I Write for Trans Rights

Right now, New Zealand is going through a very anti-LGBTQIA+ time. Recently, they've proposed a new bill totally erasing trans, non-binary, and intersex individuals by writing a woman exclusively refers to a biological female and a man exclusively as a biological male. Even in my school, we are not allowed to make any mention of pride month, any orientations or gender labels. Hell, we don't even have a pride WEEK. We have fucking inclusivity week which is supposed to highlight how "unique" we all are when it's really just a distraction from a bigger issue that is the further marginalization and silencing of minorities. It's quite bad honestly, and it saddens me to see my country become like this since I have always praised it for being an accepting place.
I actually used to be transphobic back in middle school. I was poisoned by a lot of vitriol I witnessed on the internet and I always felt uncomfortable seeing trans people on my screen. But after watching a video of a 13-year-old girl (yes, really, this is how it happened) talking about her chronic condition and reading the comments, that's when it clicked to me that some people are dealt bad cards. For some trans people, it's cards that give them dysphoria, depression, a longing to find their true self, hatred from people who don't understand them. And so, I finally dropped it. It took a while to de-program myself, but I got there. I'm not dysphoric. I've had only small, miniscule dysphoric experiences and my journey to being who I am was more of me realizing, "Hey! I like this better. This is me!" but there are lots of people in the world who are dysphoric and suffering and can't get the same opportunities to be out safely, so I ask you...
Please keep on being kind and empathetic. It's very hard, I know, especially with the dying empathy online and world going cuckoo offline. But I know people out there need you, and your voice really makes a difference. In New Zealand, we have nationwide Pink Shirt Day that raises awareness against bullying, and it was all started by two Canadian grade 12 students who saw a 9th grade student being bullied for wearing a pink shirt in 2007. They gave out a bunch of pink shirts for other students to wear in solidarity for the victim. Yes, the anecdote isn't perfect because even if we did distribute, like, yellow shirts, it probably wouldn't become a nationwide event unless we got lots of yellow shirts, but it still goes to show that even small acts can create big changes, and that it's also important to speak up for the people who can't. I've recently made a submission that opposes the definitions of woman and man bill. I now encourage you to help uplift others and stand up for their rights and dignity. Go to pride events, sign some petitions, do random acts of kindness. Oh, and happy June :)