected and protected in the laws of the countries we reside in.  We are demanding respect for our humanity from friend, foe and frenemy."

[Heather]

I love her attitude!!! I think more of us should have that type of attitude. We should be proud of who we are instead of hiding away. 

[Emily Aster]

I need to find friends like that so they can rub off on me.

[Brooke777]

I am by far quiet about being trans. I don't walk around screaming it on the street, but I will talk to anyone about it, and I don't deal well with people making comments. Luckily, I don't get many.

[Heather]

I am by far quiet about being trans. I don't walk around screaming it on the street, but I will talk to anyone about it, and I don't deal well with people making comments. Luckily, I don't get many.

Yeah you don't have to necessarily scream it on the street. But I think more of us should be out there in the public eye. And set a positive example for younger tran's. To show them there is a future that you can be who you are. You don't have to pretend to be something your not. I did not have that growing up.

[Brooke777]

Yeah you don't have to necessarily scream it on the street. But I think more of us should be out there in the public eye. And set a positive example for younger tran's. To show them there is a future that you can be who you are. You don't have to pretend to be something your not. I did not have that growing up.

I think I'm setting a pretty good example. I have had a few people tell me that they normally don't like trans women. But, because of me they are changing their mind. I take this as a sign that I am going about this the right way.

[Heather]

I think I'm setting a pretty good example. I have had a few people tell me that they normally don't like trans women. But, because of me they are changing their mind. I take this as a sign that I am going about this the right way.

Every small step counts. If we are ever going to be treated as equals we have to be able stuff like this. To show people we are not freaks! And that we can live normal lives.

[Sarah Blomsterhatt]

I'm currently writing a play and hope to find the actors needed to actually get it shown on a stage in the future. It's a play based on my life, because I want things to change for the better for trans people, and I choose to do this by utilising the resources I got, theater, one of my great passions in life.

[spacial]

That notion of a trinity of Shame Guilt and Fear rings so well.

[Heather]

I'm currently writing a play and hope to find the actors needed to actually get it shown on a stage in the future. It's a play based on my life, because I want things to change for the better for trans people, and I choose to do this by utilising the resources I got, theater, one of my great passions in life.

I'm glad you can use something your passionate about. I don't know how I can take my passion for running and exercise and do something good with it.

That notion of a trinity of Shame Guilt and Fear rings so well.

My life has been a whole lot better since letting go of the shame and the guilt still working on the fear.

[Brooke777]

I no longer feel any of the trinity. It's the bigots who will feel shame, guilt, and FEAR when they cross me.

[spacial]

Hope it's OK to stick with this point for now.

The one I know the most is guilt.

Guilt over lying about who I am. It's too easy for me to excuse myself, circumstances, fear and such. But if I were to ask myself, was my life any better for lying? The answer is no, it was probably worse, because I fooled no-one, least of all myself.

If I'm going to be honest, the fear of being attack wasn't too much of a barrier. I've been attacked. You get over it, it just an insult really. But the fear of how my own family would have behaved. Fear that they may have invited me somewhere on the pretence of accepting me, only to humiliate me.

I'm now at a stage where I couldn't go further, no matter how much I want to. It's part of life, I don't seek nor ask for any pity. But I feel so much guilt now. Guilt for failing. Not just myself, but everyone else. My failure to simply be more open will have made it so much worse for others.

But most of all, guilt for deciding now, literally a few months before things became impossible.

[Emily Aster]

If I'm going to be honest, the fear of being attack wasn't too much of a barrier. I've been attacked. You get over it, it just an insult really. But the fear of how my own family would have behaved. Fear that they may have invited me somewhere on the pretence of accepting me, only to humiliate me.

One thing I've come to realize is that the general public (at least in the states) is so afraid of offending someone, that most won't say a word. The only people that feel the need to make you feel shame in who you are, is your family. Sad but true. Unfortunately my family has over 100 members, so there's a lot of opportunities for that.

[Brooke777]

One thing I've come to realize is that the general public (at least in the states) is so afraid of offending someone, that most won't say a word.

This is quite true. I tend to loosen the general public up by making a few jokes about myself. Once people realize I'm not easily offended they start asking me questions.

[Heather]

One thing I've come to realize is that the general public (at least in the states) is so afraid of offending someone, that most won't say a word. The only people that feel the need to make you feel shame in who you are, is your family. Sad but true. Unfortunately my family has over 100 members, so there's a lot of opportunities for that.

That's true most people just stare I get laughed at some times. But I've never had anybody attack me. The fact that I'm 6'1 may also have something to do with that. This town has a large gay population so I might not standout as much as think I do.

[Maya Zimmerman]

I think I'm setting a pretty good example. I have had a few people tell me that they normally don't like trans women. But, because of me they are changing their mind. I take this as a sign that I am going about this the right way.

I'm a pretty plain, ordinary trans woman and I like to think that my plain, ordinary interactions with cis people on a daily basis help to make a little difference in the way we're perceived, but I also want to make sure to point out the phrase "the right way".  I know some very daring, intense trans people who fight on a grand scale for our rights and I am extremely proud of them, too.  We are all who we are and we all influence the world differently, but I don't think anyone's doing it "right" necessarily.

But yes, keep at it.  There might not be a right way to do things, but it sounds like you're doing great.

[spacial]

One thing I've come to realize is that the general public (at least in the states) is so afraid of offending someone, that most won't say a word. The only people that feel the need to make you feel shame in who you are, is your family. Sad but true. Unfortunately my family has over 100 members, so there's a lot of opportunities for that.

I think everyone needs to understand that the bonds, ties, loyalities, trust between family members is simply not guaranteed. When we don't measure up to what a few think are the appropriate standards, the best thing we can do is leave, walk away and not look back.

It's a funny thing but even now I think about what I want to say about them and what they did. But I still can't write it. Not because I can't face it, but because it was so stupid,  so on - off, so nasty and horrible.

When I try to write it down it reads like some Bronte novel. And written, sounds about as plausible.

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

It's all well and good being "Out & Proud" but, in doing/being so, the stealth door closes behind you and out you must stay...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6154368/Former-MP-Georgina-Beyer-unemployed

I haven't followed up on what's been happening in her life recently, but I do hope she finds what it is she's looking for...

I wear the "T" shirt when I feel the need to, however, for the most part I leave it in the closet where it belongs...

Metta Zenda

[MaidofOrleans]

I can understand stealth and the good it may do a trans person but as a whole I feel it harms the trans community by hiding us from public eye. Our greatest enemy is our obscurity in peoples minds.

Its one of the many reasons I will not go stealth even though I know I could if I wanted.

[Heather]

I can understand stealth and the good it may do a trans person but as a whole I feel it harms the trans community by hiding us from public eye. Our greatest enemy is our obscurity in peoples minds.

Its one of the many reasons I will not go stealth even though I know I could if I wanted.

Me to I cannot see myself going stealth. But of coarse I would just settle for passing at this point. But hiding away is never going to get us anywhere. If we ever want to be accepted by society. We do have to get out there and show people we exist.