Trans people are divine. This profound truth, first gifted to the world by J. Mase III and Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi in their Black Trans Prayer Book, is a powerful declaration of sacredness and resilience that serves to remind everyone that trans and nonbinary existence is ancient. Trans and nonbinary people have always been here. Acknowledging this calls us to honor us/them as vital and irreplaceable members of the human family and essential threads in the divine tapestry of creation.

First, settle in and watch: Everybody Deserves to Be Free
Reflect on how binary thinking in general limits our collective freedom.  How can you embrace the sacredness of expansiveness you learn from your Trans and Nonbinary siblings in yourself and others?

Then…

Be enchanted by a story: Calvin by JR Ford, Vanessa Ford, Kayla Herren

Sing along to a song: “Let’s Sing About Gender” by Lindsay Amer

Move your body with this ritual from Audria Byrd from The Black Trans Prayer Book

apply a fragrance oil* to the wrists,
hold your wrists up to your nose and inhale
breathe deeply in
hold the breath for a beat
and exhale fully

allow the scent to fill your lungs
let the violent speech dislodge from where it has taken
unwelcome residence in your mind
and leave your body on the wind of your breath

then recite the words,
“your ignorance has no power over me”
and once more breathe deeply in
hold the breath for a beat
and exhale fully

move on in your freedom
engage your mind with other matters worth your time
continue to inhale the scent when the violent words
whisper in your mind

if it will not leave you still
call upon the counsel of someone you trust
and tell them of the violent speech you witnessed
and allow them to carry the burden and dispose of it for you

*Individuals with scent sensitivities are invited to adapt this practice by focusing on the coolness of the air they inhale, as it replaces the encountered speech

And in the quiet, imagine a vision of home where everyone has freedom, safety, and access to resources.
What’s one thing you can do now to make this vision a reality?

+visit the Side With Love webpage for more information!
+read more about the Pink Haven Coalition
+read more about TVUUC’s Library