By Gwendolyn Ann Smith
They say the holidays are the season of giving, yet many transfolks will go wanting this year.
For some transgender folks, the holiday season will be spent in a homeless shelter, or with the barest of holiday cheer. Our younger members may have been turned out of their homes, while others might be struggling through joblessness brought upon them thanks to their gender identity or expression. They may be left to live on the streets of this and other cities, and for them there may be no holiday to celebrate.
Things can be worse still. This will be the third year that Gwen Araujo will not celebrate the holidays with her family. Not in body, anyway. There are many others who, like Gwen, will never see the holiday season again.
It is a pretty bleak picture to paint during a holiday typically associated with hope and joy. I apologize, but it is also reality. These aren't things happening in some far-off place — but right here, in our own back yards.
I've lived though some tough times. One year the only thing I had to mark the season was a sickly pine tree, gained for free from a nearby "big box" store. I had a roof over my head, but my hold on that was scant at best. I had no family to speak of that holiday season. Indeed, this was one of the lowest points in my life.
I would not have made it through that time, I suspect, without the support of others. I had some good friends who helped me to pay my rent and utilities. I had others who did what they could just to help keep my spirits up.
That Spring things turned around for me, but that was a winter I could not have survived without the gifts of others.
That is why I painted such a bleak picture at the beginning of this missive. You may be doing well this holiday season, and life may be pretty good. I certainly hope that it is, trust me.
As the world has largely become more accepting of transgender people, less of us are facing joblessness and homelessness as we once did. If you are one of these folks, please take a moment to count your lucky stars this holiday season. Yet, after you do so, consider those less fortunate.
I not asking you to do much. If you happen to know of any transgender folks who are in need, lend them a hand. Give a little so that they may make it by. A few dollars can always help — but so can a warm meal, a good coat or blanket for those out on the street, or just a few kind words of encouragement if such is all you can spare. We are, after all, a community — and we need to take care of our own.
You can also look at giving on a large scale. Consider some of the transgender organizations out there. They are doing what they can to make things a little better out there. Perhaps you can send in a membership or a donation to some of the many fine groups working for you and those like you. Many of the larger LGBT rights organizations are also working for transgender folks.
I mentioned Gwen Araujo above, and I would be remiss in not mentioning the Gwen Araujo Memorial Fund for Transgender Education, which is administered via the Horizons Foundation.
Giving can be anything you want it to be. You may not be in a position where you have much to give monetarily — but consider giving of your time. Most trans groups always need a helping hand from time to time, and maybe you can bring something to the table they've not had before.
You can even just give a smile, a handshake, a hug. Just show someone out there that you care. When I was facing my biggest challenges, I know that it was just knowing that I wasn't alone that helped keep me going.
They say the holidays are the season of giving — so let's give.
