A Monument for Trans Youth
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#Protect Trans Kids
Despite the term “transgender” only emerging in the 1950s, transgender people have existed in our history since ancient times. But a vastly underrepresented group of this community is transgender children and teens. About 5% of young adults in the United States identify as transgender, a population that has doubled in the last five years. As representation for the transgender community increases, more young people are able to realize their identities at an earlier age. Unfortunately this community has consistently been targeted by anti-trans legislation that limits trans people’s access to gender-affirming healthcare and support. There is so much misinformation out there regarding the lives of trans youth and their families so this monument hopes to provide a voice for these children and teens that will speak on their rights to their autonomy and input in their futures.
History of Rights for Transgender Youth
The first recorded instance of a person identifying as neither male nor female comes from Mesopotamia, the first recorded human civilization. So quite literally, transgender and non-bianary people have existed since the beginning of human civilization.
Starting in the early 1900s trans children began to seek medical attention regarding their identities and sex. By the 1960s and 70s transgender children had begun to take hormones, change their names and have access to gender confirmation surgeries.
Unfortunately despite this development throughout the 1900s, lately legislation has seemed to attempt to go backwards regarding the rights of trans kids.
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Why is this monument important?
Trans people never owe anyone an explanation for their identities but unfortunately public perception of trans youth has become important in our current political climate.
Recently, many states in the U.S have begun to try to pass laws banning hormone blockers and other gender affirming healthcare for children and teens. These laws would undeniably lower the quality of life and happiness for trans youth. Despite not being legal adults, children deserve autonomy and the government has no right to bar children and teens from having control over their own bodies.
Trans youth deserve a voice in their futures and the chance to show the world the beauty of their identities. With this proposed monument, I hope to spread awareness of the truth of the lives of trans youth and provide a platform for them to express the messages they’d like to share with the world.
Our children and teens are the next generation of our country and their needs will not be silenced.
The Monument
The proposed monument consists of a stone pedestal, digital screen or engravings, a sculpture made of childrens toys and a transgender flag.
The stone pedestal would serve as a base for the monument and a location for quotes from trans youth to be either engraved or shown on a digital screen.
The importance of these quotes lies in the mission of this monument itself, to provide a voice for trans teens and children.
Though engravings would be a more permanent fixture in the monument, a digital screen would provide a way to update the quotes often in order to allow as many trans kids to participate in this monument as possible.
The primary sculpture made of childrens toys would be created using; thirfted or donated children’s toys, games, sports equipment etc., and resin or another clear adhesive.
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Why toys?
One of the main symbols involved in this monument is childrens toys, but what does this represent?
When listening to politicians discuss the lives of transgender children and teens I often feel horrified at the lack of humanity and empathy. Trans kids deserve to feel loved and accepted just like any other child. My hope is that the symbol of childrens toys will highlight the fact that although transgender kids face a unique set of challenges that cisgender kids do not have to deal with, all children deserve the freedom to play, learn and grow in a healthy environment that is free of judgment or risk.
Toys are also often one of the most prominent symbols of the gender binary that kids interact with on a daily basis. The stark difference in marketing directed to girls vs. boys and the restriction of what toys are socially acceptable to play with based on your gender is often confusing to all children regardless of their identities.
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First Proposed Location
The first possible location for this monument is here on the Fairfax campus of George Mason. We have a wide arrary of monuments and artistic sculptures here at Mason but none which honor or represent the LGBTQ+ community and I think that should change!
I can picture this monument fitting in nicely in Liberty Square, outside Sub I or in any other open park area on campus in need of decoration. Along with the important message this monument would send, it would also be extremely colorful and visually pleasing to hve on campus.
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Brianna Ghey
Brianna Ghey was a 16 year old transgender girl living in Cheshire England. On February 11th 2023 she was killed in Culcheth Linear park. She was described by her parents as “larger than life” and was known for helping younger trans girls safely access hormone replacement therapy. She was a beautiful soul who had so many years ahead of her and her death is a tragedy that devastated people worldwide.
In honor of Brianna the second proposed location for this monument is in her hometown, Cheshire England. Her killing is yet another tragedy that shows how important representation, and rights for transgender people, especially children and teens, is. This monument, or even the simple proposal of it, is an attempt to shed further rays of light on the lives of people like Brianna and the need for a progressive path forward.
Second Proposed Location
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Quotes from Transgender Youth
“I want to make a difference in the world by speaking out and spreading hopeful messages. I want to send the message of ‘you are not alone and you are safe’ to other transgender kids.”
- Rebekah Bruesehoff“I want to change the world by making it much more friendly for trans people.”
- Trinity Neal17
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“The best thing about being a girl is, now I don’t have to pretend to be a boy.”
“Trans people are extraordinary, strong, intelligent, persistent and resilient. We have to be. And we will not stand for the picking and choosing of rights. We still have hope.”
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- Avery Jackson
Grace Dolan-Sandrino
