LISA SALAZAR — BLOG

In 2019, The United Church of Canada produced "Celebrating Gender Diversity: A Toolkit on Gender Identity and Trans Experiences for Communities of Faith."   I was invited to contribute because of the qualitative and quantitative study I did as part of my MA in 2015 titled "Transgender Spirituality Pulse Survey." This is what I wrote: Beyond Church Walls When I speak with ministers and church people who ask me how they can become affirming and welcoming of trans and non-binary persons, a question is often raised. “Why bother going through all the work of becoming an affirming congregation if, after all the hard work, not many trans persons are going to join my church community?” Because being affirming and welcoming is not fully measured just by how you treat people who enter the four walls of your church or sanctuary. What matters is how the members of your congregation treat trans people out in the world. Consider the following questions—these are just a few. How y...

In advance of a series of marches across Canada on September 20, 2023, a determined Canadian mother and ally to her lesbian daughter founded a Facebook Group on September 10. She aimed to provide a counter-narrative to the “1 Million March for Children” by creating a platform to quash the misinformation promoted against SOGIE and Trans identities. She wanted to foster unity instead. Initially attracting a modest few dozen members, the group mushroomed to over 7,000 individuals across Canada within three weeks, all united by principles of truth, inclusion, and steadfast support. A Beacon Amidst Shadows: 1 Million Voices for Inclusion emerges as a spectrum of love and unity, casting aside the shadows of division and hatred. This movement skillfully weaves a colorful tapestry that encompasses the myriad hues of the human spirit, establishing a robust front against prejudice and misinformation. An Undeniable Force of Inclusivity: More than a mere group, it’s a thriving entity exuding inclu...

This blogpost was inspired by a comment made on Facebook. In case you didn’t know, gender-affirming medical care, which includes treatments like puberty blockers, estrogen therapy, testosterone therapy, and breast augmentation, was initially developed for cisgender individuals seeking gender affirmation.  Puberty blockers were designed to assist cis children experiencing early onset puberty, while estrogen therapy was created for postmenopausal cisgender women to address hormonal changes.  Similarly, testosterone therapy was formulated to support cisgender men dealing with low sex drive and other health issues, and breast augmentation was an option for cisgender women experiencing body dysmorphia. The key takeaway here is that these treatments have been used successfully within the cisgender population for gender affirmation and to address specific medical needs. Applying them to transgender individuals is a logical extension of their original purpose, allowing us to provide v...

We knew it was only a matter of time before conservative voices in Canada would begin to sound like the anti-trans strategies GOP lawmakers have been employing in the U.S. They are determined to claw back the amazing progress we have made toward Trans inclusion in Canada. Screen capture from their website A Canada-wide day of anti-trans protest is being planned for Wednesday, September 20, 2023. In advance of this day, the organizers are promoting letter-writing campaigns to school boards.  To that end, they have provided a boilerplate letter for Ontario that people can sign and mail. I’m sure that with some minor tweaks to remove references to Ontario, people in other provinces will follow suit. Here’s a detailed response to each point raised in a boiler-plate letter being circulated in Ontario: 1. Request for Parental Consent for Preferred Pronouns, Names, Bathroom Use, and Extracurricular Participation: Rebuttal:  Respecting a student’s preferred pronouns, names, bathroom c...

What I’ve Learned from Science, History, Personal Experiences, and Meeting Other Trans Persons. Just like anyone diagnosed with a medical condition, I’ve dedicated significant time to educating myself about my reality as a trans person. Over the years, I’ve explored and contemplated my not-so-unique situation, accumulating valuable insights and personal experiences. Let me share what I’ve learned and discovered along the way. This knowledge has brought peace to my soul. Scientific evidence increasingly underscores what many have experienced and understood anecdotally: being transgender is not a choice, but rather a deeply ingrained aspect of identity. Some transgender individuals, who have participated in neuroimaging studies, such as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), assert the presence of a "gender identity nugget" deep within the brain. This nugget seemingly signals gender identity, much like a fish instinctively understands the concept of water. The majority o...

 A Manifesto for Trans Understanding and Acceptance Introduction: In a world abundant in diversity, variety, and uniqueness, it is distressing to observe the persistence of intolerance and the fostering of ignorance. The journey of trans people, marked by introspection, courage, resilience, and identity-affirmation, is too often misunderstood, misinterpreted, and maligned. This manifesto is an invitation for those who have been misguided by prejudice and misinformation, particularly from right-wing and conservative perspectives. It is a call to you to set aside biases and learn from my story and those of countless other trans individuals who simply seek acceptance, respect, and the right to live freely as our authentic selves. Compassion Before Judgement: Understand that being transgender is not a choice but an integral part of our identity. We are not seeking to create discord or impose upon societal norms but rather to live authentically, openly, and in alignment with our true se...

  “Historic wave of anti-trans bills focuses almost entirely on trans youth.” — npr.org For context, there are three times as many disabled persons in wheelchairs than there are trans persons (1% vs. .3% of the population), yet no one would ever think of passing laws targetting disabled persons. Why is it okay to target trans persons? Wouldn’t you be outraged and scandalized if GOP lawmakers went after disabled persons? For example, imagine these kinds of laws: Education Censorship:  No class discussion, instruction, or acknowledgment of the rights of disabled persons or that they exist Library Book Bans:  Remove all reading materials that include portrayals of disabled persons or use inclusive and explicit language about disabled persons Restroom Restriction:  No special accommodation Sports exclusion:  Disabled youth are only allowed to watch from the sidelines  Religious exemptions:  Anyone can refuse to treat, care for or provide services, includin...