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Excerpts from another phone call home that hadn't gone as I had hoped.
(+ a thread on transphobia)
(+ a thread on transphobia)
Transphobia comes in many forms. Not all of them are as obvious as an individual cruelly misgendering a trans person on purpose.
Sometimes it takes the form of a person abruptly and pointedly no longer speaking with someone who had come out.
Sometimes it takes the form of a person abruptly and pointedly no longer speaking with someone who had come out.
Sometimes it takes the form of the community surrounding that individual enabling the transphobia by leaving it unacknowledged, thereby implicitly condoning it.
Yes, I did say that: knowingly allowing transphobic actions to take place within your community is transphobic.
Yes, I did say that: knowingly allowing transphobic actions to take place within your community is transphobic.
It doesn't matter if one supports the trans individual in other ways, that trans person is still being hurt by the culture of transphobia and needs community support to overcome it.
That's what it means to be an ally: stepping up and doing what's necessary to help change the culture to be welcoming of trans folks.
So: you realize you may be complicit in either active or passive transphobia. What now?
You can't change the past but there is always time to learn more and change your behavior. Acknowledge your failings and grow.
You can't change the past but there is always time to learn more and change your behavior. Acknowledge your failings and grow.
Transphobia is baked into our culture- it requires vigilance to educate ourselves on the many forms it takes and to actively stand against it. Learn and do better starting now.
The first step is to believe the experiences of trans people. We are experts on our own lived experiences. If someone confides in you that they need your help in dealing with a situation, trust that it took a lot for them to reach out to you. 
If you enjoy my work or get somethin' out of it, please consider supporting me and my transition via Patreon. It all goes toward medical expenses and is incredibly helpful, thank you. 
 http://www.patreon.com/upandoutcomic
 http://www.patreon.com/upandoutcomic
