I dunno if folks nowadays can remember how major Tula was for my generation.

She was the first trans person most of us were aware of, she made the terminology of the time become known to folks that had no idea transition even existed, or that anyone might want it. And she did it with grace and style.

It may seem crazy now, but the thing that sticks out to me most is how little people had a problem with her. I’m not saying it wasn’t there, but the reactions lacked the venom and sheer insane fervor that’s so common now. Like, even my redneck, ancient great aunt was all “t’ain’t natural, but don’t hurt nobody else if she ain’t got the sense to know that.”

Seriously, that woman was not pleasant about a lot of things, and that’s the worst she had to say about it, and she called Tula she.

There were whiners and haters, yeah, but it just didn’t have the craziness to it.

It’s part of the reason the wave of hatred and rage towards trans people feels so artificial and off to me. I can’t really figure out how to express it right, but it feels fake in a way that the more grounded objections didn’t back then. Even the religious crazies weren’t as crazy about it.

I’m grateful she stepped onto the world stage the way she did. I hope she knows how many people she inspired.