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ww.png"><figcaption><a href="https://unsplash.com/@gmalhotra">https://unsplash.com/@gmalhotra</a></figcaption></figure><p id="ebe7">…and I hope to see you in the crowd.</p><p id="3643"><b>Emma Holiday</b></p><p id="8a10">Thank you for reading my work.</p><p id="4b4c">Please also read:</p><div id="9b2a" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/why-do-i-need-to-transition-f490bd9f4ce"> <div> <div> <h2>Why Do I Need to Transition?</h2> <div><h3>Discovering late in life that I am transgender has created an endless series of questions that I never would have…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*9lV2lQJP2VUoZQR2CQhBFw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="703c" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-butterfly-transition-34769e96f4d4"> <div> <div> <h2>The Butterfly Transition</h2> <div><h3>On the verge of ripping open my transgender “chrysalis” and finally being me…</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*IB785o3Z1W8Igex00Evj_A.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="d7db" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/freedom-a3c09d8e1bcb"> <div> <div> <h2>Freedom!</h2> <div><h3>Why do I need to physically transition?</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*tghY4l5nGvcLGsuD6y7D1g.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="447c"><i>Writers note: If you have read any of my writings on Medium you will have noticed a definite theme: the incredible pain of gender dysphoria and all the difficult aspects of just being transgender.</i></p><p id="fb72"><i>My writing has three specific goals:</i></p><p id="ad28"><i>1. Writing is my therapy. I have a very limited outlet for my thoughts so I write to find a way to process the most profound experience in my life. I need to understand and I need to accept myself to move forward.</i></p><p id="52a8"><i>2. Being transgender, for me, is a very lonely existence and if I can share some of t

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he things that I feel and think as I go through the process of transitioning with others who are transgender and, in some way, lessen their pain and sense of loneliness, then all of this public exposure of my personal thoughts is not a waste.</i></p><p id="71ee"><i>3. I write to help cisgender people understand that all trans people want is to be simply understood, accepted and treated as a normal person. We are.</i></p><figure id="4ff9"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*-gCct8jYXvRkUHIy9l8z6Q.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p id="7855">This story is a response to the Prism & Pen writing prompt, <a href="https://readmedium.com/lepers-or-loved-lgbtq-new-year-beginnings-b36e8727b368?sk=96238fed6da7b6b011f3cb2092e71387"><b>Lepers or Loved: LGBTQ New Year Beginnings</b></a><b>.</b></p><div id="a35c" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/lepers-or-loved-lgbtq-new-year-beginnings-b36e8727b368"> <div> <div> <h2>Lepers or Loved: LGBTQ New Year Beginnings</h2> <div><h3>A Prism & Pen writing prompt</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*uKDPIxiLxXZHPpgeQh2IAQ.png)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><h2 id="8387">Other stories so far →</h2><div id="029b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/our-queer-future-is-already-here-f778c3fc4108"> <div> <div> <h2>Our Queer Future Is Already Here</h2> <div><h3>It’s just not very evenly distributed</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*JDrLaqSCPL_u-rLCIxDGcw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="c19e" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/get-fired-up-top-five-ways-you-can-help-lgbtq-kids-a8ef2ee73676"> <div> <div> <h2>Get Fired Up! Top Five Ways YOU Can Help LGBTQ Kids!</h2> <div><h3>Says Lambda Legal youth advocate Currey Cook</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*NZtBX6vZFcycG5K7NoVkZg.png)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

You Should Feel Sorry for Trans Critics Because Their Hearts Are So Small

Lepers or Loved: LGBTQ New Year Beginnings

When I first started to reconcile with the actual fact that I was transgender, putting aside the shame and hurt it would cause me and those who loved me, I had the sense that those who cared but couldn’t understand would feel pity.

I never wanted pity.

As I have learned from others in the trans community, many will feel pity because I let them, if I show that I am pitiable. Coming out takes courage but it also requires me to realize that this is who I am and I am worth knowing and I am worth loving.

I don’t need or want anyone’s pity. To paraphrase Christine Jorgensen, Nature made a mistake and I have every right to correct it.

I will buy the first round of drinks for my friends and family. They can choose to join me or not but I can’t lie or hide anymore. That would only prove to me that I still feel shame and I that am worthy of their pity.

Not anymore.

There are also the haters, driven by ignorance, fueled by their own internal hatred and justified by of a part of society filled with gender, religious and political bigotry. They ferment hatred and feed off of it. They look to others who share their bigoted ignorance to justify their hatred.

I truly should feel sorry for them because their hearts are so small.

I love RuPaul’s quote:

“I got no time to hate people who hate me. I am too busy loving the people who love me.”

I agree.

By playing into and reflecting that hatred, it only helps to justify their hatred. I am not suggesting being passive but if intelligent discourse is impossible, don’t argue with an idiot. I have always stood up for what I believe is right and I will continue to do so. One of my favorite compliments was when I was called a “moral pit bull” by someone who was trying to insult me.

Cassandra Duffy had a great quote:

“The beauty of standing up for your rights is others see you standing and stand up as well.”

So, this year I hope to finally stand up with the transgender community.

…and I hope to see you in the crowd.

Emma Holiday

Thank you for reading my work.

Please also read:

Why Do I Need to Transition?

Discovering late in life that I am transgender has created an endless series of questions that I never would have…

medium.com

The Butterfly Transition

On the verge of ripping open my transgender “chrysalis” and finally being me…

medium.com

Freedom!

Why do I need to physically transition?

medium.com

Writers note: If you have read any of my writings on Medium you will have noticed a definite theme: the incredible pain of gender dysphoria and all the difficult aspects of just being transgender.

My writing has three specific goals:

1. Writing is my therapy. I have a very limited outlet for my thoughts so I write to find a way to process the most profound experience in my life. I need to understand and I need to accept myself to move forward.

2. Being transgender, for me, is a very lonely existence and if I can share some of the things that I feel and think as I go through the process of transitioning with others who are transgender and, in some way, lessen their pain and sense of loneliness, then all of this public exposure of my personal thoughts is not a waste.

3. I write to help cisgender people understand that all trans people want is to be simply understood, accepted and treated as a normal person. We are.

This story is a response to the Prism & Pen writing prompt, Lepers or Loved: LGBTQ New Year Beginnings.