Dysphoria

By Ivy Branchau

Why do you care so much

about someone else’s choices

That don’t involve you at all?

The way someone presents themself

The way someone cuts their hair

What that person wants to be called

Why does it matter to you?

Me? The way I’ve been exiled and ejected

By my own blood and people I called friend

Told I’ll never be a real woman

Told I’ll never be safe in public

I’m forced to stay incognito

 Like I’m wearing a mask for my protection

Or like a bat in the night, hiding in shadows

It’s horrible, the stares you get

When you ask to be referred differently

They don’t understand the internal battle

The thoughts when my eyes close at night

How I wish I was born differently

Seeing the surgeries for my brothers and sisters be banned

Hormones denied to teens that want to feel normal

 All because of the lack of understanding

We’re out here dying and deserted

Attacked and abandoned

But community holds together what we have left

Without each other we wouldn’t have what we do

Society paints this community as evil

Acting like we chose who we are

The blind judgement and hatred is not backed by your god

Is this level of persecution of any community in the bible?

Where does it say to attack someone for minding their business?

Having to hear the name I hate

Uttered at school, home, with relatives

Yet I’m still told I have it easy

In a way, yes I have it better

Better than those who are left by their family

Just because of their identity

What a low bar to have

Yet I still stand proud of who I am

Though deep down I’ll never truly reach my dream