Dawn Harris, a visual artist from Huntington Beach, California, describes first coming out as bisexual as “really awkward.” Dawn got his whole family together just to tell them, and even though their reaction was fairly positive then, coming out again as transgender and nonbinary (a term describing gender identities outside of exclusively man or woman) was significantly harder.
When Dawn began to explain his gender and desire to be addressed by new pronouns (he and they) to his family, he also came to terms with the different parts of his identity. Dawn says that even though the last ten or fifteen years have seen more acceptance for LGBTQ+ folks in general, “The conversation around gender is a little bit behind. I find being trans is harder for people to accept than gayness; it’s more in people’s faces, it’s something you see and hear.”
“To my family, it felt like the person they raised was becoming someone completely different, and on their own terms. That was difficult for them to handle. My dad still struggles with my gender transition. I got a lot of questioning from them, asking, ‘Are you sure?’” Dawn was sure, and still is. But it wasn’t until he moved out that he experienced a threat to his safety specifically because of his identity.
“I had just moved to my first apartment. I loved it; it was in a largely LGBTQ+ friendly area, it was right by the ocean, and I had it all to myself. I was very proud of that.” The experience of finally being independent can be exhilarating. But even ideal circumstances on the surface can have deeper underlying issues. The neighborhood didn’t have adequate parking, and many people were forced to walk long distances.
“In the months before moving out, there had been multiple assaults on queer people in the area. People were being followed home and physically assaulted. That put me on edge—I’m very visibly queer and trans, and now something I couldn’t control about myself was causing a potential safety issue for me. I had already felt that through my skin color, but it was a new experience coming from my gender.”
“My partner visited me often, and because of the parking situation, we often had to park far away from my apartment. We were consistently followed walking around; people would harass us for holding hands.” Eventually, the harassment, paired with the growing reports of assaults on LGBTQ+ neighbors, became too much to endure. Dawn and his partner moved out from the neighborhood.
“Your home is where you’re supposed to feel the most safe; it’s supposed to be where you recharge, it’s where you sleep. The world is already unsafe for trans people—if you don’t have a safe home then what can you do?”
The harassment Dawn and his partner experienced isn’t an exception—in recent years, gender identity has become a hot-button issue and source of conflict. Dawn sees a clear connection between the harassment he experienced and the current conversation around gender. “It feels like the political climate is hateful to trans people, even when trans people aren’t harming anyone.”
“Having to leave felt bitter because it wasn’t on my own terms. We were concerned for our safety. Breaking my lease was also harder than expected — I ended up having to go to court to resolve those issues. But, it was exciting to move in with my partner, and I’m happy I’m safe now.”
Dawn has luckily found solace, joy, and stability in community and a safe place to live, a right we all deserve to enjoy. “Before I moved, I didn’t know one other trans person. Now I am surrounded by people who have shared experience; people who understand my perspective, which is so important to me.”
Next month, Dawn is undergoing a gender-affirming procedure called top surgery, creating a more masculine appearance to better align with his identity. “I’ve been fundraising for my surgery and been truly amazed at how people have shown up for me. I truly don’t think I would get the care I’m receiving without the people I met in the last year.”