Letters from our Inside Family

anything. I don’t know if I should’ve just kept my mouth shut about what happened to me that day. The doctors have diagnosed me with a type of PTSD called “Rape Trauma Syndrome” or RTS. I am having extreme nightmares and flashbacks and it’s hard for me to eat or sleep. I came in weighing 145 or so. Now I’m like 130 and still not gaining. They put me on medication for the RTS but it will only help for so long. I could really use some help and support from you, my brothers and sisters. I really don’t know what to do. Any suggestions?

In pain, your T-girl and family member, Olivia (TX) life, being trans gave me a purpose. I am grateful that I am enough.

Thank you for all who have paved the way.

Melanie (IA)

Hi Black and Pink!

I pray this makes it in the Black and Pink Newspaper. I send my love to all my trans sisters. My name is Melanie. This is my first time writing to the family. I am a trans woman, currently in the Iowa Department of Corrections. I accept accountability and remain positive. Somebody asked my why I was here and I said “fate.” Anything that happened yesterday is history - being stubborn cost me in the long run. I know what I do today matters and what I do tomorrow matters. We must all follow out dreams and remain strong! Although I haven’t conquered

Black and Pink Family, Never let someone interrupt the way you feel about yourself or cause you to be ashamed of who you are. You didn’t win the race to life to be subjugated to other people’s opinions, judgments or beliefs. Living for someone else is winning a losing race. Yeah, you’re here, but you don’t even exist. The person that they see isn’t the person that you are and as long as you continue to be invisible, no one will ever know you. When you do come out as Leona, people are only going to know Leo and Leo will be known as an imposter. Someone who allowed them to invest in a friendship that didn’t exist, with a person they didn’t know. It’s not always “phobia” that pushes people away, it’s the fact that you didn’t give them the opportunity to know you in the beginning. Its the feeling of betrayal and some people don’t get over it, especially if y’all were “two peas in a pod,” to them y’all just pleaded guilty to espionage. All of y’all experiences to them seems as if you were infiltrating for the purpose of stealing them nuclear codes. As an LGBTQ+ we tend to play the victim card and believe that because someone doesn’t accept us, that they’re discriminating or being phobic. We’re so blinded by acceptance that we lose sight of the main ingredient and that’s respect. You don’t have to accept me, just respect me and our problems are solved. It’s intrusive to force acceptance on other people. And selfish to label someone discriminatory or phobic because they won’t go against their ideologies and philosophical beliefs to appease you. We have to emphasize and care for other people’s feelings and respect their decision. Once you come out, everyone you ever knew is a “wild card.” Expect it to be played when you disclose because no one likes to lose, Being alive means you won and the award for winning is existing in the world as YOU. Why be judged for something or someone you’re not? Why live a life afraid, ashamed, and neglected? Being you is enjoying the wonders of life and experiencing people, places and things that make you extraordinary. When I see the rainbow, to me it symbolizes the hardships, challenges and beauty of being us. It’s the great representation of our experiences, lives and commitment to being unique. Be you, love you, and live life ... beautiful human.

#LetsBeUs

-Leona B. (AR)