LGBTQ+ Community Check-In: Week of November 14-20
Happy Transgender Awareness Week! Transgender Awareness week runs from Nov 13-19th wrapping up with Transgender Day of Remembrance on Sunday Nov 20th. Raising awareness can be an important part of gaining wider societal acceptance and normalization, but is only one piece of the puzzle. I hope you will join us as a community in taking time to remember those who have been lost or faced violence due to their gender identity.
Questions:
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Since November is nearly half over, how is your month going so far?
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Do you have any plans for this week? Are you starting to get ready for December?
Given it’s Transgender Awareness Week, are there any things you feel we can do to improve how we spread awareness and increase acceptance?
[Image consists of butterflies with an artistic representation of the transgender and pride flag colours.]
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@EmotionsListener
Hi hi~! ♪( ´▽｀)
🦋 My month has been okay; it’s had its fair share of emotional ups and downs. Nothing too big in either direction though.
🦋 No plans for this week outside of the usual for me. Haha, I’m not even ready for the rest of this month, so no, I’m not getting ready for December yet. 😅
🦋 I feel like just being mindful and considerate of people’s self-identification is already a start. It sounds like a little thing, but it means a lot. I don’t see the need for people to make such a big deal over “a guy identifying as a girl”, “a girl identifying as a guy”, “someone saying that they’re non-binary”…like, if trans people were treated as normally as non-trans people, I think there would be more peace in the world. There’s no need to treat someone like a freak of nature just because they’re different. In the end, we’re all just trying to make our way through life. ♥️
@TheAutumnWitch
It can be hard when we have the day to day up and down, but I'm glad that none of those downs has been particularly large, though I always hope the ups can be.
I hope this week will go well and that you'll start to feel ready for the rest of November. I can relate to that feeling at times though. I definitely prefer to be prepared in advance, but sometimes life doesn't allow for that kind of planning.
Remembering at the end of the day people are all people can be a powerful thing indeed. It's crazy that it's so simple and yet so complicated sometimes. I guess people get so tied up in their categorizations and assumptions sometimes they forget that they are categorizing and making assumptions about other people.
Thank you for checking in!
@EmotionsListener
Since November is nearly half over, how is your month going so far?
Focusing only on gender related things that have happened this month then good! I have my therapist now using my correct pronouns without constant mistakes, and I managed to get my mum to let me shop in the men's section - which may seem like a small thing but I'm still closeted to her and it's the first time I've been able to do that!
Do you have any plans for this week? Are you starting to get ready for December?
Seeing a friend tomorrow, new glasses on the weekend. I'm not thinking about December yet, big week next week to prepare for first.
Given it’s Transgender Awareness Week, are there any things you feel we can do to improve how we spread awareness and increase acceptance?
Generally I think less automatic assuming of people's gender would help acceptance all round, and doing small things like asking for people's pronouns if you have not met them before. The less people assume, and the more open they are for others to be honest and accept their identity without question, then the more acceptance there will be.
🏳️⚧️😸❤️
@SleepyShyCat
I'm very glad to hear that your therapist has learned your proper pronouns and been able to use them consistently, in a relationship of trust like that it seems especially important. As for those steps with your mum, no step is a small thing, so I'm glad you were able to do that and have that. I hope that you can have more of those kinds of affirming steps!
I hope you have fun with your friend! I just got my new glasses last Friday, I'm still adjusting to them, fortunately I can also use my old glasses if I want too. Sounds like you have a big week ahead, I hope it will be a good one for you even if very busy!
Less assuming and more acceptance definitely seem like important ways to make a big difference! I will admit I usually don't ask pronouns in part trying not to out someone in public, but I will wait for an individual to self identify before assuming any. One thing I've noticed myself doing here when I'm posting in the forums, if I do use he/she in my response, I will go back to read their post to see "did I assume that or did they indicate it?" and fortunately so far I seem to only use those when they have used those pronouns themselves.
Sometimes I wonder if online makes it easier to not assume because all we have are a username and pfp to go on unless/until someone self identifies?
Thanks for checking in!
@EmotionsListener
I've been trying to take some small steps each month towards being more 'me'. My friend has been helping me. And unfortunately I do not expect it to be a good week, however Sunday I think will be better.
And good point about not wanting to unintentionally out someone. That is important too. A way to still be open about it (if you're open yourself) is to introduce yourself when you meet them with your pronouns, and then if they're comfortable it shows them it's a safe space to introduce with their pronouns too.
I think sometimes online makes things easier, but sometimes people can still unintentionally assume things, since society is extremely gendered and categorised. So for example sometimes people make assumptions based on what pfp someone else has. The anonymity does make other things easier definitely.
😸😸
@SleepyShyCat
I've noticed that here too sometimes, like sometimes based on our screen names, or pfp, or even sometimes based on how the person we are speaking with identifies, they seem likely to assume we are the same as them.
Thank you again for checking in.
@EmotionsListener
SHOUTOUT TO ALL TRANS PEOPLE HERE AT CUPS: You are supported, loved, appreciated, valid, and BEAUTIFUL just the way you are! So proud of you guys for being brave, open, and living your truth. We love you!!!!!!!
@BlueSkies1021
Thank you for your support and kind words to the transgender members of our community.
