Two days after the book event at the Historic Stonewall Inn Mari and I found ourselves at the Scandinavia House on Park Avenue where I had the chance to speak to my fellow speakers at the monthly meeting of the New York City chapter of the National Speakers Association. For me, this was one of those “full circle” moments of my life. You see, there is history that I have with the NSA from a few years back when I was vainly trying to make a transition (ha!) from my unfulfilling corporate gig and switch to a career as a speaker. The NSA was a place where I was able to find valuable information and insights on what one needs to do to develop a successful speaking practice. It was during this period of my life that I met and became friends with Jeanne Stafford, who is now the President of the NYC chapter and was beyond instrumental in having me speak there. Because of the pandemic, it was two years in the making, but worth the wait and then some! Thank You, Jeanne!!
Photo credit: John DeMato
Earlier this year, I was honored to be voted in as the first President of the Board of Directors for an organization that is near and dear to my heart – TransNewYork. Beginning at the conference in New York City that she organized back in 2019 that I had the privilege of speaking at, Executive Director Dr. Genn Herley and I have become good friends as well as collaborators on addressing the myriad needs of the transgender and gender expansive community. It is an honor for me to be working closely with a dedicated group of committed board directors that share my vision for a better world for trans and non-binary people.
The Mission Statement of the organization tells you all you need to know about why I have chosen to bring my energy and experience to its work:
TransNewYork’ mission is to educate, empower, and enhance the lives of Transgender, Gender Non-conforming and Non-binary Individuals globally through advocacy, community visibility, human and social services, advance knowledge, and lifelong learning development of self.
Please consider supporting TransNewYork, especially with a monthly sustaining donation and help us achieve our vision of being acknowledged as the organization of choice for transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary communities in the City of New York, the surrounding Metropolitan area, and nationally. Thank You!
I’m Tired. I’m. So. Very. Tired . . .
Year after year, transgender individuals like me, their allies and advocates gather around the world to honor, and remember, once again, those in my community we have lost to senseless hate and violence in the past year. It is what has come to be known as the Transgender Day of Remembrance, or TDOR, for short. It was created 22 years ago by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was brutally murdered in Boston in 1998. And while it is the gracious, honorable and right thing to do – to recognize our dead – I am weary and yearn for the day when we won’t have any new names to read and candles to extinguish.
It has gone on for far too many years, and far too many lives. . .
A very wise person once said to me, “before you ever get to the answers, you must first get comfortable with the questions.” And I get that, but the nagging, unanswered questions continue to mount as each new murder is reported, or as is the case with many media accounts, misreported by not noting the victim’s preferred name, or worse yet not reported at all. But of all the unanswered questions about this utterly senseless loss of life, the one that stands above all others is: “Why?”
Sadly, my struggle for answers only creates more questions.
Why is it that the transgender community has been repeated hauled out to be publicly flogged in the town square to the delight of those who look to undermine, and yes, eradicate our right to fair treatment in all facets of our lives?
On this episode of #WalkTheWalkTalkTheTalk, I want to reflect on Transgender Awareness Week and share some stories with you regarding my experience. When we share our stories, in those vulnerable moments of clarity, we risk losing everything. I talk about this in my book, “Reflections From Both Sides of the Glass Ceiling.” If what I shared with you today resonates, please consider buying a copy. I’m running a holiday special that makes the book affordable to you.