With all the anti-trans rhetoric in our society, it can be difficult to be visibly trans. There is a lot of pressure on trans people to hide who they are and to be ashamed of being trans. We see the same rhetoric gets recycled in public displays of prejudice; its target just changes throughout the decades. The exact words used changes, but the sentiment is the same. What has been said about other LGBT+ people is being said about us.
The answer to all prejudice continues to be the same: trans people are just people. As with any marginalised group, it is important for everybody to realise that we are all unique individuals with our own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. We are not the lazy generalisations and caricatures some imagine us to be. We are ordinary people who want what everybody wants: basic respect, access to healthcare, comfort, happiness, and to be recognised as what we are.
Many people may have interacted with trans people without realising it, even those who tout anti-trans rhetoric. There are trans people in every type of work, in everyday interactions. The same people who hate trans people might have good experiences with us. Everybody should have the privilege of being judged for their own actions and character, rather than any preconceived notions about the social groups they belong to.
On trans day of visibility, this is what I want the wider public to realise. It is quite simple, really. For other trans people, I hope that you can feel some joy, comfort, and a sense of community despite what is happening in the world. Better times will come.
All the best,
Nathan
By Nathan Callanan (he/him), Birmingham LGBT Sexual Health team
