A BIG THANK YOU to Stephanie Eckersley-Ray and Steven Garibell and the entire team at TD Bank for including me in last Thursday’s AMCB Pride event! It was truly a transformative day for me and a real honor to be included in the program. I was so touched by the energy and passion that was in the room – and the commitment to evolving the already inclusive culture that has been built. You and all of your colleagues should be so very proud of all that you have accomplished – not only in making the event happen but for the positive, inclusive impact you have had and no doubt will continue to have on the culture at TD Bank!
As we move from Black History Month #blackhistorymonth and into Women’s History Month, #womenshistorymonth, the beautiful and poignant words of Maya Angelou #mayaangelou give me hope at a time when there is so much hate and bigotry directed at the transgender community. If only those that seek to legislate us out of existence would stop the nonsense and embrace the indisputable fact that we are . . . One Human Family . . . .
“I note the obvious differences
In the human family.
Some of us are serious,
Some thrive on comedy.
Some declare their lives are lived
As true profundity,
And others claim they really live
The real reality.
The variety of our skin tones
Can confuse, bemuse, delight,
Brown and pink and beige and purple,
Tan and blue and white.
I’ve sailed upon the seven seas
And stopped in every land,
I’ve seen the wonders of the world
Not yet one common man.
I know ten thousand women
Called Jane and Mary Jane,
But I’ve not seen any two
Who really were the same.
Mirror twins are different
Although their features jibe,
And lovers think quite different thoughts
While lying side by side.
We love and lose in China,
We weep on England’s moors,
And laugh and moan in Guinea,
And thrive on Spanish shores.
We seek success in Finland,
Are born and die in Maine.
In minor ways we differ,
In major we’re the same.
I note the obvious differences
Between each sort and type,
But we are more alike, my friends,
Than we are unalike.
We are more alike, my friends,
Than we are unalike.
We are more alike, my friends,
Than we are unalike.
Songwriters: Maya Angelou / Shawn Rivera
Friday evening, March 3rd was a truly memorable evening as my wife Mari, son Andrew and I celebrated the 50th Anniversary of PFLAG National/Straight for Equality at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City! An amazing organization that I have proudly served as a Board member of for the last seven years.
A big shout out to Farah Bala, PCC of THE FARSIGHT AGENCY for kindly being a gala sponsor and joining us at our table, along with the amazing Chris Mosier (he/him) of #Transathlete.com, which is a comprehensive resource for students, athletes, coaches, and administrators to find information about trans inclusion in athletics-at all levels! Thank You for what you do and so wonderful to meet you, my brother!
PLEASE STOP whatever you are doing and take a few minutes – it’s only 13 pages long – and read this wonderful summary report by the good folks at the MOVEMENT ADVANCEMENT PROJECT! I think it does a very thorough job of encapsulating the breadth and depth of the outright assault on #lgbtq people – most especially #transgender people – in our country today. In any published op-ed I have ever authored I have always been quick to point out that the only goal of those that oppose my #community have only ONE goal: our eradication. Make no mistake, these attacks are systematic and coordinated. As the authors put it, “Anti-LGBTQ forces want nothing less than to eliminate openly LGBTQ people from the fabric of #society.” We need our #allies more than ever…Read Report
*featured image is from lgbtmap.org