Does being openly trans* help others?

[Jessica Merriman]

Of course it helps! The Legislatures at my State Capitol now see a person and not what is described in terrible news articles and some preachers sermons. They see someone who is living life just like everyone else and is not a predator, pervert or anything else we are commonly called. No stealth for me as I just made the front page of the 5 state monthly paper!!

[synesthetic]

Even though I think I'll try to go stealth, hearing stories of openly trans people really helps me keep going. People on this site, and trans celebrities (Laura Jane Grace in particular because I'm a musical nerd ) make me feel like me being trans is okay and maybe the world is making progress.

And thank you Cindy for sharing that story! ^_^

[gennee]

A wonderful story, Cindy. I believe that being open does help whether or not others will tell us. It can give others the impetus to do what they want or need to do. It can also tell them that 'yes, I can live this life openly and successfully.'

[iKate]

I feel the reason why trans rights are behind gay rights is because many of us can and choose to hide. I don't blame anyone that does. Its a scary thought.

As of right now, I personally have no intention of going stealth when I pass. Its my intention to show everyone what a successful (in terms of my career) trans person can be like. I want to shine a light on our community in the best way possible. I feel that I'm blessed to be in a place where I have very few people hassling me and its generally mild. However there are a lot of people I know that didn't know anything about us and as far as they know, I'm their first contact with a trans person. Most of it has been overwhelmingly positive. Its my hope that I can help spread a positive influence twords our community.

I also think its important to mention not long after I came out, a student that I'm familiar with came out as genderfluid. Although he didn't mention me, I can't help but wonder if I helped him to come out.

I am the opposite. I am going to be as much stealth as is convenient and possible (which admittedly is hard given my situation), but I am not going to try too hard. If people know then cool but I'm not going to shout it from the rooftops. As selfish as this sounds, transition is to make me happy and that is priority #1.

Stealth is also a safety issue for me back in the old country and I still have unfinished business there. The Caribbean is where trans women and gay men are killed and the evidence covered up by the police. Not something I'm looking forward to.

That doesn't mean that I will not help behind the scenes, donating money, pestering legislators, voting and stealth activism, even real activism where possible.

[awilliams1701]

I actually had someone on Facebook contact me and say that even though she is cisgender, she is inspired by me and others like me that have the strength and courage to go out into the open.