By Jenna Bowyer
The words “respect” and “dignity” have, this past week especially, been used in place of positive avowal by those who’re actively removing our hard-fought rights, turning our lives upside-down, politely.
In place of affirmation (trans women are women, trans men are men, non-binary people exist and are valid), we receive hollow words and waiting games.
We are the same as we were before the ruling. The cells that have grown to heal our wounds, both mental and physical, remain ours, unchanged by words, laws, or hatred.
The initial fear, shock and deep sadness have, in many ways, transformed to anger-emboldened positive action, strength and unity. Not just long-standing allies, but the wider public, are now seeing the effects of hostile actions we’ve been warning of for over a decade.
Yes, things may get far worse before they get better, but there’s a lot of hope to hold on to! Tough times temper us. They focus us on creating firmer bonds, on demonstrating and hardening our resilience and rebuilding more strongly after the fires have subsided.
No matter the challenges the future brings, we persist and grow. Our values remain unchanged, untarnished, unshaken.
I still believe in a future where all social minorities are truly understood and respected.
I still fight to empower women.
I still am, a woman.
As Millisent Fawcett said, “Courage calls to courage everywhere, and its voice cannot be denied”.