This is Transgender Awareness Week.Except for a transgender day of remembrance gathering in Hartford, I am not aware of any other local transgender awareness events. Circumstances at work prevent me from attending that gathering, so what can I do?
Maybe I did my part on Saturday night when I attended a fund raiser en femme. I encountered a lot of civilians at the Hartford Hilton and I am sure some/most/all of them were aware that I was trans-something or other. I hope I left them with a favorable impression.
In my opinion, I don't think that day of remembrance gatherings do much good promoting awareness of the trans-community. I am all in favor of honoring those who were killed because they did not conform to society's expectations gender-wise, but these gatherings get little or no publicity outside the GLBT community. And if any these gatherings do get publicity beyond the GLBT community, the general public does not care much because they perceive it as just another death of a social misfit.
To better achieve transgender awareness, we should celebrate the living. The public would be more impressed with stories about living trans-people and their contributions to society. Being a dead trans-person is not very interesting, but being a living trans-person and all that entails is very interesting (I can attest to that).
Our stories can enlighten the general public and make them aware that we are out there everywhere everyday trying to live our lives day-to-day just like they try to do.
Hi Staci
ReplyDeleteYes I agree with the sentiment and we should all do our utmost to promote a positive image, by wherever possible being out there and being proud of it.
Hugs
TinaCortina x
I agree with what you've just said, Staci. Sometimes I think that if people don't see the murder of a trans woman as "just" the death of another social misfit, they come away wondering why someone would "choose" a "lifestyle" that would put her in so much danger. There's always the implication that we somehow bring it on ourselves.
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