A close-up of a person's eye, wearing make-up in the trans pride colours. Photo: By Kyle on Unsplash.
Trans formation: A mother’s tale of seeking welcome
‘I have decided to share my own story.’
A recent letter to the Friend asked that, rather than express their grief and anger at the relentless attacks they are facing, trans Friends should explain themselves and share their experience. This is a more subtle form of micro-aggression, similar to those inflicted on people of colour and, mercifully to a lesser extent these days, on gay people. We white, cis, straight people are the default, the ‘normal’, so we don’t need to examine our own experience of race, gender or sexual orientation. It is for the ‘other’, to whom in our complacent generosity we extend tolerance, to explain themselves so that we can understand them and include them. This is neither ‘equality’ nor ‘inclusion’ – it is not a level playing field, and we have no intention of making it so.
