Its Transgender Awareness Week! A time for the entire LGBTQ+ community and allies to raise awareness about who transgender people are. From their unique experiences, to their struggles in a world filled with discrimination, educating the public about these issues is the best tool at hand to bring about equity and acceptance. The following is a list of quotes that embody the personal struggles of people in the Transgender Community. We hope that you can use them to spread the message of unity, love, and acceptance.
"There isn’t a trans moment. There were zero, and now there are 10 to 15. That’s not a moment. [...] It’s just a presence where there was an absence. We deserve so much more.” — Hari Nef
“Transgender folks have been part of the push for LGBT equality from the beginning, and we’ve spoken with loud and intelligent voices and have found political and personal success and advancement all over the world.” — Chelsea Manning
"There's power in naming yourself, in proclaiming to the world that this is who you are. Wielding this power is often a difficult step for many transgender people because it's also a very visible one." — Janet Mock
"People ask the same questions about me being transgender. [...] And I tell them, ‘You know, I’m not just a transgender individual, I’m also Jazz.’ I’m a soccer player, I’m an artist, I love to be creative. I am a representative in my class office. I’m on the varsity soccer team, I am going to do tennis later in the year. I’m in the Gay-Straight Alliance and the Jewish Student Connection, as well.'" — Jazz Jennings
“Makeup can be used to express yourself as well. Those experiences should not be limited to women. Everyone should be free to be as colorful as they want to be.” — Ian Thomas Malone
“I’ve always been transgender, and I always will be. Having said that, my spirit is feminine. If you had to divide humanity into two groups, I would sit with the women.” — Anohni
“I exclusively use they/them and he/him pronouns now, and that is what I expect people to use when referring to me in the past. I know this sounds confusing, but I think it’s okay to have a different set of rules for myself in relation to my gender and past than I do for others.” — Nevo Zisin
“I followed the trail out of the room, invigorated by the possibility of reinventing my own body. The meaning was mine, as long as I was with those who had the vision and vocabulary to understand my creation.” — Nick Krieger
"We are not what other people say we are. We are who we know ourselves to be, and we are what we love. That’s OK." — Laverne Cox
“In trans women’s eyes, I see a wisdom that can only come from having to fight for your right to be recognized as female, a raw strength that only comes from unabashedly asserting your right to be feminine in an inhospitable world.” —Julia Serano
Hearing messages of love from these amazing advocates can fill our hearts with positivity, but what will you do to join them in the fight for equality and even safety? In 2020, there were 31 murders of transgender or gender non-conforming persons in the US, which has surpassed the numbers of the previous year. As allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community, it is our responsibility to remember this, and be active in raising awareness about these issues. To help you do this, Pride Palace has created a transgender collection including a "Black Trans Lives Matter Hoodie” and a “Trans Beanie.” When you buy these products you can wear them to help raise awareness and because we donate proceeds, you will be supporting LGBTQ+ organization. Last but not least, stay tuned for our upcoming Transgender Day of Rememberance Guide, which will go deeper into the situation that the transgender community is facing today!
