More Than Rainbows

BY JACKS M C NAMARA @jacksmcnamara

After the umpteenth state banned gender-affirming care for minors this spring, I bought a T-shirt that reads “Protect Trans Youth” in the colors of the trans flag.

I think it’s pretty awesome, but no one ever comments on it, almost like I’m invisible when I wear the thing. Last year, after Florida banned teaching or talking about LGBTQ+ folks in public schools, I bought another shirt that declares “Say Gay’’ in rainbow letters. People comment on that shirt enthusiastically every single time I walk out the door. I’ve been trying to figure out what the difference is here. Do people feel personally connected to gay rights but, like, trans issues are too fringe? Is “gay” fun and “trans” scary? Maybe they don’t think they know anyone trans? Maybe. Except even my queer friends don’t comment, and I’m like, “What the fuck, people! We need to be talking about what’s happening and pro tecting trans youth!”

Are you reading the news? Do you know what the Republicans are up to across this country? How many trans people are losing access to health care and public bathrooms, missing opportunities to play sports and lacking the respect to even just be called by their correct names at school? In Texas, trans youths are even being threat ened with the loss of their families as draconian new laws and initiatives in the works would make it possible for parents to be arrested and lose custody of their kids if they help them access gender-affirming care. It’s absolutely terrifying.

Meanwhile, I keep seeing this tweet from queer playwright Claire Willett that reads, “For pride month this year can people focus less on love is love and more on queer and trans people are in danger?” This. Right here.

I belong to numerous Facebook groups for trans folks across the country to sup port each other, and I see loads of people in states such as Florida and Missouri

posting about how they’ve decided to pause transitioning and go back in the closet until they can afford to move. As someone currently finding great joy in the experience of my own mid-life gender transition, it breaks my heart to imagine what they’re going through—folks full of dread about going backwards, asking how quickly their bodies will de-transition now that they don’t have access to hormones; folks already starting to feel the increased risk of depression and suicide that arises when people are denied the ability to live as their true selves. There are parents splitting up their families so their trans teens can live in a safer area, selling their homes and moving everyone to Oregon or Rhode Island or New Mexico where their kids can receive care. And those are the people with the resources to make it work; many, many more feel completely trapped with no way out.

Here in New Mexico, we’re so lucky to be in a state where trans rights have been codified by our lawmakers. We’re so lucky people spent years organizing to gain those protections.

We’ve got amazing local organizations like the Transgender Resource Center in Albuquerque and the youth-driven New Mexico Genders and Sexualities Alliance Network based out of the Mountain Center here in Santa Fe. In the public schools, we have some awesome queer and trans folks working in and with the Office of Student Wellness to support our youth. Last month, I attended the Queer Family Picnic in Albuquerque, put on by Heal+NM, surrounded by all kinds of gender weirdos with their cute kids—it was seriously heartwarming and made me feel so glad to live here.

Amazing things are happening in other states. too. Along with all the danger to trans folks comes trans joy, trans resilience and trans organizing. Recently I’ve been made aware of projects like the Trans Resistance Network, which is growing community defense, mutual-aid and alternative systems of care for gender diverse people. People can sign up to offer everything from safe places to stay and event security to care teams and legal support. In Iowa, Safe Learning for Trans Kids in Iowa has begun setting up an in-person learning space for trans, queer and other marginalized kids who are being targeted by new, extreme anti-LGBTQ+ laws to homeschool together. In Virginia, the Transgender Assistance Program is working to get trans folks housed and cared for, and nationally, for trans people in emotional distress, the Trevor Project’s Trans Lifeline offers a free hotline with counseling by and for trans folks. This is just a tiny sampling of all the trans brilliance and heart-forward organizing taking place across the country to save trans lives.

While trans folks are taking care of our own, we need broader support too. If you’re wondering how you can be part of protecting trans youth, start by being a supportive adult. Studies show that having a single supportive adult in their life reduces a trans youth’s risk of suicide by 40%. Believe people about their identities and their realities. Use their pronouns and chosen names. Witness and celebrate trans joy. Help trans folks access health care and education. Advocate for laws that protect trans people. Donate your money to youth-led organizations building visions of queer and trans justice and community, like the GSA Network, and to national organizations fighting discrimination, like the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund. Talk about trans issues with people in your life, including when it’s not comfortable. We all have a role to play in this fight.

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