Letter from the Board
| Dear NTBA Community: For this month’s newsletter, I offer a simple, well-worn reminder: our strength is in our community. The news over the last six weeks have been harrowing; it seems like the backs of the whole world have turned on us. But it’s never been those in power in politics or business or culture that have made progress for us. It’s been us, as individuals and as a collective. So when it feels like the political and cultural winds have shifted, the systems and norms that protect us are breaking down (or being torn down), and our “allies” are turning away from us or even beginning to stand opposed, remember that we don’t need them to survive. We, as a group, have adapted to adversity before, and we will do so again, and again, and again. If that sounds incredibly cliché, like a paraphrase of something you’d hear at a fundraiser when the hat is being passed around—well, you’re not wrong. But the reason why “community” and “togetherness” are buzzwords in our spaces is because they have been integral to our survival as trans people since before the concept of transness existed as such. And in my view, we can never hear about the importance of community enough, because we live in a world where we, as trans people, can never have too much of it. Speaking of clichés, you’re probably expecting me to end this note with a call to action. You’re right. My little call to action is: Go do something, this month, to make, build, or strengthen community with trans or queer people in your life. (In-person preferred, but I’ll excuse it if it’s an awesome virtual event or if you’re otherwise unable to participate in in person community for health/accessibility reasons). Examples might include going to a meetup for trans or queer people in your area (or starting one!), inviting some trans or queer friends over for a movie or game night or crafting session; or going to see a movie or a show with a group of trans or queer folks you want to get to know better. After you do, let us know how it went! Share photos (with the consent of the people in them) or stories! We’ll publish an (anonymized) blurb in the newsletter about it in April. In solidarity and with love, Lilly McGuire NTBA Board Member |
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