#Elianna Kruskal

[queerplatonicpositivity]

"Both within the trans community, as well as the general population, there is a lot of debate about the validity of certain trans identities and what criteria need to be met to reach 'real' transness. These debates result in painful gatekeeping, where people who are struggling to be seen as our full selves are told we still don’t belong. For me, I take שמירת הלשון / Sh’mirat Ha’Lashon as an opportunity for all of us to reflect on the ways we interact with other people, and not to undermine other people’s dignity by questioning whether other people really are at their core who they say they are.

Guarding one’s language doesn’t just mean refraining from saying certain things. It also means being intentional about what you do say and specifically how you say it. It’s not enough to not misgender people, not question their validity, not speak negatively about them; we need to use language that is inclusive, intentional, and clear."

— Elianna Kruskal (he/they), age 18, excerpt from Keshet newsletter

#quote #Elianna Kruskal #Keshet #Sh'mirat Ha'Lashon #Judaism #religion cw #no gatekeeping #trans #transgender #transgender positivity #Jewish positivity #q