How to Cope when Trans Rights are Under Threat
Sometimes it seems like the transphobes have won. With each new line they cross, the rights of trans and non-binary people get more precarious.
I started Trans Therapy London so trans and non-binary people could get the help they need from one of their own. But how can we look after our mental health when it seems the world is against us?
I’ve come up with a list of ways that we can cope when the world seems to turn on us.
1. Objectively assess the situation
It’s important to look past the headlines. Win or lose, transphobes always act as if they’ve won, so don’t take them at their word. If a law appears to have changed, look into how it has changed, and if so, what that means for you. Knowing what’s really happening will help you understand your next steps.
2. Make an action plan
We can feel powerless when the world turns against us, so recognising what we can do helps take some of that power back. Is there an alternative to the current situation? If your access to medicine is threatemed, is there somewhere else you can get it? If you’re afraid of being removed from a single-sex facility, is there someone you trust you can bring in with you? If things get really bad, is there somewhere safe you can go? Even the smallest contingency plan can help.
3. Look after yourself
Is there something you can do that helps when things get difficult? Something that makes you smile? It might be getting together with friends, playing a game, watching a series, doing some exercise, or being creative in whatever way works for you. Doing something you love will help give you the strength to keep going.
4. Find community
Being discriminated against can make us feel small and lonely, but there are many people in the exact same situation as you. Reach out to other trans and non-binary people and see if there’s any way you can support one another. If you don’t know other trans or non-binary people there are so many places online to find them; whether it’s on social media, group forums, or other online networks.
Many cis people are outraged by transphobia. If you have cisgender allies you can trust, reaching out to them can be just as helpful.
5. Get organised
Get involved in the fight against transphobia however you can. Join a political party or trade union and sign up for their LGBTQ+ working group. Go to protests, and if there aren’t any in your area, organise one! Find local LGBTQ+ groups and plan joint actions. Donate to fundraisers for trans and non-binary people in crisis. Volunteer for organisations like Switchboard that help people just like you. Email and call your local representative, or better yet, meet them face to face and tell them what they need to hear.
Work in a group as much as you can. It’s easier for our opponents to deal with one person being a nuisance than a whole lot of people.
6. Believe in yourself
Whatever the transphobes say about you is wrong. They aren’t in touch with reality so there’s no point pretending their beliefs have any merit whatsoever. You aren’t damaged goods. You aren’t delusional. You aren’t a danger to society. You are right and they are wrong.
Sometimes it feels as if the transphobes have won, but the only way they can win is if we let them. I’m not going to let them and neither are you.