As an ally, Sarah Green wants to help educate the general public about transgender issues, so people who are transgender don’t have to do all the work.

“Hopefully I can answer questions so kids don’t get asked what is going on in their pants,” Green said.

Green is on a 19-day walk from Shelburne Falls to Williamstown to Lee back to Shelburne Falls having honest conversations with people along the way about the transgender experience.

The journey began on the Bridge of Flowers on May 1, where she held a sign and invited people to ask questions and discuss gender with her. From there she walks from town to town having open conversations with interested parties. She started with a small white, pink and blue transgender flag and plans to replace it with a larger flag as she goes.

Green is a parent of a transgender child, and she watched him struggle with his own gender while getting asked uncomfortable questions throughout his transition. Green and her son have had honest communication for years to help Green understand the ins and outs of being transgender.

“When they first came out I didn’t understand what it was to be transgender,” she said. “They were still a child at the time. I was hesitant at first, I thought it was a phase.”

Through psychology classes Green attended and conversations with friends, Green came to understand her child’s transition. She said the biggest factor in her own understanding was learning that the demographic group with the highest suicide rate is transgender children.

“I would rather have my son than argue with him about what I think he should be doing,” she explained.

Green will be camping, staying at friend’s homes and a couple Airbnbs along the journey.

She hopes through this trip she will take some of the pressure off transgender people needing to explain their own gender to others and spread valuable education throughout the region. On her first day on the Bridge of Flowers, she said she also gave space to people to talk about what they needed to talk about and used the platform less for education.

Green said her inspiration for the trip comes from news across the country of anti-transgender legislation being passed in various states. She explained transgender kids are not trying to be special or different, they are just trying to be themselves.

Green has had difficult conversations with her friends and family about the wide spectrum of genders and believes she is informed enough to speak with people who know less about transgender issues.

She said she fears that doing this walk will make her a target, but that she has to do it for people who are transgender.

“I feel bad for people who feel they can’t be themselves. I feel like if I can answer questions for some people I can take the pressure off for someone else,” Green said.

Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.

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