Transgender rights activists are flooding Twitter with helpful tips for allies
Sometimes social media is a good thing.
The anger over a Trump administration plan to curtail the rights of transgender citizens is still palpable. But the Sunday morning eruption that followed the revelations aired in a New York Times report came with a hefty side of advice from the people who knows these issues best.
Trans activists spent the morning and afternoon flooding social media with helpful tips. Charities to support. Activist organizations to connect with. Meaningful, tangible suggestions that any ally can act on immediately if they want to help.
As I floundered around this morning trying to figure out how and where to help, I came across this ever-growing pile of tweets. I'm sharing them here with you now because a big part of being an ally is knowing when to shut up. "How can I help?" isn't always the greatest thing to ask, especially when that question can be answered with some quick research.
You should still do research! But here are some ideas to get you started.
Donate
This one's straightforward: Give your money (Or time! Time is valuable too!) to people and causes that can use it.
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Beyond these, check out and support groups like Lambda Legal, National Center for Transgender Equality, and Human Rights Campaign. (Plus GLAAD, of course, and this list maintained by GLAAD.)
Organize
This is a list that will surely grow in the coming days. Expect nationwide protests, both this week and in the weeks leading up to the midterm election on Nov. 6.
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VOTE
As many have already made clear, getting out and voting in the Nov. 6 midterm election is by far the most important step an ally can take at this point in time. A number of smart folks have already summed up the various reasons why. (Parker Molloy's thread below is particularly on point.)
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There are lots of other things you can do beyond all of this, of course. Signal boost transgender voices wherever and whenever you can. Put in the work to find other organizations, rallies, and opportunities for activism that weren't mentioned here. Educate yourself on the issues, so when Trump's next anti-trans atrocity surfaces, you won't need tips like this to respond helpfully.
If you're in a position to give someone a platform, do that! I'm writing all of this myself because I don't have the resources to grab a last-minute freelancer, but I'll be the first one to tell you my perspective -- as a white cishet dude from the suburbs -- is limited. So I'm grateful to all the wonderful people out there who have taken the time to share their resources and knowhow in this trying moment.
Hopefully, this helps guide at least a few of you toward correct and genuinely helpful courses of action.
Topics Activism LGBTQ Social Good Donald Trump
Adam Rosenberg is a Senior Games Reporter for Mashable, where he plays all the games. Every single one. From AAA blockbusters to indie darlings to mobile favorites and browser-based oddities, he consumes as much as he can, whenever he can.Adam brings more than a decade of experience working in the space to the Mashable Games team. He previously headed up all games coverage at Digital Trends, and prior to that was a long-time, full-time freelancer, writing for a diverse lineup of outlets that includes Rolling Stone, MTV, G4, Joystiq, IGN, Official Xbox Magazine, EGM, 1UP, UGO and others.Born and raised in the beautiful suburbs of New York, Adam has spent his life in and around the city. He's a New York University graduate with a double major in Journalism and Cinema Studios. He's also a certified audio engineer. Currently, Adam resides in Crown Heights with his dog and his partner's two cats. He's a lover of fine food, adorable animals, video games, all things geeky and shiny gadgets.
