The Little Things that Count
- Rowan Wiley '27
- Apr 20, 2025
- 3 min read
Your guide to trans activism through individual support and everyday acts.
January 20th, 2025, shortly after being sworn in to office, current U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order recognizing the existence of only two sexes—male and female—and declaring that a person could not legally present as a gender different from that declared at birth.
Despite consistent attempts made to erase the transgender community, denying the existence of an entire body of people does not mean they’re any more likely to go away.
In these past few months, it has become extremely crucial that we raise our voices louder than ever before, and as the fight for trans rights rages on, the community will be needing all the support it can get.
So then, what can you do?
The good news is that not all activism has to be substantial, or even loud, to be impactful. There are ways to support your peers through this time of turmoil that reach beyond just making some wide and general statement, and instead aim to aid someone on a much more personal level.
Seeking to explore these options, I approached several of my trans peers with this in mind. Interviewing both Trans and Nonbinary Student Union (TNBSU) club advisor Michael Winetsky (who identifies as genderfluid, using they/them pronouns) and club member Chloe Beck (she/they), I had the opportunity to discuss these questions regarding what support looks like to them, and what small actions can make a big difference.
“I mean, people paying attention to pronouns is huge,” says Winetsky, emphasizing the noticeable impact that can come from something on such a base level. “To me, I think we have so much to deal with in terms of bad intentions in the larger community outside of the school,” he remarked, then continued: “Let’s let good intentions be good intentions.”
When asked to give their thoughts on what they’d like to see more of on campus, Winetsky responded: “Maybe some political activism? Something that brings attention. Because it’s so divisive right now, and trans and non-binary people are under assault from the government, so more outrage and more political involvement would be appropriate.”
“Support can look like different things. Absolutely, standing up for you in public spaces, and actually not just standing up for you but standing up for transgender people in general. Like when I know that somebody who I’m friends with stands up for trans people completely unrelated to me, that’s how I know that, like, okay, this person actually supports and is an ally,” Beck said. Beck also had an interesting perspective on how good intentions may be misled, recalling: “When you’re misgendered or somebody messes up and then they do a whole spiel about how they’re so sorry and it’s so difficult, and it’s just so,” she paused, emphasizing their point, “it’s absolutely too much and we all are aware of that.”
Beck finished with her take on what other small actions could be taken on campus, ending with: “There should be more awareness. Maybe literally even just having trans flags around campus, just bringing awareness to the fact that trans people exist and trans people are here, and normalizing that.”
Among these interviews, the consensus seemed that sometimes simple recognition can make a world of difference. Making the bare minimum effort, which is acknowledging and respecting a person’s identity, is the sort of advocacy that becomes so crucial in times like this.
Completing your own research on this topic in order to stay informed and updated is also key, especially when it comes to avoiding the rampant disinformation our community is facing.
Beyond just acknowledgement, we in TNBSU also encourage and task all individuals here at New Roads to take the time to hear our stories, to look beyond the group and seek out the individual. Listen to the stories of those around you, take the time to lend that ear or shoulder, and remember that we are never helpless.
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