Trans Day of Visibility and Trans Fatigue

I am tired. In fact, I am more than just tired; I am existentially, emotionally, and physically exhausted. Everywhere I turn, there is transphobia or evidence of it. Every corner of the internet sees transphobes lobbing attacks at my community, even when we’re not the topic of discussion. The comments section of many trans creators is filled to the brim with unwanted discourse, and online spaces are constantly flooded with hate toward trans people.

It is exhausting opening any given social media app only to be slapped in the face with transphobic discourse. I curate my online experience to an obsessive degree because I just want to be able to look at memes and use my time on the internet to decompress from a long day. But time and time again, I am shown that comments sections are places that are not safe for trans people. No matter what the subject matter of a post, if cis people have access to that space they invariably interject their opinions on whatever trans issue of the hour is plunking around in their noggin.

I have seen people stir up discourse on trans athletes in the comments section of a comedian who was talking about trans girls and how much we like pickles. I have seen conversations around trans kids and puberty blockers on posts about coming out in the workplace as adults. Wherever trans people exist, cis people take the opportunity…