Maintaining trans friendly spaces cannot be done through performative action – it requires active and self-aware participation. Simply putting up a no terf sign, and deleting terf posts is only the first step!
You have to engage in thoughtful consideration of how these ideologies spread, and remain mindful of language and aggression left unsaid.
You have to actively question your own ideology for transphobia.
Above all. Above above all, you have to put forward messages of support, love and respect for trans people.
Too many people get caught up in a game of social politics, and forget the vulnerable people we should be working to protect and support. This isn’t about the bigots, this is about loving and supporting trans people.
Things you can do to help support the trans community!
- Follow and share discussions, activists, creators and resources that uplift and support the trans community.
- Promote gender-neutral language, and discussions about the intersection of trans identity with other struggles like reproductive rights, disability, mental health and sexual assault.
- It might be hard, but also try to share discussions about trans-specific struggles, like transition access, hate crimes, discriminatory law making and homelessness.
- Learn common transphobic dogwhistles – learn how to recognize them, learn why they’re harmful, and learn to not repeat them. It’s important to learn what transphobia looks like, because this is the propaganda by which transphobia spreads to you!
- If people you know are behaving in transphobic ways, please don’t tolerate it, please tell them it’s not okay and to knock it off – and do so publicly. It can be scary, and you may lose friends, but decent people will want to do better.
- It takes a little energy, and a little courage, and a little time, but I promise you it makes a difference.
Remember being a good person is about working to be a better one!
