Originally posted as a comment.
Content warning: transphobia, murder, suicide, depression
When people talk about trying to pass laws against trans people, I doubt many realize that it is like painting a target our foreheads and saying shoot here. Transphobes murder untold hundreds of trans people each year worldwide and in many states they have what’s called the trans panic defense where they can hide behind being surprised at them being trans and get off scott free. There’s a reason the yearly trans day isn’t trans pride, it’s trans day of rememberence where we morn all of the trans people that died in the last year. Last year it was 26 people in the United States alone, possibly more that went unreported.
Being born trans in an intolerant society is a death sentence. The suicide rate for trans people who have difficulty getting access to transition care and who don’t have strong support networks is around 49%. An even higher number struggle with crippling depression. This isn’t the case when they’re supported and given access to proper healthcare.
When you enable transphobia, this is what you’re enabling. This is what you’re saying you support: needless death.
To you, who’s never had to deal with this kind of pain it seems like a small thing, easy to ignore but try living in a society where you’re hated, where every month there’s a new story on the news about how people are trying to hurt you, take away your rights, deny your healthcare, or otherwise make your life miserable. And see stories of more people like you who were murdered just for existing. Where its dangerous to even try to find escape in comedy because there’s a pretty good chance you’ll get mocked and made the butt of a joke at your expense mocking your pain and mocking the horrible way you’re treated.
Try living life that way every single day and see how you feel.
And there’s not another option either; it’s live like that and at least find some kind of relief from the healthcare options available or die from being unable to deal with the pain anymore.
And yes, gender dysphoria can be physically painful. Though it really shouldn’t have to be for people to find compassion.
What happened to humanity?
When did compassion die?
When did this become ok?
Trans lives used to be held sacred in the temples, decreed by the goddess Inanna herself.
trans-woman trans-man
ordained sacred attendants
of ecstasy and trance
~high priestess Enheduana, circa 23rd century BC
How did we go so wrong?
There has already been 2 trans people murdered this year in America. Let that sink in. This is happening right now in your own back yard as you probably didn’t even hear anything about it until now. (hrc.org)
So next time you see someone try to justify making the lives of trans people even the tiniest bit harder I want you to ask yourself this: How many lives is an acceptable price to pay for the comfort of cis people?
If you hold all human life to be sacred as I do, then I only hope your answer is NONE
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