Day 23 - First Steps: Find
Interviewer: But out of that an identity emerged.
Baldwin: Yes, all those strangers called Jimmy Baldwin.
Interviewer: Who are some of them?
Baldwin: There’s the older brother with all the egotism and rigidity that implies. That tone will always be there, and there’s nothing I can do about it except know that it’s there are laugh at it. I grew up telling people what to do and spanking them, so that in some ways I always will be doing that. Then there’s the self-pitying little boy. You know, “I can’t do it, because I’m ugly.” He’s still in there some place.
Interviewer: Who else?
Baldwin: Lot's of people. Some of them are unmentionable. There’s a man. There’s a woman, too. There are lots of people here.
-"Disturber of the Peace: James Baldwin," 1969
Find one thing you can do at your workplace, home, or church to make the space more welcoming to transgender people who visit, worship, or work there. This could include changing the gender signs on bathrooms or encouraging your employer to implement new hiring practices.
For resources for trans people, as well as tips on being an ally, visit www.glaad.org/transgender/resources
or www.glaad.org/transgender/allies