not unafraid, but less afraid
The messages of support I received told me that no matter what happens in Ottawa, I will have neighbours who stand with me, my wife, and the rest of the trans community.
It's been a time.
Many of you have found your way here because of a First Person article I wrote for CBC during our past federal election cycle. I am so grateful that you took the time to read it and listen to my perspective. (And if you haven't read it, I hope you will.) I have been very quiet on social media and even put my pages on private for a while, because I was worried about getting hate mail.
I received none.
What I did get, however, was an outpouring of support from people all over the country. I heard from folks, coast-to-coast, cisgender and transgender, queer and straight, older and younger, who affirmed to me that they cared about their trans neighbours and were voting with us in mind.
Boy howdy did that make a difference to my mental health.
I wrote before the election:
I am afraid that under a Conservative government, many people will simply look the other way while our rights and freedoms are clawed back — as has already happened just across the border.
I am not unafraid of that happening, but I am less afraid.
The results of the election literally do not matter to me at all. I would have preferred more progressive representation in parliament. But the messages of support I received told me that no matter what happens in Ottawa, I will have neighbours who stand with me, my wife, and the rest of the trans community.
That matters so much more than any government could.
Anyway, I'm glad you're here. I don't really know what I hope this site will become except a place for me to brain dump and share my artwork. Thank you for joining me. Tell a trans person that you love them. Tell yourself that you love you (even if you don't believe it, because if you say it enough, you will someday).
