Scotia MacGillivray: Turn and face the change

In September and October of this year, I worked on a proposal regarding protections for transgender health care in Northampton. Health care protections that were inclusive for trans children. It was eventually presented by the Ward 7 council member to the Northampton City Council. The council voted unanimously to support the proposal-turned-resolution. It also had the backing of Northampton’s mayor.

Guest columnist Bercovici could have attended those meetings and clearly voiced her objection in public comment about transgender people of all ages and their health care. She could have even met and talked to some very young trans kids and older trans adults in the council chambers to see we are humans, just like her, that we are not some topics of a fearful alternate reality blog discovered on the internet, from which she gathers much data for her opinion pieces that the Gazette decides to publish.

She did not show up to any City Council meetings. Instead of hiding behind the protection of a computer keyboard somewhere engrossed in the lives of trans people and wishfully trying to guest-column them out of existence, she should make some effort and meet us face to face. She might like us. If she doesn’t, then let it be and leave us alone.

I’ll leave the writer with one of my favorite musician’s lyrics to bide her time: “And these children that you spit on, as they try to change their worlds, are immune to your consultations. They’re quite aware of what they’re goin’ through, Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes. Turn and face the strange.”

Scotia MacGillivray

Northampton