May 11, 2023

Trans Studies: To be trans, or not to be trans

We defied categorization

Leading to being defined the easiest and safest way by others

But how would they know?

Assigned female at birth but now a man

Married to a woman, taking on traditionally male roles

Already vulnerable trying to live our lives authentically

We knew we were putting ourselves in danger

They called us women while trying to live as men

They called us masculine in a tone sounding far too threatening

Why are our genitals exposed and our gender denounced?

Our existence, our history, our truth

Where is it?

Our existence is described with words we don’t even know

How could that possibly be accurate?

Confined within phrases outside of our vocabulary

Even our time period

Yet still this label is forced upon us

We are told we are women, men, transgender, cisgender, lesbian, gay

Which one is it?

Who gave you authority to determine our identity?

And why is it so important to you?

You’re changing the narrative of our lives trying to interpret our gender

But it is our gender

We are the only ones who know the truth

And the depth of it.