by Nani Lawrence, Writing Intern
Surprise, surprise, not everyone’s a fan of change.
Oftentimes, those disgusted that queer people exist intersect with those that
disparage the concept of LGBT Pride. Sometimes, even allies are against it. The
argument is that it divides society into “us” versus “them.” True, lately, LGB
people are more “out and proud” after a long struggle. The largely forgotten
“t,”--the transgender community--now has popular support and visibility within
mainstream media. On June 8th, Becoming Us premiered on ABC Family. The show is primarily about a
young man named Ben and how he deals with his father’s transition.
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Photo by Dan Hallman/Invision/AP |
In the first episode, Ben’s father, now “Carly,” was in
transition. She began hormones a few years prior, while she and Ben’s mother
were still married. Carly reveals to Ben that she is getting bottom surgery.
His girlfriend, Danielle, is dealing with her own father’s transition as well.
Perhaps with quite a bit more understanding than Ben, but she’s helping him get
there. With the help of his friends and family, Ben slowly learns to accept his
“Dad/Mom” for everything she is.
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Trans Pride Flag |
Another inspiration to transgender people everywhere made
news recently, too. Laverne Cox is the first trans-person to have a wax figure
at Madam Tussauds in San Francisco. With the release of season three of Orange
is the New Black, Cox’s star gets brighter by the day.
Cox shared her support for Miss Jenner via her official
Tumblr account, appropriately, the first week of June. Cox stated that she must
agree about how gorgeous Jenner looks, but what ”is most beautiful about her is
her heart and soul, the ways she has allowed the world into her vulnerabilities.”
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GETTY |
Cox gained prominence after the first season of Orange is
the New Black streamed on Netflix in 2013. Since then, she has been a very
vocal supporter for her community. Having someone as established as she speak
out on issues and support her fellow trans-community members is an inspiration.
However, even she acknowledges the limits of her fame.
. . . in certain lighting, at
certain angles I am able to embody certain cisnormative beauty standards. Now,
there are many trans folks because of genetics and/or lack of material access
who will never be able to embody these standards. More importantly many trans
folks don’t want to embody them and we should be seen as ourselves and
respected as ourselves…. Most trans folks don’t have the privileges Caitlyn and
I now have. It is those trans folks we must continue to lift up, get them access
to healthcare, jobs, housing, safe streets, safe schools and homes for our
young people.
Seeing transgender people and understanding why they are the
way they are, especially in mainstream media, is probably one of the best ways
to achieve equality. Trans-individuals still face many hardships today, just as
anyone not born straight and white. The sickening events of the past few
days—and the past few years-- have shown us that race relations and equality
after several centuries of struggle remains a struggle. It will still be a very
long road, full of mostly heartbreak and small victories. But at least the
transgender community is breaking ground in a pretty big way.
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