The mission is not impossible if we can move past our own insecurities to work together. We need not settle for crumbs. We need no longer hide for fear of the discrimination Jenna experienced. We can say no more. We can say being transgender is beautiful, and we have the right to dream. The revolution doesn’t happen alone.

The perpetuation of the mythology that trans women deserve violence because we “deceive” straight men needs to be debunked and put to rest once and for all.

We have been exploring, among other things, how internalized homophobia and transphobia develops from us internalizing the voices of our bullies and then turning those voices onto ourselves and each other. Our internalized bullies police behavior, appearance and actions, judging each other as harshly as we’ve learned to judge ourselves.

What’s the harm in just checking? The transaction proves the checker has a right to ask and to be a judge of the checkee. It puts the checker in the superior position.

Trans people are sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, aunts and uncles. We are best friends and confidants. To suggest that trans people aren’t family-friendly denies the reality of families in America.