We Have Always Been Here

As they marched Jean to the stake

They said her sins the flames would take

For she would not recant her ways

Her armor used to fuel the blaze

Nineteen hundreds Germany

Had gender affirming surgery

Yet Nazis rejected Hirschfeld’s claims

His books and research put to flames

Try to erase us with your fire

Burn us - we will only rise up higher

Try to make us disappear

Despite your pyres, we persevere

From Akkadian priests and Elagabalus

To Jorgensen and Johnson with her Stonewall Riots

We claim proud and loud and without fear

We have always been – and always will be – here