Hazel Eye Lullaby

Growing up in rural Oklahoma and coming out as trans/non-binary after I moved away inspired me to write my thesis on the experiences of rural trans joy and resilience because I couldn't even imagine a trans life in Oklahoma. When trans people are represented or thought about, they are usually depicted in big liberal cities. Rural trans people are pitied and expected to move away to cities or thought to be in danger because of where they live. When violence and victimhood become the singular narrative of rural trans people in mainstream American culture, it limits our ability imagine trans people living and succeeding in rural areas as well as the unique perspectives that rural trans people can offer.  Much of the previous academic research involving rural trans people looks at what rural trans people are missing, but this project depicts what rural trans people have and what it might look like to form communities in places where they are expected to not exist. This project aims to shift how society sees rural trans people, to value what we can learn from them as a community of people whose legal, health care, social, and political systems have treated as disposable. Taking part in this project means doing a confidential interview (more like a structured conversation) with me for about an hour. We will talk about resilience, what it means to exist as a trans person from a rural area, and what ruralness means to you. Everyone who participates will be provided with an audio copy, transcript, and final copy of the project.