In light of yesterday's US Supreme Court historic ruling, I wanted to share a story I wrote three years ago about a kid I met on one of my NYC tours.
Happy Pride everyone!
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Today I met an adorable curly, strawberry blonde, freckled faced, eye-glass wearing, 16 year old boy named Joseph from Ohio. He was today's Hermione Granger of the group. You know, the one who's always up front, listens intently, and asks me smart questions to keep me on my toes.
While I gathered our group together after our break, Joseph and I struck up a conversation and I asked him about school. He LOVES to write and uses his talent to share the story of his life.
He's transgender.
I figured, but I wasn't sure, and it wasn't any of my business to ask unless he wanted to tell me. And he did. Openly.
We talked about how kids at school can be very hard on him. Some have called him a fag, even though he's straight. Fortunately he has a girlfriend, who is also transgender, which is helpful so they can wade through the hard times together.
And bathrooms, bathrooms, bathrooms!!!
Seriously, what this kid has to go through just to be able to use a bathroom is ridiculous. He wants to use the men's restroom, which he should, since that's the sex that he identifies with. Some of the boys, however, don't feel the same way and shove him out of the bathroom. So he tries to use the unisex one as much as possible to avoid trouble. But to get to it, he has to walk down a long corridor past the other bathrooms and some of the boys hit him on his way there.
The kids also abuse him by grabbing his chest (even though he wears a bandage to hold down his breasts) and grabbing his crotch to "see what he has down there."
I don't care who you are, no one should even think they have the right to touch you without your consent.
This kind of stuff drives me crazy. If Joseph were my kid, well, I don't know how I would cope seeing my kid hurt day in and day out.
By the way, his parents are kick ass. Just lovely people who only want the best for their kid and encourage him to be his best self.
What a gift for any kid.
I'm not sure why Joseph chose to share his life with me, but I'm heartened he felt like he could. Regardless of any of our paths, we all need allies. We all need people who "get us."
Joseph's a sweet, kind teenager who needs love like the rest of us.
Because at the end of the day... Don't we all want to fit in? Don't we all want to feel safe and loved? Don't we all want to feel like we belong?
Me too, friends, me too.
Life is hard enough without all the hate, judgment, and danger. The world needs more love, understanding, and compassion - now more than ever.
Let's find a way collectively to decide EVERY DAY that we are in this life together, because, if not, what's the point?
The picture I've included is a bracelet Joseph gave me at the end of our tour "because it's Pride Month."
I absolutely LOVE it and will cherish it always. This bracelet is a great reminder that no matter what I face in the world to be the best me possible - whatever that is.
Thank you Joseph for feeling safe enough to share your story with me.
And thank you to my beautiful LGBTQ friends and family. This ally LOVES you. Don't let anyone ever dim your light.
With Love, Us
PS. I still have this bracelet after 3 years, and wear to every Pride event I attend.
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