(a friend/former student sent me this today. i thought it deserved a bigger audience. you can follow this awesome young poet on TikTok, Insta, or YouTube).
Oath to Black Trans America
I saw myself in Sam Nordquist when I could only find comfort in online spaces even under false hopes
I saw myself in Blake Brockington when I just wanted a friend despite the venom words thrown at me in hallways
I saw myself in Leelah Alcorn when begging full ass adults to do right by trans students and youth only to be met met shrugs and “you’ll grow out of it” thrown back at me
To all the trans kids, adults, elders and those no longer on earth you are loved, you are so needed to be here, to be seen.
To the trans girl who saw me first, thank you for showing me that love existed even in the most difficult of times for a teenager can face.
To the media and the America policies teams that swear they mean well, shut up and let us just exist as we are
To my love ones, thank you for giving me voice and reasons to do what I will continue to fight for
Love, a trans person who could’ve been anyone in the news