Jools Lebron is redefining the word “demure.” The TikTok creator went viral recently when she shared a video online explaining how she gets ready for work. Describing herself as mindful, demure, and cutesy, Jools quickly propelled a word from the 14th century into our collective consciousness. The trend of describing yourself as ‘very demure’ has been so astronomical that celebrities like Lady Gaga, Penn Badgley and even the President of the United States, Joe Biden, have used it! 

Within a week of posting her first ‘demure’ video, Jools amassed over 100 million likes across social media. But this is about more than vanity metrics. This virality has been life changing for Jools. “One day, I was playing cashier and making videos on my break, and now I’m flying across countries to host events, and I’m gonna be able to finance the rest of my transition,” Jools said in a recent TikTok video. 

Jools, a transgender Latina, being able to now finance her transition is huge news for someone like her. Now she’s become a symbol of hope for trans Latinas, most of whom suffer from living in a system that doesn’t support them.

LGBTQ+ people in America currently face constant threats to their safety. Lawmakers have made this community a target of political attacks. This year there have been more than 500 pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation introduced in state legislatures across the country, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Many of those bills specifically target Transgender people. And the lawmakers who wrote them are supported by a media that often mischaracterize trans people to stir up fear and anger in exchange for ratings. This has real life consequences because violence against transgender people is on the rise. 

So far this year, there have been at least 25 reported transgender victims of fatal violence, according to the Human Rights Campaign. Seventy-two percent of the victims were people of color, including many Latinas. Thirty-two were misgendered or deadnamed by authorities or the press. And 60% were victims of gun violence. 

Transgender people who receive gender affirming care is game-changing in a system stacked against them. Those who receive appropriate care are more likely to live high quality lives. Being allowed to live authentically reduces stress, anxiety, depression and risk of suicide, according to research conducted by Columbia University. And for those who seek surgical intervention, it also supports development of physical characteristics congruent with gender identity, which can reduce risk of harassment or violence. 

Many transgender Latinas face barriers when it comes to competent healthcare. Fear of discrimination often keeps them from visiting a doctor. And many report being denied care or receiving insufficient care due to their gender identity. But the biggest barrier, which Jools Lebron has become lucky enough to overcome, is financial. 

Often times, transgender people lack health insurance or their insurance doesn’t cover transition-related care. And for many, the out-of-pocket cost of transitioning is out of the question, with estimates saying that procedures can add up to more than $100,000. Some even turn to crowdfunding as a last measure. A recent analysis by the San Francisco Chronicle detailed how more than 3,000 people have turned to crowdfunding websites like GoFundMe to raise money to cover healthcare costs.

This kind of struggle is especially true for Latine people as there is a correlation between poverty rates for Latine and transgender populations. In the U.S., the poverty rate for the Latine population is 18%, higher than the average 12%. And transgender people are worse off, with a poverty rate of around 30%, according to the National Library of Medicine. This means that without adequate healthcare coverage, most trans Latinas can’t afford proper care. This keeps them from upward economic and social mobility. 

Jools Lebron is an amazing example of what happens when we support trans people. But access to adequate healthcare shouldn’t come on the other side of a viral TikTok trend. It should be the standard. 

This current system is not very demure. It’s not mindful.