Woke Town

Some time ago in an article by my friend Hannah (Your Unhinged Comments) she mentioned something that set the hamster wheel in my brain spinning: “Tell me one country where being straight is illegal. Yep. Zero.”

Let me clarify that while her post was making a  serious point about systemic privilege, my mind took that sentence and ran down a more speculative rabbit hole.

If straight, cisgender people have never had to fear their identity being outlawed, it is because they have always built the towns, wrote the laws, and established the norms.

So what did my mind came up with: What if we built our own? What if we created an intentional "Free State" or a "Woke Town," just to make some people and the critics twitch?

I know there are already a lot of diverse neighborhoods and LGBTQ+ friendly enclaves in some cities and countries. Every once in a while I find myself searching for the safest, most Trans welcoming countries, states or cities, dreaming of a life where I can exist without the constant fear and judgment.

There are places like that sure, but usually just a few neighborhoods inside an otherwise hostile, racist or not so welcoming city or State. You might feel safe on one specific place, but the laws, politicians, and police forces are still dictated by a majority that doesn’t understand or approves of your gender identity.

What I am talking about goes beyond a single district or neighborhood. What if everything in our town was run by people like us? From the local politicians writing the laws, to the business owners, the medical professionals, the teachers, the community leaders, etc. What if our safety wasn’t something we needed to worry about as a minority, but the very foundation of our newly stablished society?

To be clear, it wouldn’t be about becoming the new oppressor. Making it illegal to be straight would just replicate the same broken system that have harmed us for years. Rather, it is about shifting the balance. If cisgender straight people chose to live there, they would find themselves being the minority.

Is the idea of an intentional, self-governing gender non-conforming sanctuary  a far fetched daydream? Maybe. Throughout history though, marginalized groups have always sought safety in numbers. What if one day we decided on a place and we just took over such place? Not by force of course but through a concentrated, migration?

If enough of us moved to the same place, we could democratically step into leadership. Imagine crossing a city limit or a state line and entering a world built entirely with people like us in mind.

In this place, you wouldn’t have to search for a "trans-friendly" doctor; every doctor would be trained in gender-affirming care. You wouldn't have to look for a safe restroom, scan a room for hostile glances, or worry about you or your family being bullied or threatened.

For the first time, your identity wouldn't be something you have to explain, defend, or protect. It would simply be the default. It’s a beautiful thought, a space tailored entirely for our peace, our joy, and our true self expression.