My mind prepared an altar for the old me. I succumbed to the woman inside, relinquishing the longstanding belief that my femininity was some kind of disease. As I retraced my experience, I felt cheated out of freedom for so long. Who would I have been without those day-one boxes of gender, if I'd been less consumed by what others thought of me, if I could have been the driver of my own destiny? The old me had to die. I no longer accepted this perpetual division between who I wanted to be and...
11 days ago • 2 min read
Reader, I hate the ally flag. I really do. I hate it for the same reason I'm not a fan of ally t-shirts and pins. It's like saying, "I like gay people, and even trans people, too! But I sure don't want to you to think I'm one of them." I use the photo below in my "Turning Allyship into Action" presentations as an example of performative allyship. A performative ally might take action, but that action is all about appearances, personal benefit, or being trendy. It doesn’t actually help or...
14 days ago • 2 min read
Join Parents of Trans Youth in raising money for Equality Texas this Pride month! Equality Texas is the largest statewide nonprofit fighting for LGBTQIA+ Texans and does it all: political action, education, community organizing, and collaboration. We both share the same goal of fighting for Texas trans kids, and Parents of Trans Youth supports their work 100%. Equality Texas has played a huge part in my advocacy journey, teaching me how to testify at the Texas legislature, training me on...
18 days ago • 1 min read
I saw the movie “She’s The He” this week, and when it was over, I immediately wanted to see it again. It’s a teen satire about two seniors who pretend to be transgender during their last week of high school (a crush on a girl is involved). Hijinks ensue. AND one of them finds out that she actually is trans. The friend I saw it with is also the parent of a trans young adult, and we laughed til we cried, probably because we’re Gen X and appreciated this 80s- and 90s-style teen romp. But also,...
25 days ago • 2 min read
It’s paperback launch day for author and activist Raquel Willis’s memoir, The Risk It Takes to Bloom: On Life and Liberation! Parents of Trans Youth is hosting Raquel for a live conversation about the book on June 30 at 8pm EDT, and I want you there, Reader. “ Structured in seasons — rooting, budding, pruning, and blooming — this memoir is not a story of linear triumph, but of ongoing transformation. With lyrical precision and moral clarity, Willis examines what liberation truly demands: not...
28 days ago • 2 min read
Content warning: violence against transgender women . . . This week, I attended a vigil for Persia Amarra Conway, a transgender woman who was murdered last week in Houston. She is the second transgender woman to be murdered this year in Houston; the first woman’s name is Jade Roberts. I am devastated, angry, and heartbroken - not only from thinking about my transgender friends, but also thinking about my transgender children, and how Persia’s family was treated so horribly by the Houston...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
The Parents of Trans Youth Community (PTYC) application window is open! 🌟What’s PTYC all about?🌟 PTYC is a secure, online space for parents and caregivers who affirm and support their trans kids (of any age). Inside, you’ll find like-minded folks, support in your journey, and peace of mind. 🌟What’s inside?🌟 - Warm, positive energy- 115+ vetted members from all over the U.S. (and around the world!)- Live events every week- Guest expert workshops- Day and evening monthly support groups- 24/7...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Reader, we have a celebrity joining us in June! Join me and Raquel Willis for a live conversation about Raquel's memoir, The Risk It Takes To Bloom: On Life and Liberation. 🗓️Tuesday, June 30⏰ 7:00 pm CDT 💻 Live on Zoom The Risk It Takes to Bloom is a passionate, powerful memoir by a trailblazing Black transgender activist, tracing her life of transformation and her work towards collective liberation. How to join the event: Step 1 - ✍️ Click the button below and fill out the form to get...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
June is just around the corner, which means PRIDE is almost here! LGBTQ+ Pride Month is celebrated in June to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising of June 1969 in New York City, which is considered the catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. The first Gay Pride Liberation March was held in Manhattan on June 28, 1970, one year after the Stonewall Riots. Since then, the LGBTQ+ community has continued to gather together in June with parades, marches, activism, and celebrations. Pride Month...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read