It’s been a very reflective couple of days.

As a trans woman, I live in a world that tries to teach me there is something inherently wrong with me. That I am odd. That I am flagrantly violating the rules of society.

This morning I woke up and it was as though every cruel word ever thrown in my direction flashed through my mind.

The cheap insults. The vile attempts to stifle my humanity. All of it.

But instead of suffocating under those cruelties, I asked three questions.

What does me being trans have to do with you?

How has me being trans hurt you?

Why are you so obsessed with the fact that I am trans?

That last question matters.

For some people, my transness is their entire personality. It dominates their thoughts. I live, rather proudly, rent free in their minds.

I love that for me.

But ultimately, none of it matters.

Do you know why?

Because I woke up next to my beautiful partner. I ate breakfast with her. I will go into work and ensure the safety of all the women in my premises, both cis and trans.

And I will be fucking happy.

I refuse to be consumed by hate.

If you’re trans, or queer, or any other minority, remember this:

Some people build identities out of opposition. Hatred is not a personality, but for them it functions like one.

That is not tragic. It is small.

My life is real. Theirs is reaction.

Today, I am going to smash it.

And so are you.