Transgender Awareness Week is a time to learn and raise awareness about transgender experiences. In this blog post, we’ll explore some important terms related to transgender identities and share empowering stories that showcase the strength and resilience of the transgender community. By understanding these terms and celebrating diverse experiences, we can contribute to creating a more inclusive society.
Understanding some transgender terms:
Transgender: Transgender individuals are people whose gender identity doesn’t match the sex they were assigned at birth. They may identify as male, female, or non-binary, and their journey involves embracing their true selves.
Cisgender: Cisgender people have a gender identity that aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, if someone is assigned female at birth and identifies as a woman, they are cisgender.
Non-binary: Non-binary people don’t exclusively identify as male or female. They may identify as both, neither, or another gender altogether. Non-binary folks challenge the traditional idea of gender and embrace a wide range of identities.
Gender Dysphoria: Gender dysphoria refers to the distress or discomfort some individuals experience when their gender identity doesn’t match their assigned sex at birth. It’s important to approach gender dysphoria with empathy and understanding.
Sharing Inspiring Personal Stories:
We are sharing excerpts from two stories from our archives. We believe it is important to celebrate the courage and victories of transgender individuals through their personal stories.
It is also important to acknowledge and address transphobia, including within the queer community.
Wahira LaBelle
Meet Wahira LaBelle, a revolutionary East African sister currently living in the United States who faced many obstacles on her journey to self-acceptance. Despite encountering prejudice and discrimination, she stayed true to herself and now advocates for transgender rights, inspiring others along the way.
Queer Ethiopia: What was your self discovery journey like?
Wahira: Growing up in a radical Muslim community in a small Somali village, I knew I was different from a very young age. After years of mixed feelings of shame and a desire for self-discovery, I decided to migrate and ended up in refugee camps in Kenya. I finally figured that I was not alone. Learning that there are other trans people around the world, I was able to come to terms with the fact that my difference was something tangible, something that has also been experienced by other people and something that I could understand and celebrate. And that’s when I decided to fully accept myself regardless of all the risks that come with being different.
The full interview can be found here.
Melat and Ruth
Melat and Ruth are two Ethiopians who live in Addis Ababa and who identify outside the gender binary of male and female. They share their experiences in a discussion with Ethioqueer Podcast. The discussion gives us insight into the various ways that people identify and express their genders, and it is useful to help us better understand the limitations of languages and cultures in expressing and discussing our gender.
The podcast can be found here.
Transgender Awareness Week is a time to learn, empathize, and celebrate the transgender community. By understanding transgender terms and embracing diverse personal stories, we can contribute to a more inclusive society. It is also important to acknowledge and address transphobia, including within the queer community. Let’s work together to educate, raise awareness, and foster a more inclusive environment that respects and supports transgender individuals. By standing united against discrimination, we can create a future where everyone can live authentically, safely, and with dignity.
