Just now, I saw a video on Facebook of a brave mother (Debi Jackson) giving a speech about her child, and felt inspired. Her daughter AJ is transgender, and Debi talked about the struggles they faced as a family because of criticism about the choice to let AJ be true to herself. What's so amazing about this video is that this wonderful person is standing up not only for her child, but for everyone who identifies as transgender (and by extension their families)- and she has from the very start. What an open-minded, strong woman.
Another thing I strongly admire about this video is the way Debi addressed her critics. Despite the harsh, disrespectful comments and questions put to her, she maintained a level of dignity I have rarely seen paralleled, and answered in a mature and respectful manner. Some people are simply ignorant- after all, our values are shaped by our peers and our environment- and I find that ignorance often leads to discrimination. When we don't understand something, we may feel threatened or uncomfortable and therefore lash out. I believe that education and understanding is the key to fighting critics and creating positive change in this world.
Love always,
Em xx