To mark Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20th,
some words from a Westchester transgender teen
who is a member of Mosaic's Teen Advisory Council.
November 20th is Trans Day of Remembrance. On this day we remember all of the transgender people whose lives were disrupted or lost due to violence directed at them.
As of November 12, 2015, there have been twenty-two murders this year of transgender women in the United States alone, almost double the number of twelve from last year.
These acts of violence are not rooted in reason but rather come from senseless hatred of transgender people.
I share from experience that being transgender is not easy.
It is awful to deal with internal pressures like gender dysphoria, a horrible sensation of distress stemming from the feeling that one's body isn't close enough to the gender they know they are.
I
t is just as terrible trying to handle external pressures like the complex task of trying to fit into a society in which many people do not accept your existence.
It is literally terrifying to be forced to legitimately worry that someone will hurt you because they have
decided that you deserve punishment just for being who you are.
Please spend a moment on the 20th thinking about all of the transgender people who have suffered due to ignorance and violence, and those who ultimately lost their lives trying to be their true selves. If you do know someone who is transgender, let them know that you support them. Something as simple as that can make a huge difference. Also, please s
hare this with friends and family so they too can understand the importance of today.
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