Protect the Dolls

Pedro Pascal knows what’s up. Lately, the Chilean actor and star of The Last of Us has been seen sporting a t-shirt that reads “Protect the Dolls.” Yes, the phrase is catchy and deceptively simple, but there is a deeper meaning behind it. You see, Pedro has a trans sister named Lux, whom he is fiercely protective of. And he is broadcasting to the world a very simple message:

Trans people need protection right now.

The shirt was created by London-based American fashion designer Conner Ives as a rally cry for trans rights. “Dolls” is an urban slang word for transwomen that dates back to the NYC ballroom culture of at least the 1980s. Ives wore his own shirt for the close of his Fall 2025 runway show as a mark of solidarity for the trans community. He’s donated the proceeds from the sale of the shirt to charity and has so far raised over $300K. Other celebrities have also jumped onboard. Tilda Swinton, Troye Silvan and Lisa Rinna have been seen wearing “Protect the Dolls” shirts.

Here is why you should too. . .

It’s no mystery that trans people are being hammered by right-wing, Christo-fascist politics right now. We have become symbolic of all that is woke and a handy scapegoat at that. All that is old news. What I’d like to discuss today is a fresh new direction—why the world needs us. Let’s breakdown the gifts that trans people bring. And yes, those gifts stretch far beyond our fierce aesthetic and cultural catchphrases like “Yass, queen!" or “Very mindful, very demure.”

To be blunt, the most difficult human journeys are often the most informative. Life as a trans person is not easy, but ultimately we do live by what comes from in here (versus what is out there). I would argue that is something that the world needs more of: the art of living by what is in here.

In case anyone hasn’t noticed, the world is going through a lot of changes right now. And it’s everywhere. Massive external changes are happening because human consciousness is changing. We are becoming aware of what’s taken place behind the scenes for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. . .and waking up. It is said we are approaching the biggest shift in human consciousness that the planet has ever seen. That is a good thing. The downside of change is that it means that the old ways of being need to die. And that part of change is uncomfortable.

Trans people are well-positioned in this sense. We intrinsically understand how to manage change because we’ve learned that fear is just a smoke screen. Possibility and freedom exist on the other side of that fear. And change doesn’t happen overnight. Stepping into the unknown happens one microstep at a time. And with each step forward, we have learned to look around and notice that the sun still continues to rise, there still is air to breathe, and life continues onward. . .except that it feels freer. Lighter. And then the realization comes—the one that all trans people understand on a deep visceral level:

The ‘rules’ are all made up.

Trans folks live our truths in spite of the pressure others place upon us. We validate ourselves from within. Our journeys on this planet are sacred. In fact, they are so sacred that various cultures throughout history have recognized us. That is why space was carved out for us in indigenous societies, prior to Western colonization. Ancient people understood that we are the prophets, the seers, and the guides. We are the stewards of change here to usher in a new age. We remind people to think in terms of possibility.

Furthermore, we also teach the world one critical lesson:

The lesson of alchemy.

Alchemy is the science of turning base metal into gold. Trans people are masters in this sense. Each of us has taken the raw materials of our own lives and sculpted them into something that matches in here. We are literally alchemists of our own bodies, for fuck’s sake—manifesting a more fitting form out of thin air.

We do this by tapping into the power of creation—a power that all of us have because all of us are divine beings. And this is exactly why people in power call us dangerous. They don’t want everyday people realizing their own divinity. They don’t want people stepping into their own power because then we cannot be controlled. And yet, evolution is inevitable. Expansion is the natural order of the universe. It is nothing to be afraid of. It is the future.

To all my fellow humans: we need each other.

We need to lift each other up, and we need each other to evolve. It is through community that we recognize our power and are able to tap into it. So please, protect us. Protect the dolls but also protect the bricks, the T-men. and the enbies. Protect all the alchemists who are paving the way to possibility in the new world

You need us. And we need you.

Peace and love.

To support alchemists everywhere, buy your authentic Connor Ives Protect the Dolls t-shirt here. All proceeds go to Trans Lifeline, a charity that connects trans individuals with the lifesaving care that they need.

Thanks so much for reading. Beyond the Veil is a reader-supported publication. Please like, share, or become a paid subscriber as you are willing. You can also buy me a coffee below because writing requires caffeine!! Stay tuned for next time, when I make a rather surprising political assessment. Until then.

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