Santa is probably heading back to the North Pole, but those with presents not needed or can use, are heading back for the biggest return week during the holidays. It’s a simple default of Christmas cheer, giving and then returning presents. Yet for many transgender people, this can be another moment of heighten anxiety.
Cis-Privileges’ are those given privileges most would not think twice about. Need more groceries, go the grocery store. Need your prescriptions, go to the pharmacy. Return some holiday gifts, that means you are heading to the store. Simple enough for the average person, but when that person is Trans, especially those in the beginning stages, it’s a moment of pause. The heart beats faster, you already imagining being mocked, mis-gendered, or worse.
Simply leaving your home for most trans people is a moment of reflection. Some only a few minutes to prepare for the outing, but for many it can be filled with dread or fear. This was the case this week for Calgary, Canadian trans-woman Stankwoski, who after going shopping for herself was told to leave a Calgary Department store as reported originally by Calgary’s City News. Click link below for news coverage.
This in a Canadian City that has been calling on more diversity in it’s local government. A transgender woman puts her hat in the ring for a seat on Calgary city council. Jackie Perez speaks with Anna Murphy of City News, on why she’s choosing now as the time to run and what it means for diverse representation on the ballot.
CALLS FOR MORE DIVERSITY IN CALGARY CITY POLITICS BY CITY NEWS LINK
Given the atmosphere of an area that would deny service for a transgender person, is most certainly in need of diversity.
These stories aren’t new. Last year trending story was of a self identified trans woman arguing with a GameStop sales clerk for mis-gendering her. Even the show ‘What Would You Do’, covered the trials and tribulations of shopping while trans.
I like to believe it’s still possible to do as the Late Harvey Milk asked of all LGBTQ, “Spend your dollars where they are welcomed and nowhere else.” One key to eliminating these “Freedom of Religion” store clerks, is to simply spend your money at shops and businesses that support YOU. Be it your orientation, race, religion or gender. We can all agree that the last person that deserve our hard earned trans dollar is a bigot. Each Trans dollar is POWER, let’s start using it.
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