A Message to People with Trans Parents
Reflection by Annastasia Martineau, People with Trans Parents Care Team, regarding a Williams Institute report on the Impact of the Trump Administration on Transgender Parents and their Children:
A little over a year ago, my mom and I were talking, and she asked me, “The other COLAGErs up in Canada you know, is there anyone who would be able to host me for a little while, just in case I have to leave?” It wasn’t a question I was ready to hear, but my family started to make a plan. She was able to get a passport with her correct gender marker and name, which arrived in the mail just days before the Supreme Court changed the policy. We talked about housing options, contacted friends, and got together a go-bag that we hoped would never be used.
At the same time, the overarching message wasn’t one of defeat. It was “we have been here before, and we will continue to survive.” I have always been taught that all trans people are family, and that our family and our elders before us have already been surviving and fighting long before this administration, as we will continue to do so after it has passed. As was highlighted in this study, many trans parents believe in both the importance of increasing their children’s exposure to positive images of the LGBTQ+ community and engaging in more direct advocacy work. It’s the same message I try to give our younger PTP at COLAGE, who often come with questions about unsupportive teachers, friends, and neighborhoods.
It’s okay to be scared. We are human, and times are scary. But we are also not alone, especially thanks to organizations like COLAGE, which continue to build power through community. Whether it’s through Zoom, email, or in person, know that we are right here with you, and we are not giving up. Trans families will ALWAYS exist.
In solidarity,
Annastasia Martineau (she/her), People with Trans Parents Care Team
