For the last four and a half years, I’ve been doing this trans appreciation thread that started via Twitter (I refuse to call it the name that man-child renamed it to before destroying it) after another user stopped doing a weekly appreciation thread, then left the platform indefinitely. Essentially, every Friday, we’d do a thread where I’d ask people to post their name, pronouns, a bit about them and if they were comfortable, a picture. The idea was to connect other trans and nonbinary people with each other, talk about our lives, help each other feel a little more normal and have some moments of joy and comfort. And it’s overwhelmingly done that.
The stories that have emerged from this experience, both publicly and behind the scenes, have been nothing short of global wonder. I’ve read literally countless stories from others of how this thread helped them find their now best friend, life partner, helped save people from suicide and severe depression, inspired them to reach further for their goals and so much more.
Trans Appreciation Friday has been done on four different platforms throughout the course of the last nearly 5 years and each one of those platforms has yielded the same type of stories and results, which is more than I ever could’ve dreamed of. For that, I’ll never take for granted the privilege that is to be a part of.
Any time someone invites you in and lets you see a little piece of their life, it’s pretty awesome. It involves trust, leaves a certain amount of vulnerability, and in the day and age we live in where trans people are increasingly scrutinized at seemingly every single turn, it’s all the more special when others leave themselves open a bit to try and let others into their lives, in whatever capacity.
I came out as transgender in March of 2019, but have had an online presence in the trans community since 2018. An astronomical amount of things have changed since then, including my lived experiences, my resulting perspective and the amount of spoons I have available for the other aspects of my life.
That being said, April 19th, 2024 was the final edition of Trans Appreciation Friday.
And since I didn’t feel there was ever going to be a fitting way to end it, I decided to do so, to no fanfare or grandiose moment.
I truly hope the thousands of participants in TAF over the years were able to feel some joy, smile for a bit and experience a less noisy atmosphere for a while. Honestly, I think everyone deserves that.
There’s a lot left to focus on in my personal life, and I’d like to keep going down the path I’m on. It’s led to some of the most inner peace I’ve been able to find, which is something that I think our community unfortunately struggles a lot with. I sincerely hope the best for all of us, that people understand their own power and continue to be inspired by positivity, morality and decency towards others.
If there’s one message I’d want people to take from this entire experience, I would hope that it’s this:
While there is power in being your authentic self, being trans is not, nor will it ever be, all that you are. Before you are anything else, you are human.
My lived experience has taught me to understand that and to have a larger desire to develop an identity that is larger than exclusively focusing on how I identify. That’s what feels right, and I think that’s what I’ve always kept to the core of me; to do what truly feels like the right thing to do, which can, will, and should develop and change as we live our lives.
I’ll never be too far away, but it felt like the right time to speak to this and to continue to new story I’m writing for myself and my family.
I’ll see you soon.
Sincerely,
Alyssa 💜
I’ve never known about this, but as life has it I was busy recovering from the surgery I had to change my life. Amongst other things.
New career and school. Publishing my first magazine as well as beginning a podcast. Thru all your messages and articles I’ve met my partner in life ladies.
Sorry to see this go but do understand. Have an amazing day out there.