Today's 2017 edition of National Coming Out Day is a bittersweet one because of the incompetent jerk in the White House. The incompetent jerk has unfortunately surrounded himself with even more incompetent people who are hostile to my existence as an unapologetic Black trans person
Because that incompetent, unqualified jerk got elected, we went from having an attorney general in Loretta Lynch who had our trans backs to one in Jeff Sessions who wants to put a knife in those backs before shoving us back into the closet.
Nope, going to fight him, 45, the faith based haters, the TERF's and his reprehensible crew every step of the way. I will outlast this latest round of GOP tyranny. And news flash for my Texas trans hatemongers Dan Patrick and Lois Kolkhorst, I'm not going back in the closet or using a men's bathroom.
You may be asking yourself why come out during a time like this? It's the same reason Sylvia and Marsha did so. It's the same reason that Christine Jorgensen transitioned. It's the same reason why other trans masculine and trans feminine people throughout our history have done so.
It's the same reason why my people have fought for liberation against the anti-Blackness that has plagued us for over four centuries.
If you want that quality life, you have to fight for it. Being trans (or bi, lesbian, gay...) is a revolutionary act. It is also one that not only will free you to live your best life, but is one that will help you own your power as my NBJC sister in the struggle Sharon Lettman-Hicks loves to say.
They also resent the fact that we are comfortable in our skins or are well along the path of becoming that way and want to throw obstacles in our way to make us as miserable as they are.
And if you are, come out on your timetable. Just because this is National Coming Out Day doesn't mean you need to do so today.
As for me, I was one of those people who didn't come out on National Coming Out Day. It took me a while to get to the April 1994 point in my life that I finally did so, and haven't regretted it. If I have regrets, it's basically not being able to start the process sooner as so many of our trans kids are able to do now.
I have gotten to meet some amazing people along the way inside and outside the TBLGQ community. Some are fellow activists, some aren't, but the are people who I have mad love and respect for.I'm blessed to have a diverse sistah circle who have no problem checking me when necessary. I'm blessed to have friendships that cross international borders.
That probably wouldn't have happened if I hadn't taken that first tentative step into Terminal C and went through that first nerve wracking week as moi.
While my life has also been challenging at times, the wonderful experiences outweigh those times my my smooth ride down the highway of life hits a pothole.
Happy National Coming Out Day! And happy first step to writing the next chapter in your amazing story.
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