Tiny Steps Forward (January 10, 2019)

So easily

Our tears are ignored.

As if

We don't matter

To those politicians

In power.

When we struggle

For acceptance and tolerance

Across the rainbow of life.

A courageous solitary mother

Stands alone.

Holds her sign

With proud dignity

Supporting her transdaughter

As she marches

In Toronto's Pride Parade.

Beacon of love and light

Counterbalancing

The hate and darkness

Too many of us

Have experienced.

So much

Has changed

In the past 12+ years.

For people

Like her transdaughter

And myself.

And yet

We’ve barely scratched the surface

Embracing equality for everyone.

In fighting

A transphobic/homophobic

Government of Ontario

That listens to

A regressive minority.

Who believe

Teaching students

In Sex-Ed

About gender identity

And various sexualities

Is corrupting Ontario’s children.

Never realizing

The destructive power

This ignorance has.

As we struggle

With chronic depression

Anxiety disorders

And suicidal thoughts.

One suicide

Is one

Too many.

Regardless

Of the reason

Or cause.

Realize this

More than a third

Of all transgender children

Will/have attempt suicide

Before the age of 20.

I know this

For I was

One of those children.

To do nothing

Means covering our hands

In the blood of innocence.

Therisa © 2019

Author's note: The exact numbers for transgender children and adults, are at best, a
guesstimation, as there is no definite number for the population percentage that identity, as
being transgender.

As some regions of Canada don't differentiate between the cisgender and transgender,
when it comes to suicide, suicide attempt, and suicidal thoughts. There is no hard
number for Canada. Although, various regions and provinces have individual numbers.

Being transgender, the odds are even higher that you'll experience this, especially, if
you have been rejected, by your family and friends.