Gray Burke-Stowe’s Post

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), a day to honor the lives of trans individuals lost to violence, hate, and systemic oppression. It’s a day to grieve, to reflect, and to fight for change. For many trans people, especially those under 25, the statistics around suicide are heartbreaking. Studies show alarmingly high rates of suicidal ideation and attempts among trans youth, but there’s hope: these numbers drop significantly after the age of 25. This isn’t just a statistic to me, it’s personal. I’m only a year away from 25 and for as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamed of the day I could leave that statistic behind. I’ve fought to survive in a world that often feels determined to erase people like me, and I know first hand how hard it is to find affirming care, supportive communities, and people who believe us. Those things save lives. And yet, in the last few years far too many politicians are using our existence as a platform for their campaigns. They turn our humanity into talking points, pushing harmful legislation and spreading fear to win votes. These actions fuel the stigma and violence that take so many lives each year. We deserve better. We deserve to grow old. We deserve to be loved and to love. We deserve to leave those statistics behind. Today, as we remember those we’ve lost, I’m holding space for grief but also for hope. Let’s honor our community—not just in mourning but in action. Be there for trans youth. Call out the political scapegoating. Fight for love, justice, and a world where all of us can thrive. I am proud to be me.

As a queer individual, I find immense freedom in living beyond heteronormative societal norms. My personal expression is questioned less, and gendered expectations placed on me are significantly reduced. But sometimes being on the outside comes with penalties, no more so than when planning a family as a queer couple. In my recent Ardent article, I share my personal struggle as a queer cisgender woman navigating this significant life decision. I delve into the emotional, financial, and health costs incurred for queer couples, before reflecting on the importance of organisations supporting their queer employees on their journey to parenthood. Read more about my experiences and insights below! N.B. This article is written from my perspective as a cisgender queer woman. However, there are many individuals who may also fall outside the heteronormative couple paradigm that are also grappling with family planning, and will be impacted in similar ways, including: cisgender straight women (or men) who are planning on solo parenting, gay male couples, and trans individuals and couples.

What better way to celebrate Transgender Awareness Week than to celebrate one of our authors and his powerfully written book. Tony Ferraiolo's powerful memoir, “Finding My Way Out of the Darkness”: How I Found Self-Love and Acceptance, offers a beacon of hope for anyone struggling with past trauma. This book delves into Tony's harrowing childhood, marked by emotional and sexual abuse. He doesn't shy away from the raw pain, inviting readers into despair. Yet, Tony shares a message of resilience and transformation within this darkness. Here's what makes "Finding My Way Out of The Darkness" a must-read: - Unflinching Honesty: Tony's raw and honest portrayal of his struggles is heartbreaking and inspiring. - A Path to Healing: He illuminates a path towards healing, self-acceptance, and inner peace. - Hope for the Hopeless: Tony's story powerfully reminds us that our past doesn't define us. Even in the darkest moments, hope can ignite a transformative journey. - The Power Within: The book emphasizes the innate power we all possess to overcome trauma and build a life filled with hope and joy. "Finding My Way Out of The Darkness" is a powerful testament to the human spirit. It's a story of overcoming adversity, finding self-love, and stepping into the light. Learn more about Tony Ferraiolo and his work at TonyFerraiolo.com.

Regardless of your identity or beliefs, this powerful and deeply moving book is for you. It speaks to the universal themes of love, acceptance, and human rights, making it a must-read for everyone. This profoundly personal memoir takes you on an emotional journey as a mother shares her family's experience of loving and supporting their transgender daughter in the heart of the conservative Bible Belt. Prepare to be moved. This book will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions - fear, anger, hope, love, frustration-but it will ultimately leave you with a sense of the transformative power of unconditional love. Hays' "love letter" to her daughter is more than just one family's story—it's a call to action for greater empathy, compassion, and understanding toward the trans community. It highlights both the discrimination we face and the basic human need for belonging that unites us all. With raw honesty and vulnerability, this book will open your heart and mind. Be prepared to laugh, cry, and feel outraged at injustice, but ultimately be inspired by the courage of families like the Hays who lead with love. Whether the story mirrors your own or opens a window into experiences different from yours, this is an important read for building a more accepting world. #Transgender #GenderIdentity #UnconditionalLove #TransYouthMatter #TransLivesMatter #Equality #Inclusion

TIMELY COINCIDENCE: Most folks know that this past Sunday, March 31, 2024, was Easter. It's a holiday that falls on a different Sunday — on a different date — every year. However, March 31 of EVERY year, since 2009, is celebrated as #TransgenderDayofVisibility. And in case you missed it, I'm sure you can imagine the hullabaloo that ensued from the far-right, after The White House issued an official “Proclamation on Transgender Day of Visibility” last Friday, March 29th, signed by the President. Here's an excerpt (link to The White House website w/ Proclamation can be found below): “Transgender Americans are part of the fabric of our Nation. Whether serving their communities or in the military, raising families or running businesses, they help America thrive. They deserve, and are entitled to, the same rights and freedoms as every other American, including the most fundamental freedom to be their true selves. But extremists are proposing hundreds of hateful laws that target and terrify transgender kids and their families — silencing teachers; banning books; and even threatening parents, doctors, and nurses with prison for helping parents get care for their children.” For nearly 10 years — until October 2023 — I worked with a mental health practice in the Los Angeles-area whose care is focused on transgender and gender nonbinary folks. The work I did on behalf of the client spanned multiple visual design applications and content development, including writing and editing. The fact that it connects with an ongoing, dynamic, socio-cultural phenomenon was extremely gratifying. More than that, I am proud to say that I am an ally, so the motivation/inspiration for my work emerged from multiple sources. The small sample of images accompanying this post were used on social media for my client and are a combination of stand-alone posts or ones connected to website content that I contributed to. I hope that, collectively, they reflect the positive and inclusive spirit that was so important to my client — and to me! **Link to The White House Proclamation: https://lnkd.in/gwyiu-9j - - #smallbusinessmarketing #marketingmentalhealth #transgenderawareness #humanity

We support LGBTQIA+ Pride every month, but June is a month for special celebration. We start the month where it all began, in New York City. The first Gay Pride March, held on the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots, is often seen as a fork in the road. Down one path lay the familiar guilt and shame of the past. Down the other lay a new movement toward pride, for both individuals and the community. The theme for NYC Pride 2024 is “Reflect. Empower. Unite.” It invites all of us, regardless of whether we’re in New York or elsewhere, whether we’re Queer ourselves or allies, to think of each moment as a potentially pivotal one, when we can: 🌈reflect on past struggles, 🌈empower one another, and 🌈unite against the forces that oppose LGBTQIA+ existence. We have progressed past a time when both popular opinion and the Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) classified homosexuality as mental illness (!!!). In fact, we’ve come a long way, baby, and that’s surely something to celebrate. There are still miles to go, though, and plenty we can do to empower and unite. It starts with each of us. Join us all month long in Pride celebration and support! #pride2024 #equality #foodserviceindustry #foodservicewomensalliance #pavingitforward #support #loveislove #lovewins

Today, we celebrate an incredible milestone—our humble peer support group, Gay Fathers Worldwide, has reached 1,000 members. A tribe of men that offer support and love when men need a safe space to be themselves. Our goal when we founded this space in October 2020 was simple: to create a supportive, non-judgemental environment for fathers navigating the complex challenges of coming out later in life. These men, like myself, transitioned from heteronormative relationships. We never imagined the profound impact this group would have on so many men across the globe, along with the significance on our own well-being and mental health through the process of sharing. The significance of 1,000 men in this space cannot be overstated. This milestone reflects not just the number of members but 1,000 stories of courage, resilience, and transformation. Many in this group have bravely navigated the challenges of coming out while balancing fatherhood, family dynamics, and personal growth. The community we've built offers invaluable support for those who may feel isolated or misunderstood in their journey. By reaching 1,000 members, we amplify the visibility and vulnerability of these men. This space has become a haven for shared experiences, helping men move beyond the challenges of transitioning from heteronormative relationships to embrace their true selves as gay, bisexual, queer fathers. To every man who has shared his story, provided support, or simply found comfort in knowing he’s not alone—thank you. Together, we’ve created a global network where queer fathers can thrive, support one another, and prove that fatherhood is defined by love and dedication, not by sexual orientation. Here’s to continuing our journey, growing together, and fostering a tribe and community where connection and empowerment flourish. #1000strong #gayfathersworldwide

Today is National Coming Out Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the belonging of LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities. “Coming out” is the process of recognizing and sharing one's sexual orientation, gender identity or romantic orientation with others. Coming out to others doesn’t determine someone’s queerness. People can understand their identity without sharing it, or they might choose to come out to some people or in certain situations while staying private in others. For many people, coming out can lead to being rejected by family or friends, or losing access to things like housing or jobs, which can make them more likely to face food insecurity. At Oregon Food Bank, we envision a world where not only hunger ceases to exist but also a world where queer people can be so openly themselves that there will no longer be a need for them to come out in the first place. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gUwwxSAr

If this message is for you, you will know. And if it is, I want you to do this. I want you to take a moment and imagine something. Imagine waking up one morning and finding out that your healthcare had been taken away. Picture the fear and uncertainty of not knowing how you’ll get the medications or treatments you rely on...maybe even the ones that keep you alive. Now, imagine someone knocking on your door to tell you your kids are being taken away. The heartbreak, the confusion, the sheer terror of losing your children simply because of who you are. Think about walking into a public restroom and being told you can’t use it, that you need to use a specific one, or worse, that if you don’t comply, you’ll be forcibly removed or arrested. Imagine the indignity and the constant anxiety every time you need to use a public bathroom. Now, add to this the fear of leaving your home because people hate you so much that you genuinely fear for your safety. The relentless stress of wondering if today will be the day someone targets you for simply existing. This might sound extreme, but for transgender people, these fears and realities are an almost everyday occurrence. And if you’re a parent, think about how it would feel if your child had to go through this. The worry, the helplessness, and the heartbreak would be overwhelming. Transgender people face these challenges daily. We fight for basic rights, dignity, and respect in a world that often doesn’t understand or accept us. So, next time you hear about trans rights or see a trans person, think about how you’d feel in their shoes. Show some empathy, educate yourself, and stand up against the injustices they face. We deserve to live our lives with the same rights and freedoms as everyone else. We deserve to feel safe, loved, and accepted. Let's make the world a better, kinder place for everyone. #Inclusion #Belonging #Understanding #Respect #Equality #TransLivesMatter #WeJustWantToLiveOurLives

Allyship isn’t about what you say. It’s about what you do. We’re just a few days away from Transgender Day of Remembrance. If you want to make a difference, start with allyship. Speak out against hate, even when it’s uncomfortable. Stand up for trans rights in your workplace and community. Educate yourself about the challenges trans individuals face daily. Every action counts, no matter how small it seems. This week, let’s turn awareness into action, support into safety. Will you be a true ally, not just this week, but every day? #TransAwarenessWeek #TransAlly #ActionForChange #MIST #SupportTransRights