I want to say something about trans rights.

I want to say something about trans rights, but I don’t know what.

I want to say something about trans rights, but all I know is why it’s important.

I want to say something about trans rights, but not because I know many trans people well.

I want to say something about trans rights because I know so many people who love trans people.

I need to say something about trans rights because my godchild is trans … or nonbinary … or genderfluid … it’s complicated.

It’s complicated because we leave so little space for this in the lives of our children.

It’s complicated because my godchild’s mother is endlessly supportive, but my godchild’s father is violent and opposed.

It’s complicated because teachers will give my godchild whatever space and flexibility are requested, but school districts can’t always be counted on to operate outside their boxes.

It’s complicated because the legal precedents are complicated and antiquated, and Lambda Legal and the ACLU and sometimes the Justice Department are on it, but the landscape is always shifting.

It’s complicated but I’m learning.

I’m learning from amazing activist teachers like Adrian Ballou and Alex Kapitan and emmy.

I’m learning from my best friend, my godchild’s mother, about the frontline struggles of parenting a trans child.

I’m learning by reading and reading and reading.

I’m learning, and I know I have to say something. This is important.

I have to say something, because I love you, my whole multi-faceted, multi-gendered, multi-cultural, multi-faith, multi-lingual human family.

I love you.