International Day Against Homo/Trans/Bi-phobia
Hi friend,
Earlier this week, Monday May 17, was the International Day Against Homo/Trans/Bi-phobia.
The heart of what I do is challenging the constructs of our society that perpetuate bigoted mindsets and dismantling them to create a safer, more inclusive space for ALL but especially LGBTQ+ folx.
Here are seven ways we all can work to unlearn these prejudices in our daily lives as we commit to making the world a better place for our gender diverse siblings.
Educate yourself. Use resources like as The Trevor Project's Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Youth . A lot of the information in this guide is relevant to being a supportive ally to transgender and nonbinary folx of all ages.
Remember: you cannot tell someone’s gender by looking at them! The Trevor Project breaks down the difference between gender expression and presentation here!
Use the name & pronouns people tell you to use for them. A recent study found that usage of a person’s chosen name resulted in a 29% decrease in suicidal ideation and a 56% decrease in suicidal behavior*
Respect People’s Privacy. Check with them before you share information about their identity/pronouns/name with others to make sure they’re okay with that.
Seek out stories and shows about gender diverse people that are created by gender diverse people. Opening yourself up to the wide range of stories and experiences gender diverse people have will help you be more understanding to the unique individuals in your life. It will also make you less likely to (unintentionally) force people into well-known narratives about trans people that may not fit their personal experience
Challenge harmful stereotypes when you encounter them, no matter how benign they seem.
Get to know gender diverse people. Laverne Cox, in her documentary Disclosure, reports that 80% of people don’t actually know a single trans person (as far as they know). Relationships move the issue from an abstract concept to something immediate, real, and human.
Thank you for supporting our mission of making the world a safer, more inclusive space for all.
Fondly,
Cate