Thank you for articulating this. I get frustrated now when I see posts from cis allies emphasizing our small numbers. I understand the rhetorical move they’re trying to make, but the truth is we ARE a threat to the cisgender order, and we’re not going anywhere, and there are more of us coming into being every day.
Yes! On the particularly hard days, sometimes I remember that just existing as a queer trans person is frustrating their whole project of control and am thrilled with spite to keep going! In some sense, we are not an easy group to eradicate. We have been fighting against the message that we should not be who we are for our whole lives, and it hasn’t stopped us! May we all keep going. I really feel like the world needs us even more right now. 💜
Thank you for this. I’ve been going similar places in my writing recently. For every trans person in my age cohort (GenX, early 50s) there are 10 trans teens in high school. The question that gets asked so often, even by our supposed allies is “Why are there so many trans teens?” But the question I ask is “What happened to my trans peers?” So many more of us should be here. To see how many of us have come forward in the last five years, despite the increasing costs the GOP is ascribing, the perspective that these policies are an utter failure is the wind in my sails that I needed to begin my week.
I think if I lived in the US right now (and to be honest I'm very glad I don't) I'd be tempted to identify as trans, though I'm not, just to piss them off. Of course I do appreciate that it's sometimes dangerous to be trans, or to appear to be in any way gender non-conforming, and I don't know how far I'd really take it. But at least as far as ticking the box (or the nearest option) on every form that asks for gender identity.
Thank you so much for this article, Gillian. Your writing is such a gift right now. I've been thinking a lot about existence as resistance, but this article articulates it so well. Thank you for adding some brightness in dark times.
This is a really good article and I'd like to add in another bullet point. DSM classification of
1) homosexuality changed at the end of 1973 when it was removed as a mental illness.
From the mid-70s into the early '80s, many people saw an increase in gay people because they felt safer to come out.
2) transgender didn't change until 2013 when it was removed from the DSM and no longer considered a mental illness.
This change even before 2020 was allowing more people to come out as transgender, non-binary, gender fluid etc. since they felt safer.
Again, this is why we see an increase.
3) The removal of social restrictions that forced left-handed people to use their right hand caused and increase in the number of left-handed people. It went up to about 10 to 13% back earlier in the 19th century and has held steady since.
When you compare left-handed to the removal of mental illness for homosexuality, we see a similar increase that has since held steady.
And we've been saying the same thing with transgender. Again, it's not that more people are being converted. It's more people feel freer and safer to be who God made them.
Outstanding as always! Your work across all media has been and continues to be educational and informing. Thank You! Please keep doing what you do. It is greatly appreciated.
This is wonderful. I'm so inspired and delighted by trans people, defying everything that an increasingly hostile world throws at them just to live authentic lives.
Thank you for articulating this. I get frustrated now when I see posts from cis allies emphasizing our small numbers. I understand the rhetorical move they’re trying to make, but the truth is we ARE a threat to the cisgender order, and we’re not going anywhere, and there are more of us coming into being every day.
Yes! On the particularly hard days, sometimes I remember that just existing as a queer trans person is frustrating their whole project of control and am thrilled with spite to keep going! In some sense, we are not an easy group to eradicate. We have been fighting against the message that we should not be who we are for our whole lives, and it hasn’t stopped us! May we all keep going. I really feel like the world needs us even more right now. 💜
Thank you for this. I’ve been going similar places in my writing recently. For every trans person in my age cohort (GenX, early 50s) there are 10 trans teens in high school. The question that gets asked so often, even by our supposed allies is “Why are there so many trans teens?” But the question I ask is “What happened to my trans peers?” So many more of us should be here. To see how many of us have come forward in the last five years, despite the increasing costs the GOP is ascribing, the perspective that these policies are an utter failure is the wind in my sails that I needed to begin my week.
I think if I lived in the US right now (and to be honest I'm very glad I don't) I'd be tempted to identify as trans, though I'm not, just to piss them off. Of course I do appreciate that it's sometimes dangerous to be trans, or to appear to be in any way gender non-conforming, and I don't know how far I'd really take it. But at least as far as ticking the box (or the nearest option) on every form that asks for gender identity.
Thank you so much for this article, Gillian. Your writing is such a gift right now. I've been thinking a lot about existence as resistance, but this article articulates it so well. Thank you for adding some brightness in dark times.
This is a really good article and I'd like to add in another bullet point. DSM classification of
1) homosexuality changed at the end of 1973 when it was removed as a mental illness.
From the mid-70s into the early '80s, many people saw an increase in gay people because they felt safer to come out.
2) transgender didn't change until 2013 when it was removed from the DSM and no longer considered a mental illness.
This change even before 2020 was allowing more people to come out as transgender, non-binary, gender fluid etc. since they felt safer.
Again, this is why we see an increase.
3) The removal of social restrictions that forced left-handed people to use their right hand caused and increase in the number of left-handed people. It went up to about 10 to 13% back earlier in the 19th century and has held steady since.
When you compare left-handed to the removal of mental illness for homosexuality, we see a similar increase that has since held steady.
And we've been saying the same thing with transgender. Again, it's not that more people are being converted. It's more people feel freer and safer to be who God made them.
I love this. So much. Thank you for so beautifully articulating one major aspect of my own medical transition timeline.
Outstanding as always! Your work across all media has been and continues to be educational and informing. Thank You! Please keep doing what you do. It is greatly appreciated.
This is wonderful. I'm so inspired and delighted by trans people, defying everything that an increasingly hostile world throws at them just to live authentic lives.
Would appreciate your support! ❤️ #TRANSHELP 👉 Safe housing for Black Trans women in need.
💔 A staggering 60% of Black Trans women face homelessness.
Together, let’s work to bring them off the streets.
🏠 donorbox.com/transunited
There is just no one in the world like JMW Turner.💛
YAAAAAYYYYYY!
This is such a nourishing, incredible piece of writing. Thank you, Gillian, for writing it.