i do not want to be a political person, but because i am trans i have to be.
i am very timid. i am shy and quiet, and have trouble doing things that involve standing up for what i believe in. i’m pretty average for the most part and have a nice group of friends who had no idea that i am transgender. lately with the way america and especially my state is handling things, i have seen an uptick in transgender awareness.
five-ten years ago most people didn’t even know what transgender even was and it was very easy to pass but with the spread of awareness i have started to pass less and less, and have started to receive more hate. recently my group of friends found out that i am transgender after we went on a trip and i kept getting misgendered, and i explained to them why it made me so frustrated. these people, who i have known for years, have started misgendering me as well after knowing me as a man this whole time. they say it is hard to get used to even though they have known me as a man for this whole time!
i used to not have to be involved in politics and worry about my safety, but now i do. when i came out, i did it for myself, but now my identity has a negative label around it and i have to be an activist just to stand up for myself and feel comfortable. i did not sign up for this! i’m not a good speaker, i’m not a good protester, i am just a normal person. i am not made to be an activist, nor do i want to be one.