Be an advocate for transgender people. They deserve to live in dignity, too | Opinion
Transgender Awareness Week, observed from Nov. 13-20, is here. It is a time for celebration, but also a time to gather friends and allies around us, for support and love.
As activists, it is our duty to raise the visibility of trans and non-binary people. For allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community to support us, we need to show up, 365 days of the year. We don’t need to be small or quiet to be loved. I wake up, and show up every day, knowing how fortunate I am. I had loving parents and a childhood that taught me that it was OK to be a woman, even though I was assigned “male” at birth. I never had to deny my experience, which kept my soul alive and my self-awareness intact, allowing me to thrive.
I was modeling internationally by the age of 19 and whatever challenges life threw at me, my everyday life as a model helped me deal. I never take my good fortune for granted. If I can help by shining a light and sharing my story, I will.
Raising our visibility is so important, especially now, when trans women are being murdered in record numbers. One of my first memories of Transgender Awareness Week was in 2015, when a beautiful Miami woman, Kristina Grant, also known as Kristina Gomez Reinwald, was the eighth of 21 trans persons to be murdered that year.
The savagery has only gotten worse. Last year saw a total of 44 fatal incidents, making it the most violent year on record for trans and non-conforming people. It sickens me and makes me sad that in 2021, vicious brutality ensues. We need activism when injustice rocks our communities. We arranged a candlelit vigil for Kristina at the Torch of Friendship on Biscayne Boulevard. The media covered it, but Miami police have yet to apprehend the suspect.
This year already has seen almost 50 transgender or gender non-conforming people fatally shot or killed by other violent means in the United States and Puerto Rico, according to the Human Rights Campaign. It takes courage for many trans people just to walk out their front door every morning. Supporting another human being’s inherent dignity should be automatic. It isn’t something we should have to ask for.
I’m proud and honored to be director of LGBTQ and Concierge Services at UHealth Hospital and Clinics at the University of Miami. My role is to ensure that all patients are treated equally, regardless of gender identity and sexuality. I meet with transitioning individuals, offer advice, speak with loved ones and family members and help them navigate UM’s Gender Health Program.
Kristina’s story reminds me every day to be grateful for the fortunate life I have enjoyed. It’s important we honor all of the beautiful trans and non-binary souls whose lives have been taken away for simply being themselves.
Lauren Foster is a Miami-based transgender activist. Transgender Awareness Week ends Nov. 20 with Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual observance that honors the memory of the transgender and non-binary people whose lives were lost in acts of violence.
This story was originally published November 17, 2021 at 6:59 PM.