Trans Folk are not Your Fucking Shock Troops: What can Cis People do?

I see pictures of a protest. It can be about just about anyone’s rights, maybe nothing that directly addresses trans rights, and in the street and there are dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of people. But what draws my attention isn’t the crowd size. It is who is at the front: more often than not, trans folk will be among the vanguard of the protest. These trans folk know how trans folks are treated by police and the criminal justice system. Yet they are the ones in front. It is time for others to step up for us.

The oppression against transvestites and transsexuals of either sex arises from sexist values and this oppression is manifested by homosexuals and heterosexuals of both sexes, in the form of exploitation, ridicule, harassment, beatings, rapes, murders, use of us as shock troops, sacrificial victims, and others. — Jan. 1, 1971 Detroit Gay Liberator, P. 10
(from the Transgender Archive)

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Rage, Rage Against the Dying of the Light!

But not just rage. I want you to dance with me.

With apologies to Dylan Thomas, as I read about yet another one of Trump’s cruel orders, I’m angry. I’m angry at those who voted for cruelty, I’m angry at those empowering the cruelty, and I’m angry at those who will be “just following orders” to implement the cruelty.

But that’s not what I want to write about. I want to write about dancing. And I’m writing to the trans community. Cis folks, if you live in the USA, go scream, channeling the rage of the trans folks you know, at your senators and tell them to fucking do something. Go donate to a trans person’s GoFundMe. And maybe don’t help Trump hurt us. But, trans folk, I want you to dance with me.

A foggy indoor scene with several women visible, with fists raised into the air. — Photo by Trinity Kubassek on Pexels.com

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