We're scrutinized about our appearance. We're scrutinized about whether we are 'feminine' enough in the eyes of cisgender people and each other. We're scrutinized by cis women and each other about whether we are taking our evolutionary transitions to womanhood seriously enough.
And as a Black transwoman, you are also acutely aware of the fact that you are joining the ranks of fashion forward, independent minded, spiritual, thinking cornerstones of the Black community, and you constantly wonder if you are doing enough to live up to that legacy.
At least I do.
But one of the things we must guard against is the tendency to cut each other down and to borrow the term from my ballroom community sisters and brothers, throw shade at each other.
We have a tough enough time just being us in this anti-trans world and being triple minorities in it. We need to be using this God given time and our talents organizing, helping and lifting each other up, not tearing each other down.
That make our opponents smile What makes them frown is if we resolve to become the fierce, royal divas we are and can become with a lot of hard work, prayerful contemplation, surrounding ourselves with like minded cis and trans women and a commitment to treat each other with respect and dignity.
I didn't say it was going to be easy. Nothing worth having ever is. It starts with looking in the mirror and honestly assessing the person you are at this moment and going from there.
But if you wish to be a fierce and not shady transwoman, you better get to work on it..
