Transgender Visibility Guide: The Disclosure Continuum
The world is not the same today as it was 20, 10 or even five years ago for transgender people.
For those who transitioned years ago, it was often a danger to do anything but move to another community and begin new lives. The pressure to stay in the closet about a gender transition could become almost as oppressive as the pressures they once felt to hide their true genders. But with a newfound sense of community, more and more transgender people are choosing to live openly and disclose to others their unique stories.
In the past, there were fewer safe options for people who felt confined by the traditional understanding of gender as “either-or.” Today, there are more and more people who choose to identify as neither male nor female and who express their gender in less traditional ways. Regardless of where you fit on the spectrum of transgender identities, you are on a journey that is uniquely yours and that is ongoing. It’s one that can unfold at your own pace and that gets easier with time.
Living openly and authentically doesn’t mean that the sole or even primary aspect of who you are is your gender identity or expression. It just means that this part of your life is as natural and acceptable as your eye color, your height or your personality.
But it’s not just about you. Living openly teaches others that there’s more to gender than they might have ever known. It paves the way for future generations of transgender youth to live better lives. And it shows others, especially those who are biased or judgmental, that their attitudes are theirs alone.
Almost every day, you will face decisions about where, when and how to disclose that you are transgender — or where, when and why not to. Always remember, this is your journey. You get to decide how to take it.
Transgender Visibility Guide
