On this day, I think the primary way I can help is to use my platform, such as it is, to amplify trans voices, news, and resources. As with all the lists of resources I post, this is not meant to be comprehensive or “everything you need to know”. Reality is complex, as are all issues relating to humanity. Hopefully these resources will be useful to some people in learning about our friends and family who don’t identify with the gender assigned to them at birth.
To start with, a bit of sad news from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic:
The ‘Mother of the Trans Latinx community’ in Queens, Lorena Borjas, tragically passed away at the age of 59 on Monday morning, March 30th, after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
Legendary trans activist, Lorena Borjas, has left a lasting impression upon her hometown of Queens. Throughout the past 30 years, she advocated for transgender, sex worker and immigrant communities. She would home women who were stigmatised and exiled by their families in her apartment until they were able to support themselves.
Borjas set up a HIV-testing program for trans sex workers, launched her own legal fund to assist Latinx LGBT+ community members, and served as a counselor for the Counselor for the Community Healthcare Network’s Transgender Family Program in Queens. She became known in the area as the ‘Mother of the Trans Latinx community.’
Disasters tend to teach us a lot about our fellow humans, both through the actions of the people who live through it, and in the life stories that are told of people who don’t. It’s a sad way to learn, but an important reminder of the people among us who spend their lives making the world a better place for others.
Human Rights Campaign has a solid set of resources for people who want to learn both about trans issues, and about trans people who are working to change the world for the better.
Transgender people come from all walks of life. We are your coworkers, family and neighbors. We are 7-year-old children and we are 70-year-old grandparents. We are a diverse community representing all racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as faith backgrounds.
International Transgender Day of Visibility is honored every year on March 31 and is a time to celebrate transgender people around the globe and the courage it takes to live openly and authentically, while also raising awareness around the discrimination trans people still face.
Check out the link above for more from HRC.
Natalie Reed, who left freethoughtblogs before I joined, provided most of my initial education about trans issues. She still links to her old blog on twitter, and I think her writing remains very useful. I highly recommend her work, especially if you’re a cis person looking for broader understanding.
Natalie Wynn at Contrapoints played a big role in my own understanding of issues surrounding trans and nonbinary people.
“The World Professional Association for Transgender Health […] is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, interdisciplinary professional and educational organization devoted to transgender health.” Currently they seem to be focused on Europe and the United States.
Trangender Map by Andrea James seems to be a huge collection of information and resources for trans people, would-be allies and supporters, and anyone else looking to learn or help. Check it out of any of the following looks interesting, useful, or important to you.
This free website shows how to make a gender transition.
It tells about gender identity and gender expression, as well as the social, legal, and medical ways to make a transgender transition.
It has lists of people who can help. You can learn how to pay for transition.
There is also help for young people and their families.
People who are not transgender are also welcome here! Please choose a link below:
- For people who are trans or gender diverse
- For people questioning their own gender identity
- For people who want to help our community
- For anyone else who wants to learn more
Or just use this site map, or the search and translate options below, or the menus at the top and bottom of each page.
Times are tough all over right now, and trans folks generally face more social and economic barriers than cis people. That remains true during this pandemic, just as in day to day life. If you have the resources, please consider looking for a charity or mutual aid group that helps trans people, and giving them a little. Through collective effort, we can work toward a world where a plea like this is no longer necessary.
Thanks for this. Good post.