Transphobia – both socially and within legislation – has continued to rise within the United States in the last year. Because of this, we must understand what exactly transphobia is in order to combat its power and harmful effects. In addition to understanding its various components – including cisnormativity and external/internal transphobia – we must actively pursue creating joy. Creating joy gives us the opportunity to preserve ourselves and contributes to resilience and safety in a transphobic world. With the support of concepts by Ley David Elliette Cray, let’s create a toolbox on how to stay safe in a transphobic world through radical acceptance, mindfulness techniques, and fostering community connections.
Table of Contents
What is transphobia?
Transphobia refers to negative attitudes, biases, or discriminatory behaviors directed towards transgender individuals or the transgender community. It also includes conscious and unconscious expressions of prejudice, stereotyping, or hostility based on a person’s transgender identity. Transphobia can manifest in various forms, such as misgendering, using derogatory language, or creating an unwelcoming environment for transgender individuals. Transphobia can be subtle, including hidden warning signs like the habitual use of gendered language and overcompensation, which may indicate internalized transphobia.
What is trans joy?
Joy, particularly in the context of navigating a transphobic world, involves embracing one’s identity, finding a place to speak, live, and thrive authentically despite societal challenges. Author bell hooks described queerness as “being about the self that is at odds with everything around it and has to invent and create and find a place to speak and to thrive and to live.” Joy is and can be:
- a form of magic
- a liberating and joyful experience that arises from using one’s will and embodied self to slowly change the world around them
- community building
- reclaiming spaces
- supporting others in the face of adversity.
Similar joy is gender euphoria. Gender euphoria is the psychological state of bliss and comfort that happens when our gender expression is aligned with our identity. Just like gender dysphoria, gender euphoria can manifest in three ways:
- Cognitive Euphoria: when a person’s mind fully accepts and loves their gender identity, with feelings of “I love myself” and “I am lovable as my authentic self”
- Social Euphoria: when others gender the person correctly, title them correctly, and call them by the right name, it sparks a powerful sense of happiness and belonging; especially important with family members, coworkers, and friends because it creates community
- Body Euphoria: An overall sense of comfort, ease, and enjoyment of the person’s body, including feeling “right sized,” in the right body, and free within this physical form
How can transgender people feel safe in a transphobic world?
Trans joy and gender euphoria are able to thrive when we create a safe environment to do so. Keeping trans people safe is all of our responsibility, and there are several ways trans and cis people alike can proactively contribute to trans safety.
Online Communities
For trans folks, connecting with online communities and platforms to connect with like-minded individuals, especially if in-person community options are limited or inaccessible. For cis folks, online communities are a platform where transphobia is often able to thrive. It can be an area to challenge transphobic ideas and disrupt the normalization of a transphobic environment.
Legal Name and Gender Marker Change
For trans folks, legal changes to one’s name and gender marker is a personal choice and not everyone may feel the need to make these changes. For Plume members interested in pursuing document changes, our Care Team can help navigate you through this process. Reach out to us at members@getplume.co or through your messaging platform. For cis folks, if you have any personal legal connections that may support trans folks in your life, ensure you ask for permission before giving out any personal information. A simple way to ask permission can be, “Hey, I know someone that could help process legal forms for your name change. If you are interested I can put you in touch!”
Community Support
Seek out supportive and affirming communities both online and in person. Establishing connections with friends, allies, and fellow transgender individuals can provide a crucial support system.
Setting Boundaries
Develop the courage to correct misgendering. While it may be challenging initially, corrections become easier over time. Involve friends or allies in advocating for correct pronoun usage. Need advice on how to set boundaries with unsupportive folks in your life? Check out our guide on Strategies for managing unsupportive family or friends during your gender transition.
Self-Care and Rest
Recognize the importance of self-care and rest. Give oneself permission to drop the guard, especially in safe spaces, and embrace the act of resting as a form of resistance. Understand the significance of rest as a form of resistance against internalized and externalized transphobia. Reclaiming rest, even in the form of a nap, can be a powerful act of protest. A simple mindfulness technique that can support rest is square breathing: Inhale, hold, exhale, pause for counts of four.
Accessing Resources
For trans folks, utilize resources like Plume, which offers support groups and community hangouts for members, as well as educational workshops for the community. Explore other options like queer mindfulness groups, LGBT sports teams, e-gaming support groups, and relationship diversity support groups.
Legal Support
Explore legal resources for name and gender marker changes. Organizations like the Trans Legal Defense & Education Fund may provide assistance, especially for those with limited financial means. For Plume members interested in exploring their options, our Care Team can help navigate you through this process. Reach out to us at members@getplume.co or through your messaging platform.
Cultivating Joy
Embrace joy as a radical and transformative force. Find ways to express and celebrate one’s identity, reclaim spaces, and contribute to community building.
Educate Allies
Encourage allies to be aware of hidden signs of transphobia, such as the habitual use of gendered language or overcompensation. Engage in open conversations to address and rectify these behaviors.
Flexible Advocacy
Be open to flexible and empathetic advocacy. Address situations where allies may unintentionally contribute to transphobia by using incorrect pronouns or engaging in microaggressions.
It’s important to note that the strategies mentioned may vary for each individual, and personal choices regarding legal changes, visibility, and self-care should be respected. For information on how Plume helps keep its members safe or how you can support keeping trans folks safe, reach out at info@getplume.co.
