A very important June reminder
More important this year than ever
I kind of dread the beginning of June on social media, because there are perfectly timed posts on June 1 by major influencers, creators, and brands, who then are silent for the next 364 days regarding inclusion of LGBT+ people.
But this year, I can’t decide which I’m dreading more: the performative posting, or the lack of it. In some ways, posting nothing is clearer communication of where a particular company or account stands when it comes to the rights of millions of Americans, but it’s not a nice message to receive.
This year I had some really nuanced, in-depth conversations with people regarding the rights of trans people that have been targeted and stripped away in the last few months (to see these, see my Gender highlight on Instagram and skip to January of 2025). But I keep coming back to two statements from those conversations:
“I didn’t know” said by someone didn’t vote the way I did, regarding the fact that one of the impacts of their vote is that I, and millions of others, lost legal rights like serving in the military, or having accurate documentation. “I didn’t know” this would happen as a result of my vote, was the implication of their statement.
“I understand now. I just wish there were resources to help people like me understand.” This said by someone who, in complete good faith, was trying hard to better understand why something like bathroom access for trans people.
I don’t know how to say this any other way than this: if you are able to look away, to bury your head in the sand, to ignore the resources and warnings from trans and LGBT+ people for the last 9 YEARS, to say “it’s just four years” or to divest yourself from the consequences of your actions, that is the epitome of privilege. I say this as someone who can do the same for something like, say, immigration, or medicare/medicaid access, just to name a couple.
If you have the privilege of being able to ignore an issue, then that is all the more reason to take it on. Find some issue that doesn’t affect you personally, and make it your mantle. Look up upcoming bills in your state legislature regarding that issue, find ways to speak up for or against it, and send that info out to friends to spread the word.
You don’t have to do it for every issue. Pick one. Find a group of friends and let everyone choose one issue that they will focus on- hopefully NOT something that impacts them personally- and then check in every couple weeks for updates or action items.
You’ll feel better. You’ll feel like you’re doing something. Because you will be. But you won’t have to hyper focus or doom scroll.
Pride is seen as a celebration, but that’s a misconstruction. It’s an act of rebellion. It’s defiance. It’s a riot.
“No pride for some of us, without liberation for all of us”- Marsha P Johnson, may her memory be a blessing.
Some places to support in the month of June: Me, by converting to a paid subscription or preordering my book
MegEmikoArt for stickers, shirts, and more that supports the community and is made by a trans person
Transfigureprintco who makes the softest shirt I own
If you’ve ever seen the cow/hamburger art in some of the IG stories I share, that is made by Two Little Fruits and they have so much cute stuff to offer.
If you would like ideas for inclusive books to read, you can see my Gender highlight on Instagram, or check out
. My absolute favorite go-to book for talking to kids about identity is What are your words (affiliate link).(The Intersex Inclusive Progress Pride Flag is a wonderful example of the critical pedagogy in the queer movement. Contributors to this flag over time include Gilbert Baker (rainbow pride flag), Monica Helms (trans pride), the inclusion of trans pride and LGBT+ people of color with the Chevron pattern by Daniel Quasar (progress Pride flag) Morgan Carpenter (Intersex pride flag), and the inclusion of the Intersex pride flag into the Progress Pride flag design by Valentino Vechietti (Intersex Inclusive Pride Flag).