We wish we could be proud of our country this Pride month, but instead we are deeply ashamed, particularly of how our trans community has been attacked by our government.
I support anyone who isn’t hurting others by being who he, she, or they want to be. Love is for everyone, and it is also right and your right to empower yourself if you were born in the wrong body.
It is unbelievable that it is still such a big issue who is allowed to love whom or who is allowed to be who they are. Why is it made so hard for people to simply be themselves and live in a way that feels right to them? It is so sad that this is still something people have to debate at all.
I support anyone who isn’t hurting others by being who he, she, or they want to be. Love is for everyone, and it is also right and your right to empower yourself if you were born in the wrong body.
It is unbelievable that it is still such a big issue who is allowed to love whom or who is allowed to be who they are. Why is it made so hard for people to simply be themselves and live in the way that feels right to them? It is so sad that this is still something people have to debate at all.
Thank you both so much for putting Erin and Zoey into the minds of your followers! I have many people in my life that I love and who love me, but because they aren't affected by these draconian laws and hatred, they are often confused by why I don't want to fly to visit them, or drive across states, or be late because I have to wait until my bowels and bladder are empty before I leave the house. It's EXHAUSTING having to look over your shoulder literally everywhere I go. And it's even more exhausting to explain to friends that I don't feel safe anywhere anymore. I try to encourage my friends to read Erin's work, but so far none of them do. They say it's too upsetting to follow such horrible things. But we trans people have to LIVE in this. We can't just not follow these updates because it is literally life and death to us.
I don't have much hope that many non trans people will actually watch this interview. But that's just human nature. What's important is that a few very special people like you are continuing to sound the alarm. Bless you!
Sadly this isn't just a US problem, but a global 1. And in some countries (a handful in the Middle East) LGBT ppl are put to death for it. Makes no sense why some ppl are so hateful that they'd wanna see someone die for loving someone of the same gender. Or cause they were born in the wrong body.
Ok I have finished watching it now. I really liked what Zooey said about us never knowing when things are going to change… so just keep pushing. I could see the immediate shift in Misha’s expression… a shift towards hope. It was a beautiful thing to watch and a wonderful source of motivation. 🫶
but… this policy issue has definitely become an unwelcome global shift!
Apparently our Sex Discrimination Act is being amended to expressly exclude protection for trans people! That means that people can just not hire them or promote them or engage in any other form of direct or indirect discrimination just because they are trans.
I am pissed about it! Do better, Australia! 🇦🇺
It’s exactly the bullshit we pulled with the Marriage Act and overseas gay marriages. We did everything to invalidate them!
Just let people be people and stop being massive assholes to others just because you either don’t agree or don’t understand their choices. Live and let live! 🤍
honestly i still cant wrap my head around why people care so much about making lives so much more difficult for no reason. amazing conversation thank you for sharing! to all the trans people out there sending u lots of love we've got your back x
I recently came out as a trans man after nearly 8 years of shoving that part of me away...Now that I've come out, I have friends that use my preferred name for me and my pronouns (he/they). I got my hair cut short again and its actually my first ever masculine haircut. I love my hair. I'm grateful that I got to attend a pride event in my town on the 12th. And I have at least one more pride event that I can attend around here this month. But at the event on the 12th, I was having trouble relaxing enough to enjoy myself. I was worried that someone could target the event because of hate. There is a lot of visible transphobia and homophobia in my area. I have it better than most and I'm still scared to be me and advocate for myself to live my life in a way that is best for me. Even though I'm not accepted by my family, I'm at least happy they don't hate me for who I am. My heart breaks for those who cannot safely be themselves, who have been attacked or have been killed for who they are. I appreciate you and Emily having these discussions through your platform. Keep fighting hate. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤🩶🤍🤎
(Edit: I keep thinking of things to say... I was upset all day yesterday because of things like this. I was thinking that maybe it'd be safer to force myself to stay as my assigned sex and be a straight woman instead. I'm terrified at how the government (in the United States) is changing laws and allowing hate to grow. It's becoming similar in certain areas of Canada. And it's genuinely so scary. But I also know I can't force myself to be anything other than me. Not to be superstitious, but I think seeing this posted today by you two is my sign to keep fighting).
As a mental health professional who works with LGBTQIA+ clients this discussion hit me hard. I've been avoiding the news since the beginning of the year because I can only take so much awful news without being too depressed to continue helping my clients. My trans clients have been the hardest part of my practice lately. Discussing how to keep themselves safe and still try and find joy without larger supports. Discussing how to cope with not transitioning for fear of losing their supportive care at some point, even though I'm based in California. Keeping hope when all the loudest voices seem to keep telling them "we shouldn't be alive" has been so hard.
I've been crying off and on since having that intense fear and hopelessness validated by someone who is still able to advocate. Holding those feelings for my clients has been hard while leaving me without the tools I need to help people.
Hearing that even some small changes have been made and that people have actually been reached is surprising, but gives a small glimmer of hope that people aren't as awful as I think they've become. I hope those that have more mental/emotional resources can keep having these conversations because the people I know can't.
Happy Pride. At least my hair is currently a rainbow to celebrate the season!
I live in Fresno, CA, where our board of supervisors just declared June as “nuclear families month,” and is somehow trying to pass it off as not being a direct attack on the queer community. Mind you, they begrudgingly removed a section of the declaration that specifically said that children today are being “indoctrinated by transgender ideology”. It makes me angry and fearful as a queer person, but I’m thankful for those speaking up and fighting back (which I intend to do as well). All of this to say, thank you for using this platform to educate and uplift 🫶
It's appalling that trans people -all lgbtqia+ people - are being treated like they're less than the conventional straight norm. It's a fundamental right to feel right in your body, to love who you want to love, to live your life the way you please. Restricting and taking away these rights is a crime against humanity.
This means so much that you’re having this conversation. As a fellow trans person I haven’t exposed myself to the activism and the change that everyone has been pushing for in this country. I’ve hidden in a hole and avoided the world until I “passed enough.” Thank you for pushing for change with us. It’s been such a scary world right now so I’m very much looking forward to his conversation. It means so much to have you both as Allies especially with magnitude this video can reach. I need to learn more. I want to do more. This is so fucking important. 🫂💚
Thank you so much Sam! I see you too. 🫂💚 You’ve got this alright? If you ever need to talk to anyone I’m a DM away. I’ve been on my journey for 13 years so if you have any questions or need to know anything medically, I’m pretty well versed in it.
Em hit the nail on the head there: we won't get the outcome we want by doing nothing, so we might as well keep at it! Love you so much for this mindset and the work you put into this - keep at it! 🫶🫶🫶
Thank you for talking about this ❤️🩹 I haven't even been able to watch it yet, but tears came to my eyes 🥹
AnteSocial is the only community where I talk about being non-binary as just a simple characteristic about myself, it's the only place that doesn't require courage to talk about it... It means a lot!
I support anyone who isn’t hurting others by being who he, she, or they want to be. Love is for everyone, and it is also right and your right to empower yourself if you were born in the wrong body.
It is unbelievable that it is still such a big issue who is allowed to love whom or who is allowed to be who they are. Why is it made so hard for people to simply be themselves and live in a way that feels right to them? It is so sad that this is still something people have to debate at all.
You are seen, heard, and supported.❤️🩹🫂
English:
I support anyone who isn’t hurting others by being who he, she, or they want to be. Love is for everyone, and it is also right and your right to empower yourself if you were born in the wrong body.
It is unbelievable that it is still such a big issue who is allowed to love whom or who is allowed to be who they are. Why is it made so hard for people to simply be themselves and live in the way that feels right to them? It is so sad that this is still something people have to debate at all.
You are seen, heard, and supported. ❤️🩹🫂
Thank you both so much for putting Erin and Zoey into the minds of your followers! I have many people in my life that I love and who love me, but because they aren't affected by these draconian laws and hatred, they are often confused by why I don't want to fly to visit them, or drive across states, or be late because I have to wait until my bowels and bladder are empty before I leave the house. It's EXHAUSTING having to look over your shoulder literally everywhere I go. And it's even more exhausting to explain to friends that I don't feel safe anywhere anymore. I try to encourage my friends to read Erin's work, but so far none of them do. They say it's too upsetting to follow such horrible things. But we trans people have to LIVE in this. We can't just not follow these updates because it is literally life and death to us.
I don't have much hope that many non trans people will actually watch this interview. But that's just human nature. What's important is that a few very special people like you are continuing to sound the alarm. Bless you!
As a non-binary person with a trans younger brother thank you for uplifting trans voices and having this conversation! ❤️
Unfortunately, it's no different in Europe … and somehow everything seems to be moving in the wrong direction.
Thank you for being here and fighting so hard for them!
Sadly this isn't just a US problem, but a global 1. And in some countries (a handful in the Middle East) LGBT ppl are put to death for it. Makes no sense why some ppl are so hateful that they'd wanna see someone die for loving someone of the same gender. Or cause they were born in the wrong body.
Ok I have finished watching it now. I really liked what Zooey said about us never knowing when things are going to change… so just keep pushing. I could see the immediate shift in Misha’s expression… a shift towards hope. It was a beautiful thing to watch and a wonderful source of motivation. 🫶
but… this policy issue has definitely become an unwelcome global shift!
Apparently our Sex Discrimination Act is being amended to expressly exclude protection for trans people! That means that people can just not hire them or promote them or engage in any other form of direct or indirect discrimination just because they are trans.
I am pissed about it! Do better, Australia! 🇦🇺
It’s exactly the bullshit we pulled with the Marriage Act and overseas gay marriages. We did everything to invalidate them!
Just let people be people and stop being massive assholes to others just because you either don’t agree or don’t understand their choices. Live and let live! 🤍
honestly i still cant wrap my head around why people care so much about making lives so much more difficult for no reason. amazing conversation thank you for sharing! to all the trans people out there sending u lots of love we've got your back x
I recently came out as a trans man after nearly 8 years of shoving that part of me away...Now that I've come out, I have friends that use my preferred name for me and my pronouns (he/they). I got my hair cut short again and its actually my first ever masculine haircut. I love my hair. I'm grateful that I got to attend a pride event in my town on the 12th. And I have at least one more pride event that I can attend around here this month. But at the event on the 12th, I was having trouble relaxing enough to enjoy myself. I was worried that someone could target the event because of hate. There is a lot of visible transphobia and homophobia in my area. I have it better than most and I'm still scared to be me and advocate for myself to live my life in a way that is best for me. Even though I'm not accepted by my family, I'm at least happy they don't hate me for who I am. My heart breaks for those who cannot safely be themselves, who have been attacked or have been killed for who they are. I appreciate you and Emily having these discussions through your platform. Keep fighting hate. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤🩶🤍🤎
(Edit: I keep thinking of things to say... I was upset all day yesterday because of things like this. I was thinking that maybe it'd be safer to force myself to stay as my assigned sex and be a straight woman instead. I'm terrified at how the government (in the United States) is changing laws and allowing hate to grow. It's becoming similar in certain areas of Canada. And it's genuinely so scary. But I also know I can't force myself to be anything other than me. Not to be superstitious, but I think seeing this posted today by you two is my sign to keep fighting).
As a mental health professional who works with LGBTQIA+ clients this discussion hit me hard. I've been avoiding the news since the beginning of the year because I can only take so much awful news without being too depressed to continue helping my clients. My trans clients have been the hardest part of my practice lately. Discussing how to keep themselves safe and still try and find joy without larger supports. Discussing how to cope with not transitioning for fear of losing their supportive care at some point, even though I'm based in California. Keeping hope when all the loudest voices seem to keep telling them "we shouldn't be alive" has been so hard.
I've been crying off and on since having that intense fear and hopelessness validated by someone who is still able to advocate. Holding those feelings for my clients has been hard while leaving me without the tools I need to help people.
Hearing that even some small changes have been made and that people have actually been reached is surprising, but gives a small glimmer of hope that people aren't as awful as I think they've become. I hope those that have more mental/emotional resources can keep having these conversations because the people I know can't.
Happy Pride. At least my hair is currently a rainbow to celebrate the season!
I live in Fresno, CA, where our board of supervisors just declared June as “nuclear families month,” and is somehow trying to pass it off as not being a direct attack on the queer community. Mind you, they begrudgingly removed a section of the declaration that specifically said that children today are being “indoctrinated by transgender ideology”. It makes me angry and fearful as a queer person, but I’m thankful for those speaking up and fighting back (which I intend to do as well). All of this to say, thank you for using this platform to educate and uplift 🫶
Thank you Emily and Misha🥰.
we need to stand up for Trans rights. Or just do better because we are going backwards and it’s terrifying what is happening in the world right now.
So, thank you Zoey and Erin for standing up and fighting.
It's appalling that trans people -all lgbtqia+ people - are being treated like they're less than the conventional straight norm. It's a fundamental right to feel right in your body, to love who you want to love, to live your life the way you please. Restricting and taking away these rights is a crime against humanity.
This means so much that you’re having this conversation. As a fellow trans person I haven’t exposed myself to the activism and the change that everyone has been pushing for in this country. I’ve hidden in a hole and avoided the world until I “passed enough.” Thank you for pushing for change with us. It’s been such a scary world right now so I’m very much looking forward to his conversation. It means so much to have you both as Allies especially with magnitude this video can reach. I need to learn more. I want to do more. This is so fucking important. 🫂💚
Brother!
I see you, and I'm rooting for you! And of course I love your name. Mine will be Sam one day. ;)
Thank you so much Sam! I see you too. 🫂💚 You’ve got this alright? If you ever need to talk to anyone I’m a DM away. I’ve been on my journey for 13 years so if you have any questions or need to know anything medically, I’m pretty well versed in it.
Em hit the nail on the head there: we won't get the outcome we want by doing nothing, so we might as well keep at it! Love you so much for this mindset and the work you put into this - keep at it! 🫶🫶🫶
Thank you for talking about this ❤️🩹 I haven't even been able to watch it yet, but tears came to my eyes 🥹
AnteSocial is the only community where I talk about being non-binary as just a simple characteristic about myself, it's the only place that doesn't require courage to talk about it... It means a lot!
Love that for you!