Category: love

Ways You Can Help Trans, Non-binary, and GNC People

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

Updated on Oct 30, 2018

Content note: this post contains anti-trans sentiments, fucking cishet patriarchy bullshit, food, suicide/crisis hotline & violence mentions. If you need help, you can call 877-565-8860 (US), 877-330-6366 (Canada), or find resources in your country here. Unless I know someone’s pronouns, I use ‘they’ to be most neutral.

trans flag with purple text boxes on top and white text: "Ways You Can Help Trans, Non-binary, and GNC People" - "Chronic Sex"

I’ve been meaning to write this post for a few days. Honestly, I couldn’t bring myself to sit down and really work on it, though.

There are over a million and a half (roughly) trans, non-binary, or gender non-conforming people in the United States. Unfortunately, we’re far from tolerated – people want us dead. This is not embellishment by any means. We’re very rightly afraid for our lives and well-being.

Along with removing trans people from the health department site, the Department of Justice has told the Supreme Court that discriminating against trans people in the workplace doesn’t violate federal law. And, now, this administration is trying to strong-arm the United Nations to change ‘gender-based violence’ to ‘violence against women,’ effectively eliminating protections for us around the world.

We have very few rights around the world as it is, and it’s terrifying to see people willing to roll them back. You can’t say you’re doing things to protect the country while attacking literally everyone who isn’t a allocishet dyadic abled rich while man.

I know that people are wondering what we can do in the face of this stuff. Well, like I did last year for natural disasters, I did what I do best – pulled together ways you can help. I hope to keep this post updated for the foreseeable future while we’re facing terrifying odds, and will add a note at the top with when I’ve last updated.

 

photo of people at a rally with a transparent purple overlay and white text: "ACTION"

 

VOTE

I know not everyone is able to vote. I won’t shame y’all for that, but apathy? That won’t do. Until the purge starts (which is a terrifying thought), the most power we have is through exercising our rights to vote, protect, and speak up. Please do so.

There are a record number of trans and queer candidates this year. Take a minute and seee if any trans candidates are up for election in your neck of the woods.

Contact Your Reps

A super easy way to do this is through ResistBot. All you have to do is text RESIST to 50409 – or send it to them via Facebook Messenger – and they’ll help you contact your local and national officials. What I really like about this is that it makes it easy to keep in touch with officials. They’ll also text you to remind you to speak up, and that’s pretty great for us brain fog peeps.

Of course, if you can visit or call on your own, that’s awesome, too! You can double check who you’re represented by here.

As a quick heads up, email isn’t as effective even though it’s easy. That’s why I like ResistBot and how they turn your text into calls or faxes.

Whatever way works best, just make sure to do it.

Educate Yourself

There are a lot of people who would like to be better allies to the trans/GNC community. The best way to do that is either to ask one of us open to sharing information with you or educate yourself. It shouldn’t always be on a marginalized group to educate privileged people about their oppression, especially when there are so many resources out there if you search correctly or find the right kinds of sites to learn from.

GLAAD has a great primer on how to be a better ally. I’ve got a post about genders you should check out, too.

Other sites that have great pieces:

Educate Others

After you’ve learned about trans issues, take steps to correct misconceptions. Take a stand because, unless people learn, we can’t move forward. When you hear transphobic/misic remarks, spend time to share the true with people.

Sometimes, that means speaking up in public. Other times, that might mean being the uncomfortable voice of truth at Thanksgiving. Honestly, it’s the best way to feel like you’ve earned pie!

Speak Out

Come with us to rallies and protests. Go with us when it’s dangerous. Check in on us.

Use any privileges you have – especially if you’re cis – to tell people about how gender isn’t a binary, immigrants aren’t evil, and more.

Standby

When we’re able to formally comment against the legislation, we’ll need allies to help make an impact. You can follow the Transgender Law Center for more information on Facebook, Twitter, or through their site or email list.

Volunteer

You can find spaces near you to volunteer, thanks to The Trevor Project.

 

 

photo of change in the background with a transparent purple text box and white text: "DONATE"

 

Continue reading “Ways You Can Help Trans, Non-binary, and GNC People” →

Allowing Ourselves to Feel Our Feelings

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

A few years ago – when I was still doing talk therapy – I brought T with me a couple of times. I felt like there was tension we needed to talk out, and I was right. It just wasn’t the tension I was expecting.

TW for abuse, shitty parenting, emotional incest, self-harm

dark blue background with teal bubbles and white text: Allowing Ourselves to Feel Our Feelings - and teal text: Chronic Sex; on right, photo of a white person covering their mouth

Growing up, I’ve always been that person who tries to cheer everyone up. It’s a habit that developed early in life. Living between two combative abusers, I learned very quickly that they were less likely to cause harm if they were happy. Naturally, then, anytime they were sad or upset, I would do my darnedest to cheer them up.

It’s a large part of why I’m such a sticker around rules, too. If rules are followed, rule-makers don’t harm us, right? (Of course, the political activist in me shudders at that sentence and wants to vomit, but it is what it is I guess?)

Of course, that also meant hiding a lot of my own feelings for the ‘benefit’ of others. For a long time, I had two moods – happy and brooding. When I was happy, I would dance to the latest radio pop and hip-hop songs. When I wasn’t, I listened to a lot of Linkin Park and the beginnings of screamo.

It’s hard to find healthy coping mechanisms in a space full of harm. When I got out and away from my family, I still had to deal with a lot of abuse. It wasn’t until four years ago when I cut contact with my mother that I actually was able to start healing.

The euphoria of that separation, of cutting off codependency and emotional incest, combined with getting married was something I was able to ride for a long time. As they always do, though, that high wore off. I began to realize that I wasn’t as healed as I thought. That’s when I started therapy which helped for a little while.

Continue reading “Allowing Ourselves to Feel Our Feelings” →

Pick Up Women’s Health This Month!

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

If you take a look at the latest copy of Women’s Health magazine, you’ll see a familiar face around page 156.

two photo collage on a black background; 1-cover of the May 2018 issue of Women's Health with Anna Farris; 2-photo of Kirsten leaning on Theron’s shoulder in the magazine

T and I are in the magazine talking about how we make love work with depression and other mental illness. Our blurb is small, but it means so much to me.

Sometimes we forget the impact we have on others just by sharing our own stories. This was a much-needed reminder to keep telling my truth.

I picked up a couple extra copies, so let me know if you want one and I’ll be happy to send it out.

Photo of my hand, featuring my silver band with a sapphire, interlocked via pinky with T’s

What a High Pain Day Taught Me About Hiding My Illnesses

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

TW: mentions of covert incest. This first appeared on our Medium publication page in November 2016.

I have always been someone who takes care of others.

It’s something that I have had to do.

Growing up in an abusive home, I had to take care of everyone — more emotionally than physically, but both for sure. I was the emotional partner for my mother, something called Covert Incest.

Because of that, I’ve always been incredibly independent. I have never wanted anyone else to feel like they had to take care of me. That goes double for my marriage, frankly.

Part of it is that I internalized the ableism that goes along with someone marrying a chronically ill/disabled person. I mean, after all, the expectation is that the ‘well’ one has to take care of the ‘sick’ one. Between that and my independence, I have never wanted my partner to feel like he had to take care of me.

He recently had LASIK and then got a cold a few weeks later, so I’ve been used to taking care of him. It wasn’t even a thing that I was worried about. He needed care and I was here. I mean, DUH.

Lately, maybe because of being more of a caregiver, I have been better about sharing and showing how I am doing and, in turn, my partner has been incredibly understanding and helpful.

Sunday morning, I woke up with intense stomach pain at 3 AM. It was clear that I needed to use the bathroom, so I did so. I spent a while in there, crying because the stomach pain was so bad. Frankly, I was wiping as quickly as I could because I was in so much pain that I thought I would puke, too.

It was not a proud moment.

By the time I was done, 20 minutes had elapsed. My stomach was still in an incredible amount of pain, so I went to the couch instead of my bed. I didn’t want to wake T up and, besides, I wasn’t sure sleep would visit me again.

It did, eventually.

When I woke up again, I was sure that I would be in a ton of pain. I wasn’t, which was perplexing, but I wasn’t going to question it, either.

And then, it happened.

A brick wall with an overlay that says ‘fuck this pain’ and a fancy curly doodle underneath

Over the course of a short time — something under five minutes — my pain went from not-an-issue to holy-fucking-shit-why.

Everything got heavy. I was barely able to hold up my phone. My muscles felt like what I assume they would feel like if I was able to run a marathon or do the Ironman.

I couldn’t hide it.

T asked if I was tired and I explained what was going on.

“What can I do? Ice packs? Biofreeze?”

Without hesitation, he jumped in and helped with whatever I thought might be helpful. A few minutes later, he had grabbed the Biofreeze and we slathered my arms. He snagged me an NSAID, too.

I don’t care if I can’t do much with my legs, but being unable to do much with my arms is a problem.

Within probably 30–45 minutes of the onset of the pain, I was asleep.

When I woke up, the initial pain was eased. My muscles were still in an incredible amount of pain, though.

T took me to our bedroom and asked what he could rub to help. He rubbed my hands, my feet, and my knees.

I apologized to him for all of this. I’m so good at stepping in and taking care of him, he said. He figures that I know how to best take care of myself, so it’s not a thing.

“But I’m always here to help when I can.”

In that moment, I realized a lot.

As vulnerable as so many applaud me for being, I still have a long way to go. I’m not nearly as vulnerable as I pretend I am.

I try to not let others see my illness fun firsthand. When I’m feeling bad and T’s at work, I talk on social media but rest. I write about what I’m going through, but in a safe space — at home, usually alone, and usually feeling slightly better than the time period I’m writing about.

This goes double for when I am sick at home. I cancel calls or FaceTime meetings with friends. I hide the extent of my illnesses from everyone — even T.

I have to stop pretending that I’m fighting against my illnesses on my own. The reality is so far from that — I am surrounded my love and support, and nowhere else is that true than at home.

Black and white photo of a bride and groom dancing

Why It’s Hard for Me to Communicate on my Illnesses and Pain

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

A few months ago, my husband and I had our first real fight after nearly a decade of being together. It had to do really with my lack of communication on how I’m doing. As much as I help others with communication skills within relationships, I’m not great at verbally communicating my own illness fun. It’s how I started writing about everything so, ya know… I just wrote this to him as a way to share more of my feels. This piece originally appeared on our Medium publication in February.

Hey love,

I know it’s hard for you to see what I’m going through. Invisible illnesses don’t make it easy for people to see all the ways they impact my life. I’ve gotten pretty good at coping with my illness fun, too, which doesn’t make it easy to tell when I’m struggling. Like a prey animal, I hide when my pain increases because it makes me vulnerable. I become an easy target for people to mock or harm.

Despite all this work I do with others on communication, I’m not great at it myself. I know that if I communicated what I’m dealing with better, it would improve both of our lives. It’s hard, though.

Just like showing my illness fun is vulnerable, talking about it is, too… except on steroids.

It’s easy and commonplace for me to notice my own pain or how my illnesses are being exacerbated on any given day. I have to do this in order to survive my day. Living is full of calculations for me —

Which extra medications do I take at which times? When do I use the ‘big gun’ medicines? Which of my non-medicinal relief methods can help, and in which order should I use them?

This has all become as natural to me as breathing.

Everything I do and experience is colored by pain and illness, even on the best days. When I talk about all of this, it reminds me how sick I am. It’s just a reminder of how differently you and I experience life. I know that my illnesses and pain doesn’t mean I’m lesser than you. Still, my depression and anxiety love to play on that.

It makes me scared, too. I get scared about how sick I am and how many more rough than easy days I have lately. I fear for what this means for my future — our future. My anxiety takes over and wonders:

Are my medications working? Do we have to switch again? I’m running out of options. How long will I live, then?

And then I wonder how long you’ll stay.

You say you won’t leave. Part of me knows you won’t. Still… there is so much evidence against relationships and illness. I can’t help but worry about this. How sick can I get before you decide it’s too much, even if you don’t tell me?

When I can’t cope as well with all this, it also makes me feel like a failure.

I’ve been sick since I was five. I’m so adept at hiding how painful existing is for me. Even physicians often don’t believe how pained I am because I smile and laugh.

The truth is, if I didn’t do those things, if I didn’t hide how I’m doing, I wouldn’t survive. If I had to talk about every single thing I endure and the pain I experience, it would remind me of how subpar all this makes me feel. It’s not easy on my mental health.

I know that my lack of communication sometimes makes living with me difficult. I promise that I will work on communicating better, even if we use code words for things. I will try to be more open about how I’m doing, what I can do, and what I need.

But I need something from you.

When I talk about my pain and illness state, please listen. Ask me questions. Hold my hand. Hold me. Recognize how hard I’m trying to break this habit of hiding.

It isn’t easy and it won’t happen overnight, but I’m trying.

Urgent: Disabled Queer Women or Non-Binary Peeps!

Urgent: Disabled Queer Women or Non-Binary Peeps!

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

Dear ones,

Our friend Carrie Wade, an amazing writer for Autostraddle, is looking to gather some information on the love in our lives for an upcoming piece on the site.

If you’re a disabled queer woman or non-binary person, please head over to Google Forms to join in on the fun. Note that there is a moveable light at the top of the form that becomes invisible quickly but can be still alarming.

Please do this by Monday, December 19.