Let’s get something straight I’m not Or at least, that’s a situation in question But that’s not what I’m here for, you see The acronym LGBT has a terrific little tail that everyone tends to trip over And the conversations that transpire when I attempt to try the closet door Leave me frequently swept under the rug Maybe I’m just a little lost in translation But they should know that identity is not orientation And it can be tricky to articulate, so I don’t mind the extra explanation But I’m telling you there’s a tipping point where you can’t expect me to take it To tally up the talks I’ve had tearing apart the phrase “So, genderfluid is like another word for bisexual, then, right?” Because there’s already this his-and-hers internal tug-of-war So tying in other types of ignorance just gets tiring at times And trying again and trying again and again to get the point across Leads me down a tangled train of thought that runs off the tracks in unclear tangents Because conversations transition without the intended amendments Because these transcripts would transcend the usual transfer of data Into transgressions and obsessions with more than I’m able to Confirm or confer without temperamental reactions Feeling entirely translucent overlooking their infractions Wondering why more words aren’t composed in a way that allows them To be transposed to neutrality or at least farther from Specific definitions testing how gendered things can get Wondering why I don’t make any sense yet [Breathe] Let me be perfectly queer The acronym LGBT has a tetrad attraction detailing at least part of this Just a trifle of understanding if you’re looking to comprehend it And if you don’t care to learn then don’t bother to ask But take some time from your day and I’ll try to make it fast Go ahead and interrogate, I don’t mind all that much Whatever trips your trigger, as long as it’s not pointed at us I can’t speak on behalf of every transgender teen But if you don’t know a word, I can tell you what I mean I can text you a trillion terms to absorb Or trim down the lesson to the basics if you’re bored But don’t tell me that pronouns are a hassle to learn When they catch in the throats of those just waiting their turn To stop hiding their tears and be treated the same Teaching one person at a time until the world hears their true name Don’t expect trophies, but I’ll give you my thanks Don’t tease us about the clothes that make our spines and souls ache I want to wear this letter T like a cross from my neck Saying the prefix trans- means across and I like it like that Traversing the spectrums and binaries all mixed Transcontinental, transatlantic, transfixed By the beauty in boys and the glamour in girls But mostly the neithers and boths in this world Don’t tell me it’s a transient, temporary tale Or that I’m totally enamored with getting off the most followed trail I’m taking back traumas and tense muscles and taunts Until tentative trespassers give us what we want A presence, a voice, and all human rights It shouldn’t be a privilege to feel safe at night Don’t tiptoe around troubles, just stand with us here Add a voice until we trumpet our triumphs and cheers Take my hand, hear my voice Listen, learn something new Because LGBT has a cross and Cross my heart I’m with you