TDOR

Okay let's put some words on a blank screen, hmm, shit, what the hell do I write about tonight? The Blazers  won, that is kind of cool, some kid brought a wallaby to the game, which I didn't see, but apparently it is a big deal on the internet now.

The Republican party continues the slide into becoming literal Nazis, terrorists  keep terrorizing, blah blah blah, still horrible, nothing new to talk about, oh yeah.

Today was Transgender Day of Remembrance. I haven't really talked about trans issues in this space before, I know a few transgender folks, probably more than I think I do, but it hasn't really crossed my mind to write about it, which I guess is sort of the point of having a day of remembrance isn't it?

It's really easy to not pay attention to the trans community, despite the fact that there are a crapload of them and they come from all levels of society, we really hate talking about them, except for when a non-threatening media personality like Caitlyn Jenner pops up and we can all pat ourselves on the back at how accepting society has become when a ridiculously wealthy, privileged person can come out and be met with only a (comparatively)mild amount of scorn and ridicule. And yes I am aware that she received hundreds, probably thousands, of the vilest insults and death threats imaginable, I stand by the statement.

We don't spend a lot of time talking about the folks who can't come out, or who do and die, this year, 271 transgender people were reported killed in reported homicides, a number which is almost certainly low, and which does not include deaths by suicide or things like neglect, exposure, or starvation due to being kicked out of their homes for coming out to their families.

For some reason, much(most?) of the world really doesn't like it when someone identifies as a different gender than they appear to be, it isn't something I really understand, it is like as soon as people figure it out, the trans person stops being human to them, I realize they don't understand it, but I don't really know if understanding is needed here.

I don't understand trans people, how could I? I am lucky enough to not be in their position, I can't say with confidence why people are the way they are, and if I am being honest it makes me a little uncomfortable, but here's the thing, that's my problem, it is not, and has never been, the responsibility of someone to hide who they are for my benefit, it is not, and has never been, my place to tell someone who they can be. And if trans folks make me uncomfortable on some level, the thought process that ends with "let's kill it" certainly makes me much more so, and I am perfectly comfortable telling that kind of bigot how they should be. (Never refer to a trans personas "it" btw, that was a quote from a horrible persons perspective)

I dunno, thousands of words have been written by people rather a lot more knowledgeable than me on the subject, I don't expect to add much to the discussion, but I guess I don't really have to.