People tuned in to a livestream on the Keene State College’s Instagram page to have their questions about being transgender answered.
The livestream took place April 2 at 4 p.m. until 5 p.m., as a part of the Office of Student Diversity, Belonging and Equity’s Trans Week of Visibility. It was hosted by senior Nat Wood who was joined by sophomore Dexter Keegan and freshman May Cassidy. Viewers submitted questions before and during the livestream, and the three students answered them.
Trans Visibility Week follows the annual International Transgender Day of Visibility which is recognized on March 31. It has been observed since 2009 and raises awareness about the discrimination and struggles transgender individuals can face.
The Instagram post announcing the livestream stated, “Tune in…for a conversation on how to show up for trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people all year long!”
Wood selected most of the questions from ones submitted before the livestream but some were picked from the live chat.
Multiple questions asked how best to support transgender youth and students specifically
“I think listening is the most important component,” said Cassidy in response to a question about being a good ally to transgender people. “You need to at least make an attempt to understand.”
“Being trans in this climate is exhausting on some days,” said Keegan, responding to the same question. “So a good ally will speak up for you…so I’m not having to do that, because some days I just don’t have the energy.”
“I wish it was talked about more,” said Wood. “And I think as a trans person now, it is hard…because there are a lot of laws and rhetoric that we’re grooming kids. I think, ‘Oh my god if I’m just sharing who I am, am I doing a bad thing?’”.
The livestream was intended to connect transgender students and provide a space for people to ask questions and be informed on things they might not have known otherwise.
“I hope this has been valuable,” said Cassidy. “I think we covered a lot of things that people might not have considered.”
“We’re human beings, we’re more than our gender. Even though that’s something we’re in tune with,” continued Cassidy. “But we’re human beings, we’re luminous. There’s so much to us.”
Orion Corbin can be contacted at
ocorbin@kscequinox.com
