These days, you hear a lot about young trans women. My old head, it gets all tangled up with these things. But I try to keep up, you know? It’s a different world now. These young folks, they are somethin’ else.
They say they are born in the wrong body. Lord have mercy. I don’t know nothin’ about that, but I reckon it must be hard. Like wearin’ shoes that are two sizes too small. Just painful, I imagine.
I hear about young trans women wantin’ to change their voices. Some folks are saying it’s like magic, they can do it.
- They say, “Raise your pitch.” Like you’re singin’ a high note, I guess.
- Then, “Make it more nasal.” Talk through your nose, like you got a cold.
- “Hold your tongue forward.” I don’t even know how to do that, sounds strange.
- And they say talk so you feel it in your face, not your throat. Goodness me.
- Keep your mouth small, they also say.
Seems like a lot of work just to talk. But I suppose if it makes ’em feel better, then who am I to judge? Young trans women, they have a lot on their plate.
Some of these young’uns come from all over. Nebraska, Maryland, Georgia, Texas. Places I ain’t never even been to. But they all got the same story, it seems. Tryin’ to find themselves, I reckon. Like a lost puppy tryin’ to find its way home. It’s not always easy, this thing called life. Especially for young trans women.
They talk about “self-discovery.” Sounds fancy, don’t it? I reckon it just means figurin’ out who you are. Like lookin’ in a mirror and finally seein’ yourself for the first time. And these young trans women are just tryin’ to see their true selves.
They say these young folks need “joy.” Well, don’t we all? I reckon joy is like sunshine on a cloudy day. Just makes everything better. And for these young trans women, it sounds like it’s mighty important. They need those happy moments, them times when they feel good about themselves. Like a warm hug from your grandma. That’s what joy is, I reckon. A good feeling in your heart.
Some people are even writin’ books about all this. Focusin’ on the voices of these young folks. I guess it’s important to hear their stories. It’s like listenin’ to the birds sing. Each one has their own song, and they’re all beautiful in their own way. Young trans women have their own songs, too, and we should listen.
They say these young’uns, especially the ones with darker skin, use “creativity.” Like makin’ a quilt out of scraps of fabric. They make somethin’ beautiful out of nothin’. They build their own little communities, their own families. That’s important, especially when you feel like you don’t fit in anywhere else. Especially important for young trans women.
And they face a lot of meanness, these young trans women. People can be cruel, you know? Like a mean old dog barkin’ at everyone who walks by. But these young folks, they keep on goin’. They’re strong, like an old oak tree. They bend, but they don’t break.
I hear folks talk about “allyship.” Sounds like a fancy word for bein’ a friend. Just standin’ by someone, no matter what. Like when your neighbor’s barn burns down, you go and help ’em rebuild it. That’s what these young trans women need. They need folks to stand by ’em.
They say, through all the hard times, there’s still joy. Like findin’ a four-leaf clover in a field of grass. It’s rare, but it’s there. And these young trans women, they find their joy. They become who they’re supposed to be. Like a caterpillar turnin’ into a butterfly. It’s a beautiful thing to see, I imagine. A beautiful thing indeed for young trans women.
I may be an old woman, and I may not understand everything about these young trans women. But I know this: everyone deserves to be happy. Everyone deserves to be themselves. And if these young folks can find their happiness by bein’ who they are, well, then more power to ’em. More power to these young trans women, I say.
Life is hard sometimes, but you can always find the good. Just like a little flower that can grow from a crack on the concrete. That’s something to remember. It is the power of young trans women, I guess. A very beautiful and tough power.
