Empowerment Journey of Trans Identity

In Europe, two countries, Bulgaria and Hungary, remain unyielding in their prohibition of any change of civil status, casting a shadow over the lives of transgender individuals who seek legal recognition of their identities. However, this is just one aspect of the complex landscape that transgender people face in Europe.

Across the continent, transgender people are confronted with increasing insecurity, with 20% reporting physical or sexual assaults due to their gender identity or sexual orientation in a European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights survey. This alarming statistic underscores the need for a shift in the way media and society approach transgender issues.

Transgender people's feelings are often ignored, and their right to self-determination is questioned, with trans identity often portrayed as a mental illness. This pathologization and mystification of transgender people serve only to emphasize their "artificiality," according to author and activist Julia Serano.

However, there is a growing movement to combat these harmful narratives. Media and society can promote an understanding of transgender experiences that avoids pathologization, victimization, and mystification by focusing on authentic, diverse, and accurate representation that reflects the actual lived experiences of transgender people.

Central to this approach is the inclusion of trans voices and experts in media coverage. Exclusion of trans perspectives leads to misunderstanding, misrepresentation, and the reinforcement of harmful stereotypes. Trans people should be present in media as storytellers, commentators, and experts to guide reporting and storytelling about issues affecting them.

Another key strategy is to contextualize issues as human rights and social justice, framing anti-trans discrimination and laws not as cultural clashes or neutral debates but as targeted misinformation and hate, emphasizing the real impacts on trans communities.

Media should also highlight diversity within the trans community, showcasing a wide range of transgender experiences across race, class, culture, age, and gender identities to avoid reductive or monolithic portrayals. Initiatives like NEON x GLAAD promote nuanced representation of Black LGBTQ+ people, emphasizing the complexity and fullness of identity.

Challenging stereotypes through storytelling is another crucial strategy. Films, documentaries, and media projects by transgender and queer artists use storytelling to celebrate trans identities, "queer" traditional narratives, and dismantle stereotypes related to gender and sexuality.

Improving media literacy and sensitivity among journalists and media creators is also essential. Training in respectful, informed reporting and storytelling helps combat negative stereotypes, pathologization, and sensationalism, fostering an environment where trans experiences are normalized, understood, and respected.

In France, Marion, a 31-year-old education assistant who identifies as non-binary, sees trans identity as not understanding the concept of gender and not wanting to conform to it. Aria, a 27-year-old woman from Brussels, is happy with her decision to come out as transgender and considers it the best thing that's ever happened to her. Both individuals testify to the transformative power of gender transition, enabling them to live their identities more freely.

Despite the challenges discrimination has brought to the LGBTQIA+ community, it has also served as a powerful motor for defiance and civic engagement, with people organizing large-scale protests in response to discrimination. A 2023 study found that activism among LGBTQ+ people may facilitate the development of resilience in this community.

However, the fight is far from over. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) reported a sharp increase in hate speech against LGBTQIA+ people in its 2024 annual report, particularly by public figures and institutions. It is crucial that media outlets are held accountable for inclusive and fair coverage and that audiences have access to educational resources to better understand transgender issues beyond myths and misinformation.

[1] "Media Representation Matters: A Guide to Reporting on Transgender People." GLAAD. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.glaad.org/transgender/media-representation-matters

[2] "NEON x GLAAD." NEON. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://neon.com/en/impact/neon-x-glaad

[3] "Transgender Representation in Film and Television." GLAAD. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.glaad.org/transgender/representation-film-and-television

[4] "Media Training for Journalists." GLAAD. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.glaad.org/training/media-training-journalists

[5] "Queer Artists and the Power of Storytelling." The Guardian. (2021, June 24). Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/jun/24/queer-artists-and-the-power-of-storytelling-pride-month

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