Transgender Allyship
Transgender Awareness Week ended yesterday (13-19 November). The recent discussions in Australia regarding the Morrison government’s proposed Religious Discrimination Bill really drew attention to the significant and ongoing discrimination that transgender people in Australia face today. The conversation really did get messy, with the desire to protect people from religious discrimination encroaching on the rights of LGBTQIA+ people. Interestingly, it is suggested that a federal Human Rights Act is a perfect answer to balancing the fundamental freedoms and protections of all members of society.
Oh, did you know that Australia is the ONLY liberal democracy in the world without a Human Rights Act?
Anway…
With Transgender Awareness Week ending, I wanted to reflect on some important actions that I read about over the week, which provide some insight/advice on how to be a good trans ally.
First up though, I’m a cisgender, heterosexual male, writing a blog post about transgender allyship. If any LGBTQIA+ person reading this would like to correct me on anything I’ve written, please do so! I’m making sure that everything I write about is informed by LGBTQIA+ led organisations, but I’m so here to learn and grow, so hit me up.
So, lets clarify some terms (really, that’s step one, isn’t it!):
“Transgender – or trans* for short (though not all non-binary people use trans as a descriptor) – is an umbrella term for those whose gender differs from that which they were assigned at birth. This includes binary trans people (trans men and trans women) and non-binary trans people, who may use descriptors like gender-queer, bi-gender, a-gender, or gender-fluid.” (Thanks, A Gender Agenda).
The term transgender describes people whose gender identity is different than the identity they were assigned at birth.
The term non-binary describes people who don’t identity as male or female. These people live as both, either, or no gender.
The term gender diverse is an umbrella term that encompasses a range of different gender identities. (Thanks, Minus 18).
In no particular order, here are some points on how to be a better trans ally:
Ok, there is an order.
Listening comes first, and then everything else come after it. Listening is the golden rule of ANY allyship. And you don’t just do it once, or every now and then. Listening is a constant, active state of being. Listening to the trans people in your community allows you to hear what they are saying and to make sure that you are focused on them, not yourself. This helps you learn about the large-scale issues and actions taking place in the trans community, but also that trans people in your community and circle have their own backgrounds and experiences, as well as their own unique needs.
Hear something hurtful? A joke, a remark, a policy at work? If it’s inappropriate, call it out. Get the support of other allies and stand up against disrespect.
Normalise Using Your Pronouns – “My name’s Simon and my pronouns are he, him and his.”
This is such an uncomplicated way to show that you respect and validate a person’s gender identity. It’s easy to take your pronouns for granted as a cisgendered person, but transgender and gender-nonconforming people are misgendered with the wrong pronouns on the regular. To help create a safe environment in which all people are correctly gendered, you can help dismantle the idea that gender expression always equals gender identity by including your pronouns during introductions, on your email signature and in your social media bios. It’s such a simple thing for a cisgendered person to do, and it signals to transgender people that you are going to use their pronouns correctly, and that you respect their identity.
Another easy one, but one that I still make errors with from time to time. Simple language changes help to create more trans-inclusive environments. Scrap “Hey guys!” and “Welcome ladies and gentlemen” and use “Hey all!”, “Hello people”, and “Welcome everyone”. It takes purposeful effort, as many of these gendered phrases just roll off the tongue - but if you work at it, you can change your langue to be more inclusive. It’s another simple adjustment which goes a long way.
Read that correctly. You educate yourself. Transgender people are not required to educate those around them. There are oh so many resources out there now, from historical information (yes, transgender people have always existed) though to modern information on the legal/human rights of transgender people. It is your responsibility to educate yourself so that you’re positioned to support transgender people in your life/community.
For example, did you know that today (20 November) is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day set aside to honour the memory of trans lives lost of acts of transphobia and discrimination. It started in 1999 as a vigil to honour Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed one year earlier. While it is acknowledged that the transgender community in Australia has continually suffered extreme violence, I couldn’t find any Australian data on the levels of violence. In 2021 there were 50 transgender people killed by acts of violence in the USA, 32 so far in 2022. These are record numbers, and they coincide with a rise in the USA of anti-transgender legislation and openly stigmatising and demeaning discussions from cultural, social, and political figures.
This is all just a start, and you can find a whole lot more guidance in the links I have provided throughout, including:
· When you mess up: Apologize and move forward
· Recognize that being transgender is not about how someone looks
· Don’t worry about what bathrooms people use
· Don’t assume you can tell if someone is transgender
· Donate!
So, I invite you to spend the next 12 months educating yourself and become a better ally for transgender people, just like I plan to – and when Transgender Awareness Week comes around in 2023 let’s join our voices and continue to raise the visibility of transgender people and the issues they face in our communities.
