Doing the work of Wholeness and Justice

At the recently concluded LGBT+ & People Of Color Global summit, transgender activists representing a variety of Caribbean islands, all lamented of experiencing a pandemic within the COVID-19 pandemic. We have seen some progress with the successful constitutional challenge against outdated and oppressive laws that sought to criminalize intimacy within the LGBT+ community with imprisonment for up to 25 years. However, despite having these laws struck down members of our LGBT+ community are still victimized on grounds of their gender, sexuality, gender presentation and a number of other factors. COVID-19 has not made it easier, without family support and in economic uncertain times many of us remain isolated and lacking resources. Within the LGBT+ community, trans persons are the most affected; experiencing barriers to economic security, food security, home security, redress for Human Rights violations and adequate access to healthcare.  While many of us stood on the steps of the Ha

Passing is a term largely used in Trans culture and lexicon. It is when a Trans person is so successful at their transition that they “pass” for the gender that they want to live as. However, if you ask any Trans person, passing is not just about looking the way that you want to look. It is about smaller things that we do not consider every day. It is training your voice to match your gender, adjusting your gait and hand gestures, changing your vocabulary, your cadence, training yourself how to laugh, or hold everyday items. It is all of these things at once, all the time, while engaging the rest of the world as if it is not on your mind at all.  The more Cis gender you appear, the less threatening you are to others. For homophobic persons, spotting and exposing an LGBTQ person, makes them feel like they have uncovered a sinister conspiracy, at least that is how it comes across to me. I do not claim to speak for every person of trans experience, but mostly people want to pass, because