For me, it's kind of a recognition of not being in the closet and not being afraid to be who you are on the inside and live out loud. I'm 28 now, but I did come out to my colleagues and classmates at Columbia Journalism School last year on Trans Day of Visibility. Q: What does Trans Day of Visibility mean to you?Ī: I haven't celebrated it very often because I didn't find out I was trans until I was 25. That can be a challenge for folks who have family who is either not welcoming or just very unsure and doesn't know a lot about it. Somehow it's different for people when it's a friend, an acquaintance, a stranger, than if it's a family member. I don't experience this myself, but I hear a lot of different stories in the Berkshires. There's a lot of folks who are very open - it's not just that it's not a problem, but they're welcoming. Q: What is great about being trans in the Berkshires? What is hard?Ī: Overall I have found that the Berkshires is a very welcoming place. It can be helpful to share resources - Where do you get your haircut? Where do you go to the dentist? - to have those sorts of social networking opportunities. It can be really helpful just to hear other people's experiences and realize you're not alone. You have an hour and a half show up, meet people, talk. So at its core, I just set up a time and place to meet at least once a month. Q: You lead Berkshire Trans Group - what is the that?Ī: Berkshire Trans Group is a peer support group. Those of us who can be more visible are sometimes trying to be visible for other people, too. I think it's important for the folks who are able to be visible because they're safe - their housing is secure, their job is secure, they're not concerned about someone finding out like a family member who might not react well. But there are lots of folks who don't really feel very comfortable being super visible sometimes. I'm one of the people who's very visible. For me, it's a chance to speak positively about transgender folks. Q: What does Transgender Day of Visibility mean to you?Ī: It's tough because it's one of those things that you wish wasn't necessary.
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