Rach@aCoolLady@theatl.social
I realized I was #trans when I was a little kid, which unfortunately was early in the first Reagan administration. I’m not sure if there was a worse time in recent history to be trans in the US. The culture, the media, the government, everyone was 100% in on transphobia.
Like, imagine if our entire current culture suddenly agreed with Trump 100% on trans rights. Not just the asshats and the NYT, but Hollywood, TV, popular music acts. Like taken as a given. That’s what it was like to me. Tolerance was a radical, controversial act
I saw all this through wide eyes, it soaked into my brain like a sponge. I had no one to talk to, no one I could trust. I learned to keep it secret for over 40 years. It was so painful
Even now it’s hard for me. It’s a muscle that won’t stop twitching. My gen x peers grew up in that stew too, they also carry those lessons with them. But as the punishers, as the stewards of normalcy. At least that’s been my experience. (This is why they are not all Kurt Cobains and Kathleen Hannahs)
I guess I’m writing this because I’m worried we’re heading back there. I’m worried for folks just realizing they’re trans right now, and watching the news, hearing their peers. I don’t want them to live like I did
So I’m glad there are communities like this one for them. That we’re no longer isolated and confused in the dark. It’s not everything, it’s surely not enough, but we are still way ahead of where we were. These places are miracles. Sometimes I forget that.