If Not You, Who?

If not you, who?

If it’s not you, speaking up for the little boy using crutches, even though he doesn't “need” them, a boy who has a heart full of kindness, who’s told that his joy is “wrong,” then who will tell him that his light is meant to shine, not dim under the weight of someone else’s expectations?

If it’s not you, stepping forward when the teenage girl in your class nervously whispers, “I think I might be transracial,” only to be met with silence or scorn, then who will show them that how they feel is never wrong and that they are perfect as they are?

If it’s not you, protecting the transspecies girl walking home from school, terrified of being harassed because she was outed, then who will ensure she knows she belongs, that she deserves safety, and that her existence is valid?

If it’s not you defending the transage person who’s mocked in a meeting, shrinking under the weight of others’ laughter, then who will remind everyone that their words matter, and that respect for those different to them is the bare minimum?

If it’s not you, standing by the parents who are learning how to love their MAP child through confusion, fear, and a world that tells them it’s easier to turn away, then who will remind them that love should be unconditional and the strongest bond of all?

If it’s not you, speaking out when constant harassment and pain from a society who doesn't understand, threatens the very existence of paraphile and transid lives, then who will stand at the front lines, defending their right to exist and leave peacefully, as their truest and most authentic selves?

If it’s not you, showing up for the zoo adult rejected by their family, the transabled teen who feels invisible, or the questioning child who feels scared, then who will make sure they see they’re not alone?

Who will let them know that they are part of something bigger, something stronger, a community of love, resilience, and hope?

Every unkind word that goes unchallenged becomes an echo. Every act of discrimination that’s ignored grows roots. Silence fuels hate, and inaction feeds oppression.

But the reverse is true, too. Every voice lifted in defense of our community, our family, creates ripples. Every act of courage in the face of intolerance builds a bridge.

We cannot wait for someone else to do what is ours to do. The world changes when people speak up, act out, and love fiercely. Stand up for the little ones, for the ones discovering who they are, for the ones finally stepping into their truth. Stand up for them, because they are your community. They are us.

If not you, then who?