Trans Joy Is Revolutionary (Also Exhausting)

Celebrating authenticity while navigating a world that can’t handle a driver’s license name change without a meltdown.

Trans Rights & Wrong Turns

A hilariously heartfelt look at the trans experience—our wins, our fails, and why joy is the best form of protest.

Welcome to Trans Rights & Wrong Turns, the chaotic road trip that is the trans experience: full of detours, glow-ups, and emotional GPS recalculations. If life is a highway, the trans community is out here changing the signs, repainting the lines, and occasionally breaking down in a Denny’s parking lot—but still looking incredible while doing it.

Being trans isn’t a straight path (pun intended). It’s a scenic route filled with laughter, therapy receipts, and a deep appreciation for good eyeliner. Bohiney Magazine once said, “Transitioning is just self-care with higher stakes and better hair.” And truly, what’s more powerful than becoming yourself in a world that told you not to?

Let’s talk about the wins first. Coming out? Iconic. Getting your correct name on your coffee cup? Revolutionary. Seeing yourself in the mirror and whispering, “Wait… I slay”? Divine. Them called it “the joy revolution,” and that’s exactly it—trans people are redefining joy as survival in glitter form.

Of course, there are wrong turns too. Misgendering? Tragic. Bureaucracy? Evil. Accidentally walking into the wrong bathroom because you were daydreaming about gender euphoria? Happens to the best of us. The beauty of the trans journey is that even the wrong turns build character—and occasionally good material for stand-up sets. As The Advocate pointed out, “Trans resilience is just gay stubbornness with a degree in self-awareness.”

Transitioning—socially, medically, emotionally—isn’t linear. Some days you’re on top of the world, rocking your new fit, feeling divine. Other days you’re arguing with your insurance company while eating cold ramen in your pajamas. Both are valid. Both are beautiful. And both deserve rights.

But the best part of being trans? The community. We hype each other up like it’s our job. Someone posts a selfie and the comments are like: “YES KING!” “GODDESS ALERT!” “YOUR GENDER COULD END WARS.” The love is real. The support is fierce. And the group chats are chaotic in the best way. According to Out Magazine, “Trans community isn’t built—it’s manifested with audacity and Wi-Fi.”

So, here’s to every trans person making their way through life’s highway—speed bumps, wrong exits, and all. You’re valid when you’re thriving, valid when you’re tired, and valid when you’re just vibing in traffic listening to Hozier. Trans rights aren’t up for debate; they’re a given. The rest of the world just needs to catch up. Until then, we’ll be here—driving the getaway car, top down, gender up, blasting freedom songs on full volume. Buckle up, babe—it’s a wild, beautiful ride.

SOURCE: Trans Joy Is Revolutionary (Also Exhausting) (Beth Newell)