You're spot on Wendynator. And yes we trans people understand this all too well. But I don't think non-trans people know how powerful it is (except when some of them intentionally want to dead name us and cut us down to size... and put us in our place and remind us exactly what our birth name is! As though we might have forgotten!).
Last summer when I was at Starbucks and they called the order for Kenna it was like a jolt of goodness (my name is Kenzie Kenna). It was so powerful I took a picture of my receipt. My receipt! And I texted the image to my girlfriend. And I told her: "there's my name. On the receipt. I'm at Starbucks in Miami Springs having a coffee". All this fanfare, just because I saw my name in print on the Starbucks coffee ticket. Yeah. I'm not kidding.
Also, last Friday I was at the University of Miami. At the Cancer Center and imaging departments. I missed my last two appointments for an ultrasound. So I figured I'd better show up in person and apologize. I had to make a new appointment. The woman and man attendants saw me go into the empty office for Radiology. They told me everybody left and it's not the right place anyhow (I'm a helpless ADHD idiot when I'm rushing). So I nervously explained what happened. We then walked outside and she gave my information to the desk people. They told me hang on. So I stepped away. Pacing some. As I usually do when I'm nervous. And I heard them discussing my appointment and lining things up. And from a distance I heard them say "she is able to come next Monday right?" Keep in mind my file has my "preferred" name Kenzie, but they know full well of my male name from that damn driver's license. And that it's still my legal name (Kevin). So with them showing the respect and them conversing amongst themselves with the correct pronouns was music to my ears. I can't tell you how powerful this is. I don't even like the fact that it's so powerful. Because, it shouldn't have such a hold on me. But damn it felt good. Damn it. 🤸
You're spot on Wendynator. And yes we trans people understand this all too well. But I don't think non-trans people know how powerful it is (except when some of them intentionally want to dead name us and cut us down to size... and put us in our place and remind us exactly what our birth name is! As though we might have forgotten!).
Last summer when I was at Starbucks and they called the order for Kenna it was like a jolt of goodness (my name is Kenzie Kenna). It was so powerful I took a picture of my receipt. My receipt! And I texted the image to my girlfriend. And I told her: "there's my name. On the receipt. I'm at Starbucks in Miami Springs having a coffee". All this fanfare, just because I saw my name in print on the Starbucks coffee ticket. Yeah. I'm not kidding.
Also, last Friday I was at the University of Miami. At the Cancer Center and imaging departments. I missed my last two appointments for an ultrasound. So I figured I'd better show up in person and apologize. I had to make a new appointment. The woman and man attendants saw me go into the empty office for Radiology. They told me everybody left and it's not the right place anyhow (I'm a helpless ADHD idiot when I'm rushing). So I nervously explained what happened. We then walked outside and she gave my information to the desk people. They told me hang on. So I stepped away. Pacing some. As I usually do when I'm nervous. And I heard them discussing my appointment and lining things up. And from a distance I heard them say "she is able to come next Monday right?" Keep in mind my file has my "preferred" name Kenzie, but they know full well of my male name from that damn driver's license. And that it's still my legal name (Kevin). So with them showing the respect and them conversing amongst themselves with the correct pronouns was music to my ears. I can't tell you how powerful this is. I don't even like the fact that it's so powerful. Because, it shouldn't have such a hold on me. But damn it felt good. Damn it. 🤸
This was such a great piece. Nicely done