fix your hearts. or die.

when you became denise, i told all of your colleagues, those clown comics, to fix their hearts or die.
- david lynch as gordon cole, "twin peaks: the return" (2017)

today, of course, is trans day of visibility. it is one hell of a time (derogatory) to be marginalized in this nation. the smallest groups of people, who wish nothing but to be able to live their damn lives as their consciences see fit, have become the target of unceasing, frothing, completely incorrect, and incredibly violent rage spewed by the worst of us, who just so happen to have their hideous little hands on the levers of power. but i am not going to give the bad people the attention they demand and feel entitled to. [it's not enough that you bastards want to hurt people, you demand to be loved and adored and never ever questioned or challenged when you do, you absolute demons.]

today, i am giving money to help trans kids in my community, but i am talking to cis people. trans people all know what the score is - they are not the problem.

this is the no-brainer-est no-brainer in all of society: leave people alone to be who they are. this should not be an issue. this should not be a partisan thing, it should not be a thing at all! but that's not the world we're in. so we don't have the luxury as cis people of conscience to sit around and just hope people will come around. they won't. and i further believe it is not the responsibility of trans people to perform for society to justify their right to live. it is not safe for some people to be visible as trans folks. and even if it is, not everyone wants to be defined by a part of their personal story that might have been traumatic.

put plainly: the failure of our society to treat trans people well is cis people's fault.

that sounds harsh. it kinda is. but we are in a dire time and need to speak honestly. and we need to recognize our shortfalls and repair them. so on this trans day of visibility, i see it as my responsibility to take the onus of the work off the shoulders of my trans friends and neighbors. it is my job to use the advantages society unfairly gives me to scream to the rafters on behalf of those who are getting stepped on for no damn reason. and if doing the right thing just because it's right isn't enough, know this: they never stop. this is just the beginning. if we don't shut these bastards down, there are plenty of examples in history of what happens next.

trans friends and readers: i promise to use what weapons i have to fight for you. you deserve peace, happiness, and a lifetime of regular days moving around your town doing the stuff you need and want to do in a regular way without fear or concern. and it's our job to build that with and for you. bottom line.

cis folks, we have three jobs today:
1. donate money to support trans causes that help your neighbors live free.
2. make a phone call to a leader and advocate for your neighbors.
3. make a plan to keep this energy all year long.

fix your hearts. or die. it's that simple.