An Open Letter To My Transgender and Nonbinary Clients: You Are Seen, You Are Loved, You Are Needed
It seems like every week, I sit tearfully at my laptop to express my latest heartache and process my thoughts so that I can show up to hold space for everyone I care about. This week is, unfortunately, no different.
Yesterday, we witnessed yet another act of erasure—one that feels dehumanizing and terrifying. President Trump’s executive orders, reducing human existence to a false binary of male and female and dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, are not just political moves; they are personal attacks. They deny the reality of your existence and embolden those who seek to harm you. I want to acknowledge the depth of that pain, fear, and exhaustion you may be feeling.
Let me be clear: you are not invisible, and you are not alone. Just because someone refuses to see you does not mean you do not exist. Just because someone denies your worth does not diminish your value. These actions are rooted in fear—fear of change, fear of difference, and fear of losing power.
This erasure is a deliberate choice to dismiss the complexity of humanity. It denies the existence of intersex people, whose medical realities defy binary classification. It also fuels dangerous narratives that embolden those who already view trans and nonbinary people as "other." History has shown us time and again how dehumanization becomes a precursor to violence. This moment is no different.
But what I want to remind you of is this: fear thrives in the dark. It grows when it’s left unchallenged. By being visible—by living authentically, unapologetically—you confront that fear with truth. You shine a light in places others would rather keep shadowed.
I know this is easier said than done. Visibility, for many, comes with risk. And so, let me also say this: your safety matters. Resistance can look like many things. It can look like being visible in ways that feel safe to you, or it can look like quietly supporting others in their journey. Resistance can be rest, joy, laughter, and community care.
Trump’s call for an “America First” agenda ignores the truth: America is nothing without the contributions of the very people it seeks to erase. The nation would not exist without its diversity, yet there are those who refuse to see this. The rich would not eat without the labor of others, but they refuse to acknowledge it. In the same way, those who fear your existence refuse to recognize that the world is better, fuller, and more vibrant because of you.
To the trans and nonbinary community: your light matters. Your authenticity matters. Your courage matters. You are here, and you are a reminder that fear does not win unless we let it.
I don’t have all the answers about how to move forward, but I do know this: we must do it together. Keep building community. Keep showing up for one another. Keep finding the small ways to honor who you are, even when it feels like the world is working against you.
You are not invisible. You are not forgotten. You are not alone.
With love and solidarity,
Rashida
