Rural Trans Friends- We See You! 🌈 💜

A collage of photos from pre-pandemic Pride Family events. (Top right: Families sit at picnic tables during the Pride Family Cookout; [center] An adult kisses their kiddo on the forehead. The youth is smiling while the adult holds a sign that reads "Luckily, my kid is trans, too." [Right] A child wearing a "Black Lives Matter" shirt looks down at a rainbow streamer he is holding. [Bottom left] A sweet couple snuggles while standing up outside. [Bottom 2] A child in a dress is facing away from the camera while swirling rainbow streamers. [Bottom 3] "RESIST!" is written in colorful chalk on the sidewalk.)

Thumbnail Image from Jonas Fricke: [A photo of a handmade drawing. Concentric circles in abstractly varying vibrant colors begin at the edges of this square photo and culminate in the center with a yellow circle. The words "PROTECT AND HONOR TRANS LIVES" are handwritten in hollow letters on top of the entire drawing.]

March 31, 2021

Dear Out in the Open friends, 

It’s Trans Day of Visibility, y’all!  If you’re an internet-dweller like me, you’ve probably seen some messages mentioning that already. And if you’re trans like me, you might have a variety of feelings today. 

Over the years I’ve had a lot of reactions to being trans on Trans Day of Visibility. I’ve panicked—afraid someone would associate it with me. I’ve tentatively posted “ally” messages—watching carefully to see how people in my circles reacted. I’ve resented it—sick of being asked questions and feeling like I had to constantly explain myself ("OK, but WHY do you need to call me a gendered title 4 times just to get my internet connected!?"). I’ve ignored it—life is busy, and I’m not a big “commemorative day” celebrator, anyway. 

But this year, I’m feeling a strong desire to celebrate our brilliant community. Those who want to be visible—youth, elders, and transcestors—and the many who’ve been ignored, hidden, and misgendered throughout so-called history and today.

As a trans-led organization working with rural trans and queer people, Out in the Open celebrates past, present, and future resistance to trans erasure and systemic oppression. On TDOV this year, let’s turn toward trans and queer futures, toward possibility. Let’s focus on the joy and celebration of trans lived experience. Let’s come together to work for collective liberation and power for all genders. 

How? I’m glad you asked!

• Listen & learn from the new Out in the Open Radio Hour (released today!) with a moving interview with Ben Power from the Sexual Minority Archives: I'm Still Here- Creating trans + queer intergenerational community and choosing rural life

• While you’re there, stay to hear Lucy Webb, our fabulous guest host and board chair, talk with Jo Lum about the inherent magic of trans people, the intersections of rural queerness & summer camp, and more!

• Get in touch to learn about our Rural Trans & Queer Health Justice working group, the Trans Femme Chill Club, the Rural QTBIPOC Binder Giveaway, and the Rural Queer Community Care Network.

• Make a donation to invest in building rural trans visibility, knowledge and power. (Consider signing up as a monthly donor so we can count on you- not just today, but all year long!) --Click here to do the thang.

Today is a wonderful opportunity to show the trans people in your life that you support their visibility AND are invested in their power.

To our rural trans siblings—we know that visibility can feel good and feel complicated. You don’t have to be “out.” You don’t have to answer questions. We just want you to know that we see you and we’re with you. We’re out here too and we’re living our lives—in the woods, in small towns, at the ends of roads rutted with mud—and beyond. So let's keep being ourselves, sharing, learning, and loving— today and every day.

With deep gratitude for all of the ways you show up in and for our communities,

~Ain

Ain Thompson

Director of Development & Outreach
Out in the Open