Safety for non-binary people is imperative
NO JUDGEMENT HERE
When I’m not writing, I teach beyond binary inclusion. I talk about breaking out of gender-normative habits, bias and behaviours, with the goal of making space that includes more people; people whose gender identity does not align with their sex as assigned at birth.
More specifically, I mean inclusion and safe space for the trans and non-binary people living all around us. Is it a utopian aspiration? It shouldn’t be, but sadly I am aware of the grumbles this conversation causes some people.
There is room for everyone to hold space and be seen if we can simply be respectful and open. In the words of Maya Angelou, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.” Creating more space for others does not take space from you.
I recently heard Jessica Bowden, human rights warrior, Meritorious Service medal recipient and CEO of Teens Now Talk on CBC Radio. She was stoked about a socially focused fashion initiative she is supporting that brings incredible clothing emblazoned with powerful words to Nova Scotia.
Slogans include “Stomp out stigmatism,” “I can’t breathe” and “It’s time to be nice,” the latter of which was written by a Grade 2 student in Halifax, with proceeds supporting the school’s breakfast program.
I was energized by the positivity of the story and my daughter and I decided to drive to Sunnyside Mall. I knocked on the partially closed doors of the storefront. It was the day before their grand opening and I felt compelled to tell Bowden how inspired I was by this goodnews story.
She opened her doors to my 16-year-old daughter and I for a sneak peek. My daughter chose a hoodie honouring George Floyd and Black Lives Matter and wore it to school.
What further moved me by our interaction was Bowden encouraging my daughter to fill in an application to work there. The socially focused business will train her and help her find a placement for the summer.
This was universe-working-in-strange-ways serendipity because my daughter is neuro diverse; she has ADD and it’s a recent diagnosis. Prior to diagnosis, we weren’t aware of the extent of her struggles, which included interviewing for jobs.
When you struggle every day with focus, the idea of a job interview can be daunting and discouraging. I watched as her eyes widened at being encouraged to join the team. I was holding a “Stomp out stigmatism” shirt at that very moment. This tiny interaction was, in fact, magnificent.
Bowden, unbeknownst to her, passed on hope and a burst of confidence to my child.
Utopia, in my world, isn’t about a perfect place with perfect people. It’s about seeking out the light and warmth that exists all around us every day and being keen enough to look for it, harness it and grow from it.
Cynthia Sweeney is a parent to three teens and is a journalist, writer and diversity and inclusion educator. She loves connecting through telepathy, Zoom, a vintage typewriter and the odd face-to-face.