The transgender community has become more and more visible in recent years, but as evidenced by the Trump administration's move to try and deny the existence of trans people, that doesn't mean they are in any less danger of having their rights and protections taken away.

Here are steps you can take to become an ally to the transgender community. 

Respect pronouns

It's more polite to ask which pronouns a person uses, rather than to assume and misgender a person. Some people don't identify within the gender binary and could use ze/zir or they/them rather than he/him or she/her. While it can be challenging, to be a good ally you have to ask about and respect people's pronouns. We all make mistakes, but trying goes a long way. 

Language is key

Learn the basics. Transgender people are assigned a gender at birth that doesn't align with how they feel about themselves. There are many myths and misconceptions about what being transgender means. You can learn a lot about the differences among sex, gender, and sexual orientation online. Don't rely on trans folks to teach you everything. Take your time and do research. Straight for Equality's trans ally materials and It's Pronounced Metrosexual's easy-to-read guide are both awesome resources! 

Be empathetic

Transgender people face extremely high rates of violence and discrimination. Suicide, murder, and rape haunt the community, and many trans people lose their friends and family while transitioning. Many trans people suffer from relentless violence and don't have the support to heal physically and emotionally. Transition can be really hard, but it's often easier with the love and support of allies.

Don't out your trans friends

Unless, your friend explicitly says it's okay to tell others, don't out them. The act of outing a transgender person can endanger their family relationships, living situations, jobs, and lives. Outing a trans person is unnecessary and dangerous.

Don't fetishize transgender people

Transgender folks are humans and not kinks. Saying something like, "I love trans guys! Their bodies are so hot!" is belittling. Ideas like this reduce trans people to sex objects, as if they exist to diversify sexual fantasies and turn on cis people.

Avoid misgendering and deadnaming

Sometimes, allies unintentionally say things like, "I knew Jake when he was Beth." or "Mary was a he back then." It's important to use the gender and the name a trans person perfers—even when you're talking about them in the past. Deadnaming (the act of using a transgender person's birth name instead of their chosen name) and misgendering is a form of outing that completely diminishes a trans person's identity on every level. Don't do it.

Educate yourself—and others

Tolerance goes hand in hand with awareness. It is so important for all of us to educate ourselves, our friends, and our families about transgender identities. We must emphasize the importance of valuing and supporting transgender and gender nonconforming people in all walks of life, and learn more about how we can help create change for trans people in our society. When we encounter or witness transphobia amongst our peers or in our day to day lives, it is really important to say or do something about it. Those small conversations can make a world of difference.

Donate to or help out trans organizations and groups

Giving money and time to groups whose mission it is to fight for equal rights and protections for the trans community is one of the best ways to be an ally! Some good groups to help out include the National Center for Transgender Equality, Trans Lifeline, the Transgender Law Center, GLSEN, and The Trevor Project.

The tips above will help you begin your journey to being an awesome trans ally, but please don't stop at yourself! Share this article with your friends and family—cis or trans—and help make the world safer and more welcoming for the trans community!