As Trans Day of Visibility dawns this year, it’s against a grim background: 2022 is on track to be a record-breakingly bad year for anti-trans legislation in state houses across the country. In Texas, parents are under investigation for helping their children access gender-affirming care (though a judge temporarily halted those investigations, pending a court hearing). South Dakota has become the 10th state in the country to bar transgender girls and women from participating on female sports’ teams. Because of bills attempting to ban access to gender-affirming healthcare for trans youth, a new report from the Williams Institute estimates that more than a third of young trans people are at risk of losing medical care. And these are only a few examples of the bills and laws that have transgender activists raising the alarm on the anti-trans legislation sweeping across the country.
But there is so much more to being transgender than the attacks against the community. And this Transgender Day of Visibility, Teen Vogue talked to trans and nonbinary young people about what brings them joy about their community. Here, read about what six young people love about being trans:
Kameron, 17, he/him
I'd say my favorite part of my trans identity is that it's mine! It's a part of me and I wear it openly and proudly. It has made me stronger and kinder, and has given me so many opportunities. I've made incredible connections because of my identity. The best part is [that] no one can take this away from me. No one can cut me down because I've built myself up. Everything I am is created by me.
Sophie, 24, she/they
I'm able to be myself and access a deeper level of joy than I ever thought was possible for me prior to coming out. I also love being trans and gender fluid because I feel it lets me explore different ways to exist and relate to others — and that those possibilities are pretty much infinite. Before I came out, I felt so boxed in and suffocated by the options that were presented to me by society as ways to exist, as someone who was assigned male at birth. Being trans and gender fluid — and embracing those identities — has helped empower me to figure out what in my life and what ways of existing bring me the most joy. Not feeling cut off by arbitrary gender roles and stereotypes … helps me thrive.”
Samual, 16, he/him
One of the main things that brings me joy as a trans person is meeting other people just like me. Another thing that brings me joy is educating people on what it means to be trans for me and so many others — especially [where I live] in Arizona.
Daniel, 14, he/him
As a transgender person, what brings me joy is seeing other trans youth and trans adults flourish, and being happy in their day-to-day life. It also beings me joy seeing parents supporting their transgender kids in all aspects of life.
Fischer, 12, she/her
The friends I met through field hockey and the way that they have supported me bring me joy.
River, they/them
I think a gem about being trans is the fearlessness of being fully yourself in all aspects of your identity, not just gender. I feel a great sense of pride in the impeccable and beautiful style, personality, and capacity for love that flourishes in the trans community.
Elliot, 18, he/him
My dog makes me really happy. It was just his birthday and I got him a new bed, a new hoodie, a new collar, and an ice cream cone from Dairy Queen.
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