Day of Remembrance
Nov. 19th, 2007 11:43 pmToday is the National Transgender Day of Remembrance here in the US.
I've never been attacked for being trans, unless you count the taunts for "acting like a girl" in first & second grades.
But I've known the fear. I recall the way I felt the night that no one was going in my direction after a meeting of the local trans group and I had to walk half a mile to a bus stop in the dark. I was scared when, halfway there, I saw several guys coming the other way. I was afraid they'd see a guy in a dress. But in the dark, I passed (or they didn't care).
I was a bit less scared when I was waiting at the bus stop and some teenagers showed up to wait. But I was still scared.
When Loni Okaruru was murdered that didn't help. I'd never met her, but she was *local*.
But I still go out. But I'm lucky. I live in a place where even though we had a murder, it's relatively safe. Most aren't that lucky.
I've never been attacked for being trans, unless you count the taunts for "acting like a girl" in first & second grades.
But I've known the fear. I recall the way I felt the night that no one was going in my direction after a meeting of the local trans group and I had to walk half a mile to a bus stop in the dark. I was scared when, halfway there, I saw several guys coming the other way. I was afraid they'd see a guy in a dress. But in the dark, I passed (or they didn't care).
I was a bit less scared when I was waiting at the bus stop and some teenagers showed up to wait. But I was still scared.
When Loni Okaruru was murdered that didn't help. I'd never met her, but she was *local*.
But I still go out. But I'm lucky. I live in a place where even though we had a murder, it's relatively safe. Most aren't that lucky.