All my trans* and non-binary brothers and sisters and the LGBTQ+ community, please take care of yourself. To help others people need to be as well as they can be themselves.

In today’s world where attacks are nonstop, reaching out and helping one another before attacking is often the best case in my opinion. Like the safety presentation on an airplane; put your mask on before helping others. The idea of defend before attacking also comes to mind.

It is impossible to see any news or depiction of what passes as news without being subjected to what is found there. There are many ways one can look at this, some good and others bad.

If you are unable to escape the reach of bad news, please keep in mind there can be a positive outcome. Humans are resilient and when up against a no-win, people find what is needed to persevere. There are countless examples throughout history of this.

If we were not in the way of an agenda then we would be largely ignored. This can be a position to take where the community’s existence and the reaction from some points to our strength and obstruction to those desires they use to attempt to beat us down.

I am writing this for anyone who needs it as well as myself. A reminder that I am here and not going anywhere and this act of defiance and dissent alone is a defense against hate. I am and will continue to do more.

What so many trans* and non-binary people are asked to endure on a daily basis is daunting and our perseverance is beyond amazing, it moves me to keep being positive and provides encouragement.

This community has withstood so much and to step back now seems like the wrong direction for how far we have come. In so many ways I see my personal struggle as a source of growth and it shows me just how much I can actually achieve. Convert the stress and anxiety into a drive to keep going and to help others as we can.

Rest if you need to, unplug for a while, recharge and be safe and healthy. I know that the community will be here and continue to be when you are ready again to come out.

Shatter that door down!

I will not attempt to reword Harvey Milk. Here is a link to a speech he made on June 25th 1978 for Gay Freedom Day.

https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/milk-hope-speech

The transcript of Harvey Milk’s The Hope Speech

https://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/amalia-pica/transcript-harvey-milks-the-hope-speech

If you are the video type, here is a YouTube link to a scene from the movie Milk (2008)

If you can, please watch this movie, if you have then watch it again and keep what is happening in mind when you do.