Now more than ever, transgender and nonbinary people are visible in every aspect of society, from politics to the media. However, while the trans community has gained visibility, with that has come an increase in legislative attacks. The American Civil Liberties Union is closely tracking the rise in legislative discrimination against transgender people — currently, there are 318 anti- LGBTQ bills moving forward across the United States. These bills often target transgender/nonbinary people in core areas of life including access to safe bathrooms, employment, education and healthcare.
I started exploring my own complicated gender identity in 2001, as a 17-year-old genderqueer runaway. As I became more connected to the community, and learned of our transgender history of resistance and visibility, I felt less isolated. Back then, there was not a lot of transgender visibility in mainstream culture and media, and it took searching to find community representation. For me and so many of my friends, finding queer, and, specifically, trans community, was finding the kind of supportive home I didn’t know existed.
Now, as our community is under attack through political legislation, it’s more important than ever to support trans people as we come out and continue to encourage affirming loud and proud representation of our lives and community. This isn’t about toxic positivity or tokenized rainbow washing. Affirming representation is about showing up authentically and fully to support everyone, especially gender expansive people.
Here, diverse transgender and nonbinary people offer you words of hope. Take their encouragement as a soothing and inspirational balm during challenging times.
“Let’s destroy all hierarchies and create the space for gender, sexual, social and political self-determination for everyone.” —Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore (she/her) is the author of Touching the Art.“We have the power to create our own reality. Dream it, Think It, Say It, Do It.” —Twiggy Pucci Garçon (she/her/hers & they/them/theirs) is a director, producer and healer. In 2023, she won the GLAAD Media Award and was nominated for an Emmy as the producer for <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Boys-Arent-Blue-Jenifer-Lewis/dp/B0B6DP91VD" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-vars-ga-outbound-link="https://www.amazon.com/Boys-Arent-Blue-Jenifer-Lewis/dp/B0B6DP91VD" data-vars-ga-ux-element="Hyperlink" data-vars-ga-call-to-action="All Boys Aren’t Blue" data-vars-ga-product-id="57427268-a3ee-446e-a394-0bc2b0b35240" data-vars-ga-link-treatment="_t
