I've talked about this before. That being an ally means more than just saying, "Hey! I'm an ally!" There is work to be done. Always.
And there are a lot of ways to do that work. Working toward electing people who will protect rights. Providing safe places for people who need them. Writing about causes; trying to reach people and help them gain a better understanding of issues. And opening your wallet and contributing to organizations and people who might need help.
And the landscape has changed on that front. Where money is needed has changed. Brent and I have donated to Planned Parenthood for years. We think they do really good work. I've written about how they helped make Katie a planned pregnancy not two 17 year olds having a baby when we weren't ready. And I know that the fact that I was able to get birth control without my parent's permission is one of the things the Right HATES about Planned Parenthood, but if you don't want abortions, you need to stop unplanned pregnancies, and the way to do that is through education and birth control. They are also the resource that Katie uses in Bend for her HRT. Again, they were there for my family so giving to them is an easy decision.
But a few years ago we made a shift in some of our giving. Though Planned Parenthood helped us and now helps our daughter and is a great resource, it's only a great resource if you can get to one. And if the one you can get to offers the services you need. Which is no longer the case in some states. The laws they were able to enact (even before Roe was overturned) made it harder and harder for people to reach the places they needed to reach to get the services they wanted. So we started also giving to an organization that helps with all aspects of need.
And that's going to be more and more of what is needed. Getting people to places where they can get help. Either temporarily or a permanent move.
Which brings us to this past weekend.
Katie posted a go fund me from a friend of a friend. She's trans and wants to leave Kentucky and move to Bend where her girlfriend lives, and frankly where it's a little easier to be Trans than it is in Kentucky. It's expensive to move cross country and she hasn't been able to save the extra money while using the money she makes to live. I reached out to Katie to get a feel for it. Did she know this person at all? No. But she knows her girlfriend. Okay. Does she trust her girlfriend? Yes. Okay. So I donated and then shared the post. A friend of mine who is really active in the community in San Fransisco did the same.
And then nothing.
Which kind of confuses me. I mean I've posted a few go fund me campaigns in my day. Usually it's for medical treatments and they normally at least get a few reposts. But this one is not moving. Not among her friends (the woman who needs help), not among mine, not among my friend's friends. What is it? It could just be that everyone is struggling right now, and I get that. Inflation has taken a giant bite out of people's extra money. But that shouldn't prevent you from at least sharing it on your feed to hope someone else has a few extra dollars. It could be charity fatigue. So many people need help these days. I hope it's not fatigue. Because if you are tired of people needing help already you are in for a long haul. Because it's going to get so much worse.
Trans folx are going to be facing the decisions to move from areas where the treatment they need to live as who they are is being outlawed, or taken out from insurance coverage, which let's face it even with insurance having a prescription you need to take daily gets to be A LOT. And it is daily. Katie will be medicated until the day she dies. Just like a diabetic needs their insulin, trans folx need their HRT. So I see a future with people needing to move or needing to pay completely out of pocket for treatment that they need. Neither one is cheap.
So until we can get out from under the last grasps of ultra conservatives imposing their will on the rest of us through gerrymandering, pearl clutching and "reasonable people can..." ing, we are going to need to help those getting trampled under those Onward Christian Soldiers who are marching right over them...
Which means, being an ally is an active thing.
Use your vote.
Use your voice.
Use your influence.
And if you can, use your wallet.
We are in for a long fight, and it's going to get worse before it gets better, but I do believe we still have the chance to make it better. We just need to work for it.
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