“What does it mean to be a transgender woman, and visible?”

Women have always been a foundational part of history, and trans women are no exception. Trailblazers like Monica Roberts, Ruby Corado, and Boston’s own dearly departed Rita Hester can easily be counted among them. Proudly continuing Boston’s tradition of history-making trans women is our very own Bianca Robinson.

For Women’s History Month, MTPC asked Bianca, “What does it mean to be a transgender woman, and visible?”

A. “It is my belief that being trans in this modern time is to become a leader, to create awareness on gender expansiveness, regardless of how big or small your contributions may appear to be. As a latinx trans woman, I know firsthand the harmful paths we are socialized to believe we should follow, and recognize the systems that support these beliefs which further codify our exclusion. This misinformation makes it more difficult to break from this mold and pursue a life that has been more easily accessible to those born with a set of privileges and gifted with a lens of positivism. Trans folx must not only succeed, but we must overcome the hurdles placed in our trajectories, and I have not come up with another word that best describes this, but to lead.

Our visibility is a direct response to the systems that dictate we should not exist, be cared for, be counted. We need a response because the alternative only strengthens our opposition. Yet, our presence in a space fails to capture the weight of what we have been burdened with, so we must stand in our power; the type of power that is recognized by others that need hope, especially trans youth that need examples and models of a life worth living. Our visibility demands
social action by the simple nature of existing, and so we must lead and be seen; it is my personal belief that currently we must be of service whenever possible in order to reach our liberation.”