A Moment of PFLAG Portland Joy is a place where our members can anonymously share meaningful experiences they’ve had as an LGBTQ+ person or someone special to an LGBTQ+ person. Let us know at info@pflagpdx.org if you have a story you’d like to share.
I work from home, behind a second story window of a craftsman home. Occasionally, my attention is distracted by the feeling that someone is staring. When I glance up, I often see that I’m right: someone on the opposite side of the street has stopped and is looking, not at me, but just above at an oversized flag hanging from the attic window.
In signature colors of light blue, white, and pink, our TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS flag catches the attention of most passersby. Designer and TransPainter shop owner Rae Senarighi adorns traditional Pride and Trans flags with vibrant floral patterns. It is impossible not to see it.
My partner and I are proud to show our support, but sometimes, visibility does make us nervous. Ours is a house not just of allies but also of a very special trans kiddo, someone who would rather just blend in with all the other girls. As more politicians unabashedly demonize and scapegoat the trans community, is it safe to fly this flag over our home?
That is the question we asked ourselves on April 22nd, when U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi directed the Department of Justice to take action against gender affirming care for minors.
“Are we making ourselves a target?” my partner asked.“People notice that flag. They could take a photo of our house and report us.”
I understood his concern, but—“if we take it down,” I said, “people will notice that too. Our daughter will notice. What will that signal to her?”
The risk went both ways. As we do in so many other analysis paralysis situations, my partner and I did nothing. The flag continued to fly. Better to let values guide our actions rather than fear.
I’m glad we did.
Last week, I went for a run in my neighborhood. As I rounded the corner of my block, I saw a teenager standing on the sidewalk, looking up at our house. I stopped before they noticed me. They stood still for a long time, watching TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS waving in the breeze. Finally, they reached into their pocket and pulled out their phone, quickly snapped a pic, then zoomed in and smiled at the results.
As the teen continued to tap into their phone, I walked toward my driveway. When I started up the porch steps, they looked up. I waved. They waved. I smiled. They pointed at the flag and smiled.
“Thank you,” they mouthed, silently.
“Thank you,” I whispered back.
“Trans Rights Are Human Rights” flag design by TransPainter, Rae Senarighi. You can support this LGBTQ+ owned business by visiting https://www.etsy.com/shop/Transpainter.