Discussions around trans issues can be really depressing. There is a good reason for this despite the culturally fabricated "transgender tipping point," trans people face significant hardships. For instance, the average life expectancy for a trans woman of color in the Western Hemisphere is a mere 35. Facts like that are incredibly sobering and are things we should always keep in mind.
However, we shouldn't forget to also celebrate trans lives. Trans people are beautiful and resilient, and that is something that deserves to be celebrated. In the spirit of celebrating trans lives, here is a list of eight completely badass trans* people.
1. Janet Mock.
Janet Mock is the author of "Redefining Realness: My Path To Womanhood, Identity, Love, and So Much More," in which she discusses her experience growing up poor, black, and trans as well as the intersection of all those identities. I first heard of Janet Mock a few years ago, when I was going through my own process of self-discovery. Reading her work was incredibly emotional for me, as before her, I had never even seen another trans woman. She currently has a show on MSNBC, in which she discusses social issues as they relate to pop culture.
2. Laverne Cox.
Laverne Cox is probably the most well-known trans person after Caitlyn Jenner. She is one of the few visible trans actors working today. The role she is probably most known for is Sophia Burset on "Orange is the New Black." On top of that, she is the first and only trans person to be on the cover of Time magazine. She currently speaks at events around the country, discussing her experience as a trans woman of color.
3. Jen Richards.
Jen Richards is an activist and a writer. She recently wrote and starred in "Her Story", a web series about dating as a trans person. It is one of the few examples of media that is created by trans people, for trans people. She also has her own YouTube channel, where she discusses various trans-related topics.
4. Kye Allums.
Kye Allums was the first openly trans NCAA athlete when he played for George Washington University. He is now an activist who speaks at campuses about being a trans athlete. He has written a book titled, "Who am I?: Poems and Letters," in which he discusses his identity.
5. Kat Blaque.
Kat Blaque is a trans YouTuber who discusses various social justice issues. Starting out as a blogger in 2010, her platform has continued to grow over the years. On top of making videos, she is also a writer. Her work has appeared on sites such as BuzzFeed, the Huffington Post, Upworthy and Everyday Feminism. She has discussed things like the history of whiteness in America, using the bathroom as a trans person and transphobic comedy tropes.
6. Julia Serano.
Every trans person should, at one point in their lives, read Julia Serano's work. Her book, "Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity," is a detailed study of "transmisogyny," the mix of transphobia and misogyny that trans women experience. She has also written "Excluded: Making Feminist and Queer Movements More Inclusive," in which she discusses gender and sexuality policing within queer spaces.
7. and 8. DarkMatter (Alok Vaid-Menon and Janani Balasubramanian).
DarkMatter is a South-Asian, non-binary performance art duo. Their art focuses on several social and political issues. A major topic they seek to address is the racism of the mainstream LGBTQ rights movement. You can find some of their work on their YouTube channel.
