Volume 3, Resources 4: Some Ways to Help Trans Folks in Texas
Hello friends. To quote my therapist this week, “I wish I had something lovely and poignant to say but things are just shitty right now.” I often talk to my therapist about how humans don’t have the capacity to process the constant deluge of horrors and violence we witness online and in life every day. We also talk about how to strike a balance between protecting ourselves from this by compartmentalizing while also being able to stay present, informed, and involved.
If we ever find an answer, you all will be the first to hear it from me.
This week is a resource week. I want to first share this Vogue article, “What is Happening in Ukraine, and How to Help.”
The evil that is at the forefront of my mind is this (click through for full, short thread):
No court anywhere in the country has ever found that gender-affirming care can be considered child abuse. https://t.co/D8F7rfELdV
Erin, Trail Mom @ErinInTheMorn
Greg Abbot has officially directed Family and Protective Services to begin investigating all trans children in Texas and prosecuting their parents as child abusers.He has also instructed all teachers, doctors, and caregivers to begin reporting any trans students they see. https://t.co/AO4FdYNuym
I deeply appreciate this thread from Kat Blaque (click through to read the whole thing). She has an incredible amount of patience, which I do not. Which is why I am posting her thread and not just banging out 1,000 words in all caps:
Tripwire @Ravie777
@EyesOnTheRight @AriDrennen Man, I usually agree with you, but I don’t see anything wrong with banning parents from giving their kids gender-reassignment drugs. Someone should be an adult before they make that decision.You can tip Kat on Venmo (Kathryn-wilkins), Cashapp ($katblaque), or PayPal (cuteartsychick19 [at] gmail.com)
Erin Reed also has a thread of GoFundMes for parents of trans children who are trying to relocate outside of TX. There are also some replies here with others offering assistance. I also acknowledge that relocation is not viable for most people nor is it a way to fix the problems. There is A LOT of privilege behind the idea that folks can relocate and I would be remiss if I didn’t call that out. Telling people to just leave their homes is not actually helpful.
Orgs taking donations and/or offering resources:
Equality Texas: “We envision a Texas where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Texans and their families have full equality in the hearts and minds of our fellow Texans and in all areas of the law.”
Central Texas Transgender Health Coalition: “We envision a world where all transgender and gender non-binary persons are treated with dignity and respect, and receive quality and well-informed healthcare.”
Transgender Education Network of Texas: “TENT is an organization dedicated to furthering gender diverse equality in Texas. We work to accomplish this through education and networking in both public and private forums. Through our efforts we strive to halt discrimination through social, legislative, and corporate education.”
Trans Equality Texas Action Center: “Texas lawmakers are making it their mission to go after trans kids. Here’s what you need to know about what’s going on in Texas, what it means for trans Texans and their families, and what you can do to help.”
Resources for Transgender Youth in Texas: “Everybody deserves to feel safe and supported in their community. But trans Texans, especially kids in schools, don’t always feel safe or supported. Are you a transgender, non-binary, or genderqueer Texan, or someone who loves them? Check out our Know Your Rights resources and sign up to become an advocate to defend the rights of trans youth in Texas.”
According to this Tweet, Montrose Grace Place now has a fund they allocate toward the medical needs of transgender youth. “Every Monday and Thursday at 6:00pm, Montrose Grace Place opens its doors to homeless youth of all sexual orientations and gender identities who are between the ages of 13 and 24 years old.”
Black Trans Advocacy Coalition Mission: “Improve the black trans human experience by overcoming violence and injustice in the world through the power, value and love of all people.”
Save Our Sisters United, Inc.: “Breaking barriers and stigma, while standing in solidarity and holistically empowering Black individuals of Trans experience, all Trans people of color and women of ethnic minority.”
The Mahogany Project: “We aim to reduce social isolation, stigma, and acts of injustice in TQLGB+ Communities of Color.”
To my trans friends and loved ones, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that every day seems to birth another way you have to fight to merely exist. I’m sorry that you may feel compelled to have endless amounts of patience with cisgender people who are “listening and learning” while trans folks of all ages are being denied life-saving care. I love you. You matter. You have the right to take up space in this world and the world is a better place because it has you in it.
I want to end today’s newsletter with a bit of joy, because it’s important to remember there are also good things happening. A local PFLAG is throwing the first East Contra Costa County Pride Prom. This is especially important to me because my alma mater is included in the high schools listed. My alma mater is an all-girls, private Catholic school. Having a Pride Prom would have been amazing when I was there. I was able to reach out and sponsor two tickets for students who may need them.
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That’s it for this week! You can shop many books I’ve mentioned in this newsletter at my affiliate shop, The Infophile’s Bookshop, and support independent bookstores. In fact, any Bookshop, Amazon, or Etsy links in this newsletter are affiliate links so if you shop through those, it helps support my work. Or you can leave me a tip on Ko-fi, Paypal, or Venmo.
If you want to send me some snail mail, you can find me at P.O. Box 21481, Oakland, CA 94620-1481.
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