Trans-Gressive A Trans Texas Survival Guide

By Xitlalli Alvarez Almendariz (He/They)

“Y’all showing up reminds me every single day that the work we do is worth it.

Every single day.

Y’all inspire me with your courageousness, with your authenticity, with your love.

We will win this.

I know it feels hard.

I’m right there with you.

But I can also tell you: We. Will. Win. This.”

- Emmett Schelling, Proud Immigrant and Trans Texan

TRANS LIBERATION

By Gin Pham (They/Them)

GREETINGS FROM TRANS TEXAS

Trans-gressive: a Trans Texas Survival Guide is by and for queer and trans people in Texas, centering the voices and experiences of BIPOC trans people of color who make our work at TENT worthwhile and possible. We believe in and labor towards a world where Texas is a safe and affirming place to raise trans kids into trans adults in healthy communities. We recognize that health is achieved in community. Trans/queer wellness is neither a trait we can process singularly, nor a product we can buy. Trans/ queer health is something we must work on every day to make possible for our people.

We know far too well that what starts in Texas does not end in Texas – it spreads throughout the country. Call it what you want - the “frontline”, “epicenter” of transphobic attacks. In our circles we hear, what starts in Texas doesn’t end in Texas. This zine is a space to reflect on our learnings and take-aways as well as celebrate our resistance and what keeps us committed to each other and the space(s) we have built together.

In the past years, bad policy ranging from immigration to abortion was sowed here and has since created an overwhelming avalanche of attacks on bodily autonomy and self determination for those on the front lines of capitalist extraction. Ending up here is not a coincidence. We refuse the sanitization of “Texas history” and instead confront the ongoing legacies of settler colonialism and slavery. Naming and understanding these legacies helps us organize more effectively against homophobia and transphobia today. Attacks on trans and non-binary people, on queer and two spirit people, on trans women and trans feminine people are hardly a recent phenomena. We know that living our gender truths, that our creativity and liberation?threatens the very foundations of the violence this state was built upon. We refuse to give into it. We refuse to give into the bleak world of the racist and colonial gender binaries that conservative forces want to impose on our communities.

This zine is a call to action, and a call to rest. Here, we shift our strategies and share knowledge to affirm trans life, uplift our narratives, and declare that we too have an agenda. This agenda is shared by our trancestors, those whom we often name and revere in difficult personal and political moments.

Let’s abolish gender. When we say “abolish gender”, we mean abolish white supremacy and the transphobia upon which it depends to reproduce itself, upon which it depends to permeate every aspect of our lives and constrain those who

The Weight of Texas

By Gin Pham (They/Them)

“Rita Hester watercolor portrait“ By Beau Frail (he/him)

To my beloved Black transgender and gender expansive siblings,

In a world that can often feel challenging and unyielding, I want to remind you of your incredible strength and resilience. You are warriors, navigating a path that few can fully comprehend. I see your struggles, your triumphs, and the fire that burns within you. Despite the circumstances that may surround you, I encourage you to keep pushing forward and embrace the joy that exists in everyday life.

Remember, you are not alone. There is a vibrant community of individuals who stand beside you, ready to uplift and support you in your journey. Seek out spaces where you can connect with others who share your experiences and understand the unique intersection of being both Black and transgender. Together, we can create a powerful network of love, compassion, and understanding.

In the face of adversity, it's important to find joy wherever you can. celebrate the beauty of you idenity, for it is a testament to your courage and authenticity. Embrace self-care practices that nourish your mind, body, and soul. Engage in activities that bring you happiness and fulfillment. Surround yourself with art, music, literature, and other forms of creative expression that speak to your soul and remind you of the boundless possibilities that lie within.

Remember that your existence is resistance. Each day you live authentically, you challenge societal norms and break down barriers. Your presence is a beacon of hope for future generations, paving the way for a more inclusive and compassionate world. You are deserving of love, respect, and dignity, and you have the power to demand it.

Know that your journey may be filled with ups and downs, but it is in those moments of struggle that you grow and become even stronger. Your voice matters, your stories matter, and your dreams matter. Keep pushing forward, believing in your worth and potential. By embracing your true self and finding joy in the midst of adversity, you are rewriting the narrative and shaping a future where all Black transgender people can thrive.

In unity and solidarity, a Black Trans Millenial

MONICA ROBERTS

Monica K. Roberts (She/Her)-Monica Roberts was a Black trans rights activist, public speaker, blogger, writer, and policy consultant. She was best known for her activism efforts across the nation working on trans equity in policy, and for her blog TransGriot (the term “Griot” is given to a keeper of history in West African culture). One of the purposes of TransGriot was to accurately archive Black and trans history and report trans stories with respect and decency, something mainstream media has only recently begun to do (thanks to Monica’s efforts). Not only was Monica passionate about seeing trans people get the quality of life that every person deserves, she was just as passionate about broader American history, trivia, and sports. Monica’s reporting and storytelling tied all of her communities to the truths that she advocated for, with as much attention to detail as a slow motion reel during n NFL game. Monica, much like a referee calling attention to a player’s position on the field to the inch, called out politicians and broadcast news stations on every foul they committed. With every post, interview and community event, she was able to convey to what needed to be done in Texas, but also across the nation. Roberts spoke, lived… breathed truth for the benefit of those around her.

Photo credit: Nine Lam / Koncept Kit

"At the end of the day, trans people] are part of the diverse mosaic of human life.. When you deny us the ability to develop our talents and our skills to the best of our ability, you re not only hurting that trans person, you're hurting our society as a whole."

What’s wrong with having an agenda?

Meeting minutes tickle the throats of homophobes. Send them sneezing up a drizzle of legislation that soothes their aching nose. So powerful, the flick of a twink’s hand when they say

THE COUNCIL NEVER GAVE DEAD1! & didn’t. & gathered all the trans girls for an investigation into why cis people care so much about what’s underneath

they skirts. Shade files are color-coded. Teens live for a choreographed moment— a rainbow march, a protest

outside Greg Abbott’s house banging on a drum that look like Ken Paxton. They love a beautiful queer future, so we have

1 queer character for every 100 straight ones on TV. So we have transmascs who play sports & exist unafraid–happy even–

to swim with their scarred-up chests. Yes, there will be an influx of stats showing that our people brave enough to disclose facts about themselves— call it agenda, though its proper name is progress.

So we will keep having our alphabet mafia meetings if it means more of us can create a better agenda with this on the list of to do’s:

• Survive this next session

• Get free

• Cancel NYT

• Free everything for Black queers still on this side of the I-35 sun

• Trans people must get to be

• Get free

• Land back

• Clap back at the sight of a homophobe writing wizard books that make houses of shame

• Eat rich people like gluten free bagels at a drag brunch

• More drag brunches, please

• Get free—

- KB Brookins they/them

By Kairos Looney, they/them

“We Belong Here “ Series

perdóname” By Holden Aramburu [he/they/el]

Alexander J Goodrum

Alexander J. Goodrum (He/Him)- Alexander Goodrum was a Black trans man born and raised in Chicago. He was an activist, writer, and teacher in LGBT organizing and social justice is- sues since 1980 in Chicago, San Francis- co, and Tucson (after moving there in 1996). Goodrum was also a speaker, the founder of TGNet Arizona, and a board member for both the Tucson GLBT Commission and the Funding Exchange’s OUT Fund. The OUT Fund allocates an annual grant named after Goodrum to LGBT community organizing projects.

Goodrum was instrumental in getting Tucson to include gender identity in their nondiscrimination law in 1999. He published numerous articles and papers but is best known for “Gender Identity 101- A Transgender Primer,” which the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance (SAGA) uses as the base of their trans comprehension training. Unfor- tunately, Alexander took his own life in 2002 just days before his forty-sec- ond birthday. After his passing, he was awarded the Godat Award, which honors lifetime service to the LGBT community. SAGA initiated the Alexander John Goodrum Catalyst of Change Award in 2015 and honored TV and film star Laverne Cox as the first recipient.

"History isn't something you look back at because people make decisions that are sometimes ment, but those moments are cumulative

"Ultimately, it is these

transgender, transsexual and gender-variant people who have the most to lose if someone doesn't step up to the plate." Alexander J. Goodrum

Marsha P. Johnson

Marsha “Pay it No Mind” Johnson is best known for being a mother to many Black and brown queer and gay youth. She was an unapologetic activist who worked to care for queer community at the onset of the HIV/ AIDS epidemic. Although many people have credited her with throwing the first brick or shot glass that started the Stonewall Riots back on June 28th 1969, she reported that the riots were already happening when she arrived. Nonetheless, her presence on the front lines helped empower other young trans women to stand up to years of criminalization of queer and trans people and routine police brutality. Marsha co-founded STAR (Street Transvestites Action Revolutionarires), which served as a Housing project in NYC for trans youth, alongside Silvia Rivera. Marsha’s defiant and unashamed attitude continues to inspire trans people and embodies a pillar in TENT’s values.

at and say it was inevitable. It happens sometimes very impulsive andof the mocumulative realities."-Marsha P. Johnson

By

“In a Dream/Saint Michael Pray For Us”

Harlan Carroll (he/him)

manmade

By Isabel Torres (Ryan Giff)

i was ripped from the earth, made of clay, dust, and stone. i cover myself with leaves and shame and grow a new skin of patchwork fabric.

i am whatever and whoever you want me to be, always searching for myself but never finding. i fit where i need to, stand out where i don’t. my form is malleable, square peg and round hole. a girl’s body on a boys’ football team.

i am textile, synthetic and manufactured by hands not my own. he is raw and pure, earthborn, sculpted from marble. metamorphic rock put under pressure until it blooms. i want to bloom, but i am not ready yet. i want to be him, but i don’t know his name.

Above Background: “self/image” by River M. (he/him/they)

“Self Portrait” by Evan Anderson , (he/

him)

“LeadingWithLove”by Sydney McCullough

“Please Stop” By Gin Pham(they/them)

Protect Trans People

”Trans Angel” By Beau Frail (he/him)

“First Self Portrait Since Starting Hormones (4 Months)” By Harlan Carroll (he/him)

Trans survival in the United States coincided with the arrival of transphobic colonial ideals. Rigid gender structures has bred myths that continue to try to control and ban bodies, disproportionality harming trans and gender expansive Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, and ultimately harming everyone.

Generations of harm have been inherited in our communities through state sanctioned violence and hypocrisy as they argue over our basic human rights. For trans survival, we must address transphobia and racism as public health crises, as we are still living within the racialized HIV epidemic and Covid-19 Pandemic.

The criminalization of care for trans adults and trans youth, Reproductive Justice, gender expansive expression and existence, are all attacks on bodily autonomy to further leverage control and exploitation of those of marginalized experience. The ability to self determine one’s own wellness continues not to be allotted to bodies of color. We live in one of the largest populations of trans and gender expansive people, we have a long history of taking care of our communities and leading them in solidarity to other movements.

From prison abolition to harm reduction, trans and gender expansive individuals are one of the first to be impacted by bad policy or lack of access/resources, solitary confinement or needle sharing. Banning health care will never ban our lives. Banning us from public spaces will never ban our power. This is why Trans Rights are Human Rights. This is why information and education will continue to save lives.

Centering Racial & Disability Justice

It’s projected that more than half of the United states population will be people of color by 2050. Healthcare access continues to reveal the disparities in the well-being of our fellow community members and demands for every movement to center Racial Justice.

Not only that, we know that the stress, consistent systematic violence, climate crisis and anxiety related to it has detrimental impacts on health and wellness. So we ask you the reader:

In what ways can we regain control over our own bodies, asserting our right to occupy public spaces, and striving for a future where all individuals, regardless of their bodies or gender identities, are respected and valued?

As disabled individuals and/or members of the transgender community, whose bodies are often stigmatized and subjected to societal control, how can we unite to pursue collective liberation?

Left above:

“MY BODY MY RULES” By Reggie he/it

Left:

“TRANS IS TRANSHUMAN” By vec, she/they

Right Page:

“Intro to Boundaries Workbook” By K Strohl (They/She/He)

Affirmation and Validation

In this space write out some "I" statements that will affirm your decisions is creating these new boundaries.**

I am: I deserve: I will:

I am: I deserve: I will:

I am: I deserve:

I will:

I am: I deserve:

I will:

Self-Care Guide for Black Trans People

As a Black trans or gender expansive individual, prioritizing self-care is crucial for your overall well-being and finding joy in your life. Here are some practices and strategies to help you create a self-care routine that nurtures your mind, body, and soul:

Embrace Your Identity: Celebrate and affirm your authentic self. Engage in activities that help you connect with your gender identity and cultural heritage. This may include attending LGBTQ+ events, joining support groups, or exploring art forms that resonate with your experiences.

Cultivate a Supportive Network: Surround yourself with people who uplift and affirm your identity. Seek out LGBTQ+ organizations, online communities, or local support groups specifically catering to Black trans individuals. Having a support system can provide a safe space for sharing experiences, seeking advice, and receiving emotional support.

Prioritize Mental Health: Mental well-being is essential. Regularly engage in activities that promote relaxation, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, or journaling. Consider working with a therapist or counselor who is knowledgeable and affirming of your intersectional experiences.

Create Safe Spaces: Designate physical or virtual spaces where you feel comfortable and safe. It could be a cozy corner in your home, a local park, or an online platform where you connect with like-minded individuals. Decorate these spaces with items that inspire joy, peace, and self-expression.

Practice Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with kindness and compassion. Recognize that you are deserving of love and care. Be gentle with yourself during challenging times and practice positive self-talk. Remind yourself of your strengths and achievements.

Nourish Your Body: Pay attention to your physical well-being by engaging in activities that promote good health. This includes regular exercise, eating nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, and staying hydrated. Prioritize self-care practices such as skincare routines, massages, or aromatherapy.

Disconnect from Social Media: While social media can be a valuable tool for community building, it can also be overwhelming and emotionally draining. Take regular breaks from social media platforms to protect your mental health. Use that time to engage in offline activities or connect with loved ones face-to-face.

Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries to protect your energy and well-being. Learn to say no to activities or engagements that do not serve your best interests. Surround yourself with people who respect your boundaries and support your self-care journey.

Seek Joyful Connections: Cultivate relationships with individuals who uplift and celebrate your identity. Engage in activities that allow you to connect with others in meaningful ways, such as organizing social gatherings, attending cultural events, or participating in community activism.

Remember, self-care is a personal journey, and it may take time to find what works best for you. Be patient with yourself and embrace the process of self-discovery. By prioritizing your well-being, you can create a life filled with joy, fulfillment, and self-love.

Left Page Background:

“Coming Out Of My shell to See The World and Be Seen By The World” by Oisin Smith he/they

Above:

“Focus” By Seven they/it/he

“Finding Companionship” By Cecil Larimore (stained.remains), he/they

Above: “We Belong Here “ Series By Kairos Looney, they/ them

Right: “Something Has To Change”- By Beatrice (She/They)

By Harlan Carroll (he/him)