I'M HERE, I'M ALIVE, I'M LUCKY // Transgender Day of Remembrance

They say the life expectancy of a transgender person is 35.

(Whoever “they” is)

Statistically speaking this is my last year, but I’m all about defying the odds.

I’m here. I’m alive. I’m loved. I am a lucky one.

<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c3f7d6796d4559f9167892c/1605907297947-DAZX6TUZTIUM578QN67X/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kISs2WHFYNFrU0nGUAyvWAhZw-zPPgdn4jUwVcJE1ZvWQUxwkmyExglNqGp0IvTJZamWLI2zvYWH8K3-s_4yszcp2ryTI0HqTOaaUohrI8PIv-oe-bCJlamkqP4UT7vOabzWqr9kEmXiVu2orTN-EOg/whyihatetransgenderawarenessweek" alt="whyihatetransgenderawarenessweek" />

So many trans people are not lucky like me.

Trans awareness week is always a bit weird for me. I’ve never really been able to pinpoint why but every year I find myself hiding away from social media and the world, rather than wanting to engage.

I think I may have figured it out though.

I find it strange to see everyone talking about trans rights, acceptance, and love that is not our everyday lived experience.

So often trans folks hide in secret shame, hoping no one will notice them. Hoping to be safe. Hoping to just use the bathroom unscathed. Hoping they won’t lose their families, never being their true selves because they don’t know how.

A 7 day stretch of trans love every year ended by talking about how many of us aren’t alive seems so out of place when so much of our daily lives are fighting just to be seen as valid. 7 days doesn’t make up for the other 358 every year. It doesn’t undo the years of hiding and shame and trauma.

But I guess it’s a place to start.

If you’re here and you’re trans, let’s remember us living today! Not just for us. But for all people who didn’t make it this far.

Let’s remember us thriving! And let’s keep honoring the trans folks before us who have lost their lives by living really fucking great ones our selves.

If you’re here and you’re not trans go talk to your kids about trans people today. Show them how awesome and magical we are!

Here are a few cool folks to learn from.

@freddy.mcconnell@biffandi@thetransplanter@vivekshraya@everydaygirldad@alokvmenon@alionsfear@inthelifeofbenson@thejeffreymarsh@transcasterradio

Deal? Deal! Big hugs fam!