I am the person who is unemployable merely because of my gender identity.

I am the person who lives within a heartbeat of homelessness.

I am the person who might be reduced to prostitution to survive.

I am the person most likely to commit suicide because I have no way to survive.

I am the person living with the despair of hopelessness.

I am the person my family has abandoned and forgotten.

I am the person my church tells me is damned.

I am the person the military has asked me to “don’t ask, don’t tell”.

I am the person right-wingers think will molest women and children in bathrooms.

I am the person who has the same values as other human beings.

I am the person Barney Frank has asked to wait my turn.

I am the person my political party wishes would just go away.

I am the person who has spent countless hours educating in vain.

I am the person who my political party has claimed still needs to educate.

I am the person my community has asked to not make waves.

I am the person who advocates for equal opportunity.

I am the person who believes in diversity.

I am the person who believes people should be judged by what they do, not how they look.

I am the person who wants to love and be loved.

I am the person my one-time friends and acquaintances often shun.

I am the person who works for equality for all marginalized human beings.

I am the person who abides by the principles of Martin Luther King, Jr.

I am the person who trusts in the wisdom of Mahatma Gandhi.

I am the person who finds solace in the love of the Great Spirit.

I am the person who was created to be free.

I am the person who was endowed by my creator to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I am the person whose potential should remain unlimited, yet has been marginalized.

I am the person society has disenfranchised.

I am the person who must work in stealth, lest I be fired.

I am the person who has erected a wall around myself so as to keep my reality secret.

I am the person other minorities have disinherited.

I am the person elites within my community tend to disparage.

I am the person who lives in your neighborhood.

I am the person who attends your church.

I am the person who works side by side with you wherever I am employed, if I am employed.

I am your brother, sister, father or mother.

I am transgender.

~ Robbi Cohn

This piece was inspired by all of the debate around Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) legislation in fall 2007.

This poem was brought to the attention of TransFaith by the UFMCC Transgender Resource Team.  Used with permission.