Unwaivering

     Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." These words hold weight for the trans community today, just as they did in the civil rights era.      We expect hostility from those who actively oppose us. We brace ourselves for lawmakers stripping away our rights, for strangers who glare or whisper behind our backs. But what we don’t expect—what cuts far deeper—is the silence of those who claim to stand with us. The Price of Silence      Oppression thrives in silence. When allies sit back, waiting for someone else to step up, the burden of speaking out falls solely on the shoulders of those already fighting for survival. Trans people are constantly defending our existence, our rights, our humanity. But we cannot—and should not—do this alone.      When allies choose silence over action, they give power to those who wish to erase us. They all...

       Throughout history, oppression has thrived not only because of those who actively enforce it, but because of those who passively allow it. Silence, when faced with injustice, is not neutrality—it is complicity.      Martin Niemöller captured this truth in his famous words: "First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me." What Silence Costs      When oppression is met with silence, it festers. Laws restricting trans rights pass without resistance. Discrimination in workplaces and healthcare remains unchecked. Harm is done in broad daylight, and those with the privilege to speak often do nothing. Silence does not protect the marginalized—i...

     When I shared that I believe God put me on this path to accepting my gender, I knew I was speaking my truth. It was a moment of authenticity, of embracing the journey I believe is meant for me. But like clockwork, the responses came—messages filled with scripture, videos from ministers who speak with certainty yet seem to understand so little about the realities of trans life.      It’s a pattern so many of us know: faith wielded not as a source of love, but as a weapon of authority. But faith, at its core, should be an evolving dialogue between the divine and the self—not a rigid doctrine passed down without question. The Intersection of Faith and Reason      Thomas Jefferson once wrote: "Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because, if there be one, he must more approve the homage of reason, than that of blindfolded fear."  ...

     Happiness is often framed as a privilege—a reward earned through conformity, resilience, or societal validation. But at its core, happiness is not a luxury. It is a right. A fundamental truth that exists beyond politics, beyond bias, and beyond the narrow definitions imposed by those who seek to control who gets to thrive.      Benjamin Franklin once stated, “The Constitution guarantees you the right to pursue happiness. It’s up to you to catch it.” It is a powerful reminder that while the foundation of our democracy promises freedom, the ability to truly grasp happiness depends on the structures in place to protect that pursuit.      Yet, for the trans community, that pursuit is being systematically obstructed. The very politicians who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution—the document that guarantees all citizens the right to pursue happiness—are actively undermining it with anti-trans legislation. These laws are stripping away...

     More than four decades ago, I surmised that emotions are psychological responses to external stimuli. Now, I feel vindicated! I was recently doing some research focused on gender dysphoria (GD) for a blog post I was working on. I had heard so many talking heads going on about how GD is a mental illness. I'm talking about people whose word I used to trust because they're such highly intelligent people. I wanted to know what the truth of the matter is for a couple of reasons. One reason, of course, was the blog post. The other reason is that I've suffered from GD for as long as I can remember. I've also been bisexual and a sex addict for as long as I can remember (I'll swing back around to those in a bit.) In the course of my research, I ran across some information from the American Psychiatric Association that said is not classified as a mental illness, but as a psychological condition. (Being transgender, it turns out, is a state of being. Like being...

      I've told before that I was forced to suppress my gender when I was very young.  My father, a former Golden Gloves boxer-turned auto mechanic, wouldn't have a feminine son and yelled at me for "walking like a faggot".  My mother, a good, God-fearing woman, gently taught me how to exhibit less feminine traits.  Dad was less patient and kind about it.  You could even say that he bullied me about my feminine nature.  Mind you, my father was my childhood hero for keeping the doctor from amputating my leg as a toddler, but forcing me to suppress an intrinsic part of myself was going too far.      While gender dysphoria is generally understood to be a deeply personal and intrinsic experience related to a mismatch between one's gender identity and assigned sex at birth, certain events and social factors can indeed trigger or exacerbate feelings of dysphoria. Here's a breakdown of how events can interact with gender dysphoria: Ext...