Trans love: God is change*

Written By Jasmin Rai

I grew up in a mixed class dominant caste Sikh Punjabi south Asian household in Southall, west London. Given the rampant hierarchical patriarchy, my queer journey was a difficult and violent one, I recognised myself as trans when I was a young 32 year old and haven’t looked back (or when I do I often refer to myself as being “in drag”). I found love recently, in myself and chosen family. I then met my partner, who has met me where I am and together we are building a tapestry of a queer love story. We don’t identify as poly but we hold firm that our Chosens are not placed beneath the commitment we have to each other. Trans love dreams into the future. I take this moment to thank all the Black and Dalit women and femmes who have taught me about my privilege and I hope I can learn to be a better ally. Trans love is a fractal of all the things that were dreamt up for us. I am proud of my queer lineages and I hope to love myself as hard as I can, so I create less violence in the world. 


*Octavia E Butler


Jasmin Rai

I'm a trans person of dominant caste, Sikh, Punjabi lineages. I grew up in Southall, London. I'm part of a volunteer run QTIBIPOC collective called Black Unicorn (formerly known as UKQTIBIPOC Hardship Fund). We're currently working on wealth distribution and reparations for the most marginalised within our communities. I lean on the work of a lot of Black and/or Dalit Women, femmes and Queers to better understand my position within my community. I'm currently reading everything written by Octavia E Butler and believe that God is Change and getting into right relationship with change and dismantling caste supremacy and oppression of all kinds is my life's work. I hope to be an ancestor that my queer and South Asian chosens can look upon as someone who continued to try and be better. I have experienced a lot of conflict and harm in my life and I take these moments as privileges because conflict is a gift and usually leads to transformation.

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