Trans Rage & Leadership
Recently, a trans and gender diverse (TGD) friend and mentor of mine reminded me of the importance of alternate perspectives to situations, particularly difficult ones. That while we can feel angry and frustrated at inequity or ignorance, there is a learning opportunity to be had; a way to bridge the gap. Naturally, being someone where inaction and stagnancy is almost impossible, I took this advice and ran with it.
The resentment in me built up overtime due to the lack of trans-inclusive language used. I could've let this all-consuming resentment hold me hostage, or use this as fuel for social change. So, I disclosed to my entire workplace (through an all staff email) that I am a Vietnamese-Australian, autistic, trans man during Transgender Awareness Week. I mentioned past workplace transphobia, Trans Day of Remembrance and used it as a segue into being active TGD allies, and suggestions to get started. Absolutely, there were risks involved in being vulnerable to a large number of people I barely know, but I refused to stay silent with all of the anger inside.
The responses left me in awe and surprise, coming from a queer person in leadership and another trans man, who both amplified my point about inclusive language. On that very day, I witnessed a change in language use from male/female to man/men and woman/women to describe gender, and it's continued for the better since.
I've noticed this repeatedly: more often than not, people don't like going first. It often takes someone to initiate the blaze, and it spreads like fire, with more people taking note or jumping on the train once the first move is made. I've started a conversation and narrative change, which I hope blooms into a wider cultural change.
After hearing this, my friend said, “you're gonna have to accept the fact that you're a leader”. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Side note: Today is Trans Day of Remembrance (November 20th), a day to honour the trans and gender diverse lives that were lost to anti-trans violence and acts of transphobia. Seeing my community go through this is more reason for me to channel my anger into social and systemic change.