Over the last few months I’ve struggled to decide whether I wanted to add anything to the very public and politicized discourse on transness, our existence, and our rights. Even now, I have doubts – what could I even say that hasn’t already been said? Is it right to take up space when people are being ruthlessly abducted and deported, when hospitals are being bombed in an ongoing genocide, when the climate crisis threatens the sustainability of any life here? 

If anyone is reading this, then clearly I’ve decided to go ahead and write this. Because silence and withdrawal don’t do anything for anyone. Because making myself small while having the privileges I have would make me complicit with the anti-trans agenda that denies our existence. And, because if this reaches even one person in a meaningful way, then it’s worth it.

For queer POC, it’s hard to find places that feel affirming and safe, and the act of finding a safe space can be daunting and sometimes makes staying at home seem more appealing. Ideally, having multiple safe environments we can engage in increases the resources around us. In collecting secure places, we are able to be genuine and authentic without holding back. Read for a few tips on how to navigate new spaces and find those that are safe.

Finding a therapist can be a daunting journey, and our initial attempt towards a safe bet might be to google “therapists that share my identities”. But is that enough? Click here for tips on how to find a like-cultured and like-minded therapist.