In light of this year’s daily, relentless attacks on trans lives in America, it’s no surprise that the slogan “Protect the Dolls” has gained traction. After living legend Pedro Pascal showed up wearing the now-famous designer shirt bearing the slogan back in April, the rallying cry has picked up speed. But it’s not without its critics.
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Ah, yes: “Be Gay, Do Crimes,” the rallying cry of a generation.
Obviously there’s nothing at all wrong with the slogan Protect the Dolls, but it doesn’t go as far as some of us would like. Protection, after all, is only one part of the fight, however crucial it might be. When the wonderful trans creator @essence went on fellow TikToker @bittnia’s show Glass Closet to talk about the allyship we need—and don’t need—she explained the broader issue perfectly.
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“I think we need to connect the dolls to the dreams,” Essence explained. “Help the dolls get employment, help the dolls get housing…The dolls need support, and I think, like you said, visibility without support is a trap.”
Precisely: as Essence and Nia point out in their discussion, trans folks need more than just protection right now. We need help surviving in a world that’s full of invisible barriers to entry at every possible point, from housing to jobs to food security. Black trans women and other trans women of color are especially vulnerable to the kind of gatekeeping that locks trans folks out of the workforce, leading to a host of other issues. So yes, protect the dolls, but let’s also go the extra mile. Lets focus on making sure the dolls—and other trans folks—have access to basic human needs.
For the full discussion, take a look below. And remember: trans folks need true allyship right now, not just slogans.
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