The Stigma Crusher considers ways to show up and show support ahead of the annual International Trans Day of Visibility, which is a campaign to help trans people and raise awareness of prejudice.
It’s easy to get a friend, a bedding, a confidant, a ramen pal, or a delayed- night horror flick trip- or- die – but that is not what it means to be an ally. So, how does one become an alliance? In a political and social environment that can be incredibly angry and dangerous, how can one be a great ally for transgender and nonbinary areas?
An alliance is a person who supports and/or advocates for transgender and non-binary people, frequently transgender ( a person whose gender corresponds to the gender assigned at birth ). Being an ally with all the hate in the world can seem daunting; on occasion, I think I’d prefer to hide until it feels a little less safe, but for those I love, I ca n’t. Besides, there are simple steps we can consider to be a better alliance, right then.
It starts with knowledge
There are 100, 815 trans and quasi- binary people in Canada, according to Statistics Canada. That’s 1 in 300 Indians. Gender refers to an adult’s personal and social personality. Transgender refers to people whose identity does not match the gender that was assigned at birth ( based on a woman’s reproductive system and other natural features ). Non-binary refers to individuals who are never merely a man or a woman. In both instances, the gender identity, which is the practice of sex privately, does not fit what nation expects.
Sometimes, as an alliance, you are familiar with these words, but do you know about the history of transgender and non- linear rights in this state? Have you recently read any trans or non-binary-authored resources? Being a good friend is more important for us than just being a friend. It is important for us to learn about the lived experiences of trans and non-binary people so that we can better understand what they face every day. And we have to educate ourselves. Where should we put the strain of this work, in particular?
Names and pronouns
Names and pronouns are a significant issue for many transgender and non-binary people. They might find themselves constantly on the receiving end of being called by their outdated or incorrect gender or pronoun ( “misgendered” ), which can be incredibly painful. The most polite way to introduce oneself is to ask for clarification using one’s preferred name and pronouns and to introduce oneself. Mess up? Respectfully apologize, then concentrate on correcting yourself moving forward.
Safety
In today’s politically charged environment, allyship is incredibly important in keeping transgender and non-binary people safe. And it can start young. Making allies of our children is one of the best ways to keep trans and non-binary kids safe, according to Mae Ajayi, who is non-binary and a parent.
” It’s about having conversations with kids that are really explicit about transphobia”, Ajayi says. Explaining what it is and how to be an ally is a helpful start, says Rachel Malone, parent of bigender Sacha, and cisgender Peter. ” We ca n’t wrap our kids up in bubble wrap, right? And we ca n’t be there 100 percent of the time, so we ca n’t be their only protectors”. Malone is aware that there is a lot to do to increase safety for transgender and nonbinary people. She explained to me how Sacha’s brutal bullying of her gender identity in kindergarten raised serious mental health issues and that she had asked me not to use her or her children’s real names because of reports that transgender families were reportedly targeted with violence.
Safety is a theme that applies to both transgender and non-binary adults, who are more likely than cisgender adults to experience violence. Friends, coworkers, and neighbors who are transgender and non-binary are essential to ensuring these adults ‘ safety.
Mental health
Robyn Letson, MSW, RSW, is a trans social worker and psychotherapist who works with transgender and non- binary clients. There is a great potential for allyship in providing affirming mental health care to trans and non-binary people, they claim.
Transgender and non-binary people are more likely than cis-gender people to have poor mental health. This could be due to a variety of reasons, but the transphobia, prejudice, and discrimination that they experience just for existing certainly does not help.
An ally can support transgender and non-binary people’s mental health by being supportive, respecting their privacy, and asking them for their opinion on how to change their care plan (you might not realize your plan is n’t working until you ask ). You can signal with signage that workplaces, schools, and clinics are safe and affirming spaces for transgender and nonbinary people.
Additionally, it requires effort to truly support the transgender and non-binary individuals in your life. ” I would suggest starting with critical self- reflection”, says Letson. I always advise starting with one’s own relationship to gender for cis people who want to begin or go deeper in the process of developing better allyship and solidarity with trans people.
Ongoing commitment
There is no” completed” badge for being an ally – it is all about continuous education, working against discrimination and transphobia, and challenging one’s own biases.
Make room for fewer preconceived notions and let your intuitions feel out, says Mae Ajayi. ” Cis ( gendered ) people should understand how sad and scared people are right now and how frightening it is as a trans person as well as as a parent – it’s a very real danger,” they advise.
I can only imagine how terrifying it is to be a transgender or non-binary person in Canada right now, and how having an ally causes my blood to boil. However, being angry is n’t enough – being cisgender is currently a privilege in our society, and it is an ally’s responsibility to use that privilege to act.
Although it sounds like a lot of work, you will be well on your way to becoming a better ally if you begin by supporting transgender and non-binary people, educate yourself, commit to learning and using the proper names and pronouns, think about protecting their safety, support their mental health, and then commit to fighting transphobia and discrimination on a permanent basis.
