“Sex means a person’s status as male or female based on immutable biological traits identifiable by or before birth,” the department proposed in the memo, which was drafted and has been circulating since last spring. “The sex listed on a person’s birth certificate, as originally issued, shall constitute definitive proof of a person’s sex unless rebutted by reliable genetic evidence.” — New York Times, October 22, 2018
No. Just, no.
Mr. President, you don’t get to pretend like transgender people don’t exist. You don’t get to diminish them, dismiss them, or degrade them. They are PEOPLE, damnit, with hearts and hopes and dreams of being who they were born to be. And you, Mr. Narrow-minded, do not get to say they are anything other than real, equal, and deserving of every human right you enjoy.
I do not understand. I cannot comprehend. And I cannot condone the notion that gender is strictly biological.
I have been honored to meet too many people who were born in the wrong body and were forced for years to live as someone they were not, simply because their anatomy dictated it. Once they had the opportunity to live their truth, they were happy, fulfilled, and free. No one, not even the leader of the free world, should have the right to take that from them. The ripple effects of this way of thinking – from banning trans troops from serving in the military to healthcare impacts and the educational roadblocks it will put in place – are dangerous and precedent-setting. And just plain wrong.
Mr. Trump, have you met anyone who is trans? Have you heard their story? Have they told you how different their life has been since they were able to live their truth? My guess is no. Or if so, you weren’t listening. Because there is no way on God’s green earth that you’d consider this action if you had.
As a proud ally, I stand with every person under the rainbow. As a human, I stand with every other member of humanity. Because I have a heart.
Do you?
#NOH8 event which I rightfully deemed, “Part II.” The outpouring of support I received at that event pushed me to press play on my ideas and develop my own brand that branched away from the shadows of the #NOH8 movement – a decision that inspired the creation of what is now called, FreedomTwoLove. Freedom is defined as the power to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint, love is unconditionally self-explanatory, and “two” is used as a form of unique wordplay to be inclusive of both gay and lesbian love. This brand is different from every other LGBTQ-ally campaign because it strives to bridge the gap that currently alienates those of the LGBTQ community from their heterosexual peers by creating a safe and supportive space for dialogue through events and monthly blog postings for those of the community and others to generate open conversations about the negative biases and stereotypes that are present and evident in today’s society. Its overall mission is to serve as an aid in the fight against the injustices targeted on the LGBTQ+ community and encourage those within the community to build resilient confidence within themselves while simultaneously raising awareness of what’s going on within the community.
blogger for the brand, I am also a motivational speaker and certainly a LGBTQ+ advocate as I make my way through various communities in effort of helping my community receive better treatment in all facets of life. One moment in particular that I’m proud of consisted of helping train an academy class of police officers for the Atlanta Police Department with a segment called, “Transgender Interaction Scenarios” along with transgender women in the community to ensure that the new police officers will be respectful in body searches, pronoun usage, etc. once they got out into the field.
yourself-to-sleep, not-sure-survival-is-possible tough. If the pressures of growing up, getting enough sleep, worrying about your grades and your future aren’t bad enough, there’s the acne/braces/glasses/not-being-popular/forever-feeling-awkward part.
Lynn Thorne 