The LGBTQ rights movement is at a crossroads as 2024 gets underway. Understanding our history and traditions, reevaluating our organizing strategies and needs, and reviving our hope are all more important than ever.
I am Hayden Gise, the only trans elected official in a state known for its LGBTQ community and understanding. As the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for Woodley Park, a vibrant Washington, D.C. neighborhood, I represent certain sections of the city. My identity as a gay, Jewish, Democratic Socialist, and community organizer in my late 20s brings a new perspective to my role.
After one year in office, I’ve focused on making tangible improvements to the community, such as removing storm debris, increasing bike parking, and supporting city-wide initiatives like the Green New Deal on Social Housing and the full implementation of Ballot Initiative 82. These initiatives may not be revolutionary, but they are critical steps toward building trust and effecting change.
Voters who found resonance in my identity as a transgender person sent me messages of hope and humor during my campaign. But it’s not just my community that I represent. Trans people from outside my area contact me for help against discrimination. While I can’t combat stigma alone, my position allows me to liaise with agencies like the Office of Human Rights, ensuring that action is taken. Whether we want them to be or not, the few trans elected officials represent our community.
Before being elected to public office, I had campaigned for years, often advocating for queer elders at great personal cost. While these issues still exist today, they often reflect authoritarian backlashes more than prevailing norms. The optimistic narrative of “it gets better” from the 2010s now grapples with the reality of anti-trans legislation, diminishing gay youths’ sense of hope.
The traditional stigma movement, often labeled as “common sense,” is increasingly seen as an unfounded fixation that does not reflect popular beliefs. My interactions with transgender constituents mainly focus on local issues like speed bumps, leaf collection, and neighborhood commissioner responsibilities. Pronouns and surgeries rarely come up in these conversations.
Yet my critics prioritize my policies over my gender identity. I am Commissioner Gise or Hayden in the eyes of the internet and my constituents, not defined by my trans identity. The disconnect between an overhyped culture war and a forgiving public underscores the need for our community to reignite the flames of hope and fight back with resilience, as our predecessors did.
Moving forward requires a deep understanding of our current state, a connection to our past, and a clear vision of the future we aim to create. Our actions now, emphasizing progress and inclusivity, will shape the legacy for the next generation.
Our strongest ally in this journey is trust. It fortifies our struggle for equality and unites us in our pursuit of liberty. Our solidarity with diverse LGBTQ identities is crucial to overcoming obstacles on the path to justice. Passion must guide our ongoing struggle. We draw inspiration from the successes of those who came before us and derive strength from our own. Their legacy empowers us to face today’s challenges while uniting us in the hope of a better tomorrow for all.
We don’t need to be heroes to make an impact around us, and being perfect is not necessary to make a difference. What’s needed are love, commitment, empathy, and the belief that we can be agents of change. Our shared humanity is our strength, not our weakness, and despite our individual and collective flaws, they serve to connect us to one another and to the ongoing fight for justice and equality.
Trans people are vital members of society who lead regular lives encompassing socializing, embracing, and working. We are individuals who contribute to the prosperity of our communities and cling to the vision of a time when one’s basic needs are met, where respect is commonplace, and where civil regard is the norm. I’m inspired by the vision of a society that accepts and respects people for who they are, just as my neighbors treat me.
The way forward for our community is as compelling and clear as Harvey Milk’s 1978 adage, “Come out.” Shatter the myths, dispel the lies, and debunk the stereotypes once and for all. For your sake. For their sake. For the sake of the children growing up scared.
Hayden Gise serves as the Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner for various sections of Woodley Park.
