recently I’ve been confronting Facebook memories with a slight pain in my chest
memories with a slight pain in my chest
memories with a slight pain in my chest those photos videos are posts that the
those photos videos are posts that the
those photos videos are posts that the site digs up from the past and then
site digs up from the past and then
site digs up from the past and then shoves right back in your face as if
shoves right back in your face as if
shoves right back in your face as if they were happening today are making me
they were happening today are making me
they were happening today are making me ask questions like why did I think
ask questions like why did I think
ask questions like why did I think wearing that was a good idea or wow I
wearing that was a good idea or wow I
wearing that was a good idea or wow I really wanted to forget about that
really wanted to forget about that
really wanted to forget about that person but I’ve also been forced to ask
person but I’ve also been forced to ask
person but I’ve also been forced to ask some more unusual questions like can I
some more unusual questions like can I
some more unusual questions like can I keep this is it convincing do I look
keep this is it convincing do I look
keep this is it convincing do I look like a boy my name is Gabi Santos and I
like a boy my name is Gabi Santos and I
like a boy my name is Gabi Santos and I identify as male transgender when you
identify as male transgender when you
identify as male transgender when you referred to me I’d really appreciate it
referred to me I’d really appreciate it
referred to me I’d really appreciate it if you could use he and him pronouns I
if you could use he and him pronouns I
if you could use he and him pronouns I was born in Manila Philippines to two
was born in Manila Philippines to two
was born in Manila Philippines to two loving parents I was their firstborn
loving parents I was their firstborn
loving parents I was their firstborn daughter and they even bought me tiny
daughter and they even bought me tiny
daughter and they even bought me tiny baby earrings but growing up I spent a
baby earrings but growing up I spent a
baby earrings but growing up I spent a lot of time with two older boys my
lot of time with two older boys my
lot of time with two older boys my cousins and they treated me as an equal
cousins and they treated me as an equal
cousins and they treated me as an equal inviting me to play the same games
inviting me to play the same games
inviting me to play the same games taking turns on a scooter or skateboard
taking turns on a scooter or skateboard
taking turns on a scooter or skateboard we even wrestled and it didn’t matter
we even wrestled and it didn’t matter
we even wrestled and it didn’t matter that I was a girl in elementary school
that I was a girl in elementary school
that I was a girl in elementary school my friends and I would play this hand
my friends and I would play this hand
my friends and I would play this hand clapping game and this game essentially
clapping game and this game essentially
clapping game and this game essentially introduced us to the different gender
introduced us to the different gender
introduced us to the different gender identities that were recognized in the
identities that were recognized in the
identities that were recognized in the Philippines at the time in mostly
Philippines at the time in mostly
Philippines at the time in mostly Tagalog which is my language and some
Tagalog which is my language and some
Tagalog which is my language and some English it went like girl boy bakla
English it went like girl boy bakla
English it went like girl boy bakla tomboy booty Kiba boy girl boy bakla
tomboy booty Kiba boy girl boy bakla
tomboy booty Kiba boy girl boy bakla tomboy to keep a boy and this translates
tomboy to keep a boy and this translates
tomboy to keep a boy and this translates to girl boy gay tomboy and then we moved
to girl boy gay tomboy and then we moved
to girl boy gay tomboy and then we moved on to body shapes lizard and pig clearly
on to body shapes lizard and pig clearly
on to body shapes lizard and pig clearly there’s so much more to this list but
there’s so much more to this list but
there’s so much more to this list but that’s all we knew as kids what we held
that’s all we knew as kids what we held
that’s all we knew as kids what we held in our small hands was an example of
in our small hands was an example of
in our small hands was an example of society’s incomplete understanding of
society’s incomplete understanding of
society’s incomplete understanding of gender some years after that I attended
gender some years after that I attended
gender some years after that I attended an all-girls high school initially I
an all-girls high school initially I
an all-girls high school initially I wasn’t sure how people would react if I
wasn’t sure how people would react if I
wasn’t sure how people would react if I told them that I liked girls turns out I
told them that I liked girls turns out I
told them that I liked girls turns out I wasn’t the only one
wasn’t the only one
wasn’t the only one and eventually there was like a lesbian
and eventually there was like a lesbian
and eventually there was like a lesbian couple in each class and we had
couple in each class and we had
couple in each class and we had something in common other than the fact
something in common other than the fact
something in common other than the fact of course that we liked girls we made
of course that we liked girls we made
of course that we liked girls we made this distinction whose blue and whose
this distinction whose blue and whose
this distinction whose blue and whose pink we would literally ask that blue or
pink we would literally ask that blue or
pink we would literally ask that blue or pink it was this idea that there needed
pink it was this idea that there needed
pink it was this idea that there needed to be a feminine and a masculine partner
to be a feminine and a masculine partner
to be a feminine and a masculine partner I was blue in case you couldn’t guess
I was blue in case you couldn’t guess
I was blue in case you couldn’t guess because of course Heather normativity
because of course Heather normativity
because of course Heather normativity had to exist even within same-sex
had to exist even within same-sex
had to exist even within same-sex couples eventually I learned about the
couples eventually I learned about the
couples eventually I learned about the so called alphabet-soup
so called alphabet-soup
so called alphabet-soup LGBTQ lesbian gay bisexual transgender
LGBTQ lesbian gay bisexual transgender
LGBTQ lesbian gay bisexual transgender and queer and we’re even adding more
and queer and we’re even adding more
and queer and we’re even adding more letters now but when I was younger I
letters now but when I was younger I
letters now but when I was younger I remember we talked a lot about the L&G
remember we talked a lot about the L&G
remember we talked a lot about the L&G brought it up like in our hand-clapping
brought it up like in our hand-clapping
brought it up like in our hand-clapping game but we didn’t talk about the B T or
game but we didn’t talk about the B T or
game but we didn’t talk about the B T or Q I’m not sure about you but I knew what
Q I’m not sure about you but I knew what
Q I’m not sure about you but I knew what those letters stood for but I never knew
those letters stood for but I never knew
those letters stood for but I never knew what they meant and then in December
what they meant and then in December
what they meant and then in December 2014 like a true millennial I started
2014 like a true millennial I started
2014 like a true millennial I started this account on a blogging site it was
this account on a blogging site it was
this account on a blogging site it was winter break so I had lots of time to
winter break so I had lots of time to
winter break so I had lots of time to spend exploring this in your site I
spend exploring this in your site I
spend exploring this in your site I learned that the day I decided to create
learned that the day I decided to create
learned that the day I decided to create this account was the same day that a
this account was the same day that a
this account was the same day that a seventeen year old girl had decided to
seventeen year old girl had decided to
seventeen year old girl had decided to take her own life
take her own life
take her own life her name is Leah Alcorn she was born
her name is Leah Alcorn she was born
her name is Leah Alcorn she was born male but identifies as female part of
male but identifies as female part of
male but identifies as female part of leaders note which she shared online
leaders note which she shared online
leaders note which she shared online read I feel like a girl trapped in a
read I feel like a girl trapped in a
read I feel like a girl trapped in a boy’s body and I felt that way ever
boy’s body and I felt that way ever
boy’s body and I felt that way ever since I was four I didn’t know that
since I was four I didn’t know that
since I was four I didn’t know that there was a word for that feeling nor
there was a word for that feeling nor
there was a word for that feeling nor was it possible for a boy to become a
was it possible for a boy to become a
was it possible for a boy to become a girl and so I never told anyone about it
girl and so I never told anyone about it
girl and so I never told anyone about it and just continued to do traditionally
and just continued to do traditionally
and just continued to do traditionally boyish things to fit in when I was 14 I
boyish things to fit in when I was 14 I
boyish things to fit in when I was 14 I learned with transgender meant and cried
learned with transgender meant and cried
learned with transgender meant and cried of happiness Leela’s post was for me at
of happiness Leela’s post was for me at
of happiness Leela’s post was for me at 21 that same revelation I wanted to cry
21 that same revelation I wanted to cry
21 that same revelation I wanted to cry of happiness have you ever wanted to do
of happiness have you ever wanted to do
of happiness have you ever wanted to do a Google search but never really knew
a Google search but never really knew
a Google search but never really knew what keywords to use
what keywords to use
what keywords to use that’s exactly how I felt for a long
that’s exactly how I felt for a long
that’s exactly how I felt for a long time except with my entire identity so
time except with my entire identity so
time except with my entire identity so in that moment I felt really excited and
in that moment I felt really excited and
in that moment I felt really excited and overwhelmed because I finally began to
overwhelmed because I finally began to
overwhelmed because I finally began to understand myself
understand myself
understand myself all the people who honored Leela’s death
all the people who honored Leela’s death
all the people who honored Leela’s death made me see how rich the trans community
made me see how rich the trans community
made me see how rich the trans community is and most importantly that I could be
is and most importantly that I could be
is and most importantly that I could be a part of it yet at the same time I was
a part of it yet at the same time I was
a part of it yet at the same time I was entering this community at the moment of
entering this community at the moment of
entering this community at the moment of loss it became clear early on that the
loss it became clear early on that the
loss it became clear early on that the same transgender identity and the
same transgender identity and the
same transgender identity and the experiences that brought us together
experiences that brought us together
experiences that brought us together would also make us want to tear our own
would also make us want to tear our own
would also make us want to tear our own selves apart so what do I do with this
selves apart so what do I do with this
selves apart so what do I do with this identity where do I go from here as
identity where do I go from here as
identity where do I go from here as Leela entered her note she wrote my
Leela entered her note she wrote my
Leela entered her note she wrote my death needs to be counted among the
death needs to be counted among the
death needs to be counted among the number of transgender individuals who
number of transgender individuals who
number of transgender individuals who commit suicide this year I want someone
commit suicide this year I want someone
commit suicide this year I want someone to look at that number and fix it in
to look at that number and fix it in
to look at that number and fix it in giving this talk this afternoon I hope
giving this talk this afternoon I hope
giving this talk this afternoon I hope to honor that request in my own small
to honor that request in my own small
to honor that request in my own small way you’ve just heard how I’ve been
way you’ve just heard how I’ve been
way you’ve just heard how I’ve been interacting with gender and gender
interacting with gender and gender
interacting with gender and gender identities from childhood to the present
identities from childhood to the present
identities from childhood to the present day in the remainder of our time
day in the remainder of our time
day in the remainder of our time together this afternoon I want to share
together this afternoon I want to share
together this afternoon I want to share with you a game that I’ve been playing
with you a game that I’ve been playing
with you a game that I’ve been playing my whole life how it can be problematic
my whole life how it can be problematic
my whole life how it can be problematic and what we can do to change some of its
and what we can do to change some of its
and what we can do to change some of its rules so what is the game the game
rules so what is the game the game
rules so what is the game the game really is composed of two parts how I
really is composed of two parts how I
really is composed of two parts how I see myself and how others see me if I
see myself and how others see me if I
see myself and how others see me if I see myself as a young man but you here
see myself as a young man but you here
see myself as a young man but you here in the audience don’t then I’ve lost and
in the audience don’t then I’ve lost and
in the audience don’t then I’ve lost and so I play the game can be complicated as
so I play the game can be complicated as
so I play the game can be complicated as there are many different categories like
there are many different categories like
there are many different categories like building a masculine shape food and
building a masculine shape food and
building a masculine shape food and fitness hair appropriate clothing
fitness hair appropriate clothing
fitness hair appropriate clothing face since I started playing I’ve been
face since I started playing I’ve been
face since I started playing I’ve been trying to lower my voice there’s this
trying to lower my voice there’s this
trying to lower my voice there’s this morning routine that involves a low
morning routine that involves a low
morning routine that involves a low humming sound to try to get my vocal
humming sound to try to get my vocal
humming sound to try to get my vocal cords to vibrate I’ve also been binding
cords to vibrate I’ve also been binding
cords to vibrate I’ve also been binding or putting on this tight on the shirt
or putting on this tight on the shirt
or putting on this tight on the shirt made mostly of nylon and spandex that
made mostly of nylon and spandex that
made mostly of nylon and spandex that helps flatten my chest
helps flatten my chest
helps flatten my chest I’ve also attempted
I’ve also attempted
I’ve also attempted and that’s the key word to lift weights
and that’s the key word to lift weights
and that’s the key word to lift weights at the gym I got myself my first student
at the gym I got myself my first student
at the gym I got myself my first student thigh for going to work as I got more
thigh for going to work as I got more
thigh for going to work as I got more and more comfortable with everything
and more comfortable with everything
and more comfortable with everything that I was doing it was no longer about
that I was doing it was no longer about
that I was doing it was no longer about looking like a guy I wanted to be a hot
looking like a guy I wanted to be a hot
looking like a guy I wanted to be a hot guy I wanted to look good I wanted to
guy I wanted to look good I wanted to
guy I wanted to look good I wanted to look good what physical appearance was
look good what physical appearance was
look good what physical appearance was just one aspect one component of this
just one aspect one component of this
just one aspect one component of this game that I now had to play once I got
game that I now had to play once I got
game that I now had to play once I got that down I wondered well how was I
that down I wondered well how was I
that down I wondered well how was I supposed to be I mean I’m still the same
supposed to be I mean I’m still the same
supposed to be I mean I’m still the same person that my family and friends have
person that my family and friends have
person that my family and friends have always known but did I have to change my
always known but did I have to change my
always known but did I have to change my behavior now they’d have to sit or walk
behavior now they’d have to sit or walk
behavior now they’d have to sit or walk differently and this confusion
differently and this confusion
differently and this confusion manifested itself in very tricky ways
manifested itself in very tricky ways
manifested itself in very tricky ways like staying in a stall in the men’s
like staying in a stall in the men’s
like staying in a stall in the men’s room just a little longer pretending to
room just a little longer pretending to
room just a little longer pretending to be doing number two instead of number
be doing number two instead of number
be doing number two instead of number one so that people didn’t have to wonder
one so that people didn’t have to wonder
one so that people didn’t have to wonder why didn’t I just use the urinal that’s
why didn’t I just use the urinal that’s
why didn’t I just use the urinal that’s what I realized that I wasn’t the
what I realized that I wasn’t the
what I realized that I wasn’t the beginner at playing this game in a
beginner at playing this game in a
beginner at playing this game in a society where gender norms and gender
society where gender norms and gender
society where gender norms and gender expectations are learned from such a
expectations are learned from such a
expectations are learned from such a young age and in very subtle ways I’ve
young age and in very subtle ways I’ve
young age and in very subtle ways I’ve actually spent the last 23 years of my
actually spent the last 23 years of my
actually spent the last 23 years of my life being trained for this game whether
life being trained for this game whether
life being trained for this game whether or not I was aware of it in transgender
or not I was aware of it in transgender
or not I was aware of it in transgender lingo the ability to be perceived by
lingo the ability to be perceived by
lingo the ability to be perceived by others as male or female and not
others as male or female and not
others as male or female and not transgender is called passing that’s
transgender is called passing that’s
transgender is called passing that’s what I was trying to do I’m playing a
what I was trying to do I’m playing a
what I was trying to do I’m playing a game and I’m playing to win but as I
game and I’m playing to win but as I
game and I’m playing to win but as I kept playing
kept playing
kept playing I began to realize just how problematic
I began to realize just how problematic
I began to realize just how problematic this game really is while it’s important
this game really is while it’s important
this game really is while it’s important for me to pass is male I’m standing here
for me to pass is male I’m standing here
for me to pass is male I’m standing here totally complicit in the game in trying
totally complicit in the game in trying
totally complicit in the game in trying to win I contribute to perpetuating
to win I contribute to perpetuating
to win I contribute to perpetuating dominant gender ideals and gender
dominant gender ideals and gender
dominant gender ideals and gender stereotypes as well as privilege within
stereotypes as well as privilege within
stereotypes as well as privilege within the trans community and in broader
the trans community and in broader
the trans community and in broader society imagine yourselves in a gender
society imagine yourselves in a gender
society imagine yourselves in a gender other than the one with which you
other than the one with which you
other than the one with which you identify think
identify think
identify think would you speak with a higher or lower
would you speak with a higher or lower
would you speak with a higher or lower pitch would you cross your legs while
pitch would you cross your legs while
pitch would you cross your legs while sitting how and what kinds of activities
sitting how and what kinds of activities
sitting how and what kinds of activities might you enjoy doing Society has a
might you enjoy doing Society has a
might you enjoy doing Society has a really hard time acknowledging anyone
really hard time acknowledging anyone
really hard time acknowledging anyone who deviates from the script there are
who deviates from the script there are
who deviates from the script there are rewards to maintaining gender
rewards to maintaining gender
rewards to maintaining gender expectations and then there’s also
expectations and then there’s also
expectations and then there’s also policing in Thailand around five years
policing in Thailand around five years
policing in Thailand around five years ago this is a country that’s usually
ago this is a country that’s usually
ago this is a country that’s usually thought of as tolerant of trans
thought of as tolerant of trans
thought of as tolerant of trans individuals there was an airline that
individuals there was an airline that
individuals there was an airline that claimed to be the first in the world to
claimed to be the first in the world to
claimed to be the first in the world to hire openly transsexual flight
hire openly transsexual flight
hire openly transsexual flight attendants that’s great but at the same
attendants that’s great but at the same
attendants that’s great but at the same time they paired the transsexual new
time they paired the transsexual new
time they paired the transsexual new hires with natural-born women for
hires with natural-born women for
hires with natural-born women for training there was strong pressure to
training there was strong pressure to
training there was strong pressure to conform the feminine stereotypes and to
conform the feminine stereotypes and to
conform the feminine stereotypes and to perfect the feminine persona when really
perfect the feminine persona when really
perfect the feminine persona when really there are so many ways for oneself for
there are so many ways for oneself for
there are so many ways for oneself for one person to express themselves gender
one person to express themselves gender
one person to express themselves gender as a concept is so powerful because the
as a concept is so powerful because the
as a concept is so powerful because the more we perform it the more it becomes
more we perform it the more it becomes
more we perform it the more it becomes second nature
second nature
second nature it affects even the smallest of things
it affects even the smallest of things
it affects even the smallest of things like how we perceive color when I was 11
like how we perceive color when I was 11
like how we perceive color when I was 11 years old my mom and I got into this
years old my mom and I got into this
years old my mom and I got into this huge argument about a pink button-down
huge argument about a pink button-down
huge argument about a pink button-down shirt she wanted me to wear it but in my
shirt she wanted me to wear it but in my
shirt she wanted me to wear it but in my eyes it was too feminine and I did not
eyes it was too feminine and I did not
eyes it was too feminine and I did not want it touching my skin so I threw a
want it touching my skin so I threw a
want it touching my skin so I threw a huge tantrum and eventually in her
huge tantrum and eventually in her
huge tantrum and eventually in her frustration she ripped the shirt open
frustration she ripped the shirt open
frustration she ripped the shirt open and if I close my eyes I can still see
and if I close my eyes I can still see
and if I close my eyes I can still see all of those buttons scattering all over
all of those buttons scattering all over
all of those buttons scattering all over the floor in my room you can imagine how
the floor in my room you can imagine how
the floor in my room you can imagine how surprised and confused I was when
surprised and confused I was when
surprised and confused I was when sometime after that I heard someone say
sometime after that I heard someone say
sometime after that I heard someone say well tough guys wear pink despite all of
well tough guys wear pink despite all of
well tough guys wear pink despite all of this confusion I’m really one of the
this confusion I’m really one of the
this confusion I’m really one of the lucky ones I have a certain degree of
lucky ones I have a certain degree of
lucky ones I have a certain degree of passing privilege which means that I can
passing privilege which means that I can
passing privilege which means that I can pass relatively easily compared to other
pass relatively easily compared to other
pass relatively easily compared to other transgender folks I am able to buy
transgender folks I am able to buy
transgender folks I am able to buy certain clothes and accessories that
certain clothes and accessories that
certain clothes and accessories that help me pass I have access to health
help me pass I have access to health
help me pass I have access to health care and counseling other transgender
care and counseling other transgender
care and counseling other transgender individuals have a much more difficult
individuals have a much more difficult
individuals have a much more difficult during
during
during society comes up with these strict
society comes up with these strict
society comes up with these strict gender norms and we the trans community
gender norms and we the trans community
gender norms and we the trans community have to pay at Middlebury we like to
have to pay at Middlebury we like to
have to pay at Middlebury we like to think of ourselves as pretty progressive
think of ourselves as pretty progressive
think of ourselves as pretty progressive many classes have now incorporated
many classes have now incorporated
many classes have now incorporated preferred gender pronouns and
preferred gender pronouns and
preferred gender pronouns and introductions but when people match the
introductions but when people match the
introductions but when people match the gender identity that we assume they are
gender identity that we assume they are
gender identity that we assume they are presenting we think subconsciously oh of
presenting we think subconsciously oh of
presenting we think subconsciously oh of course she’s a she or he’s a he but when
course she’s a she or he’s a he but when
course she’s a she or he’s a he but when that’s not the case some people like me
that’s not the case some people like me
that’s not the case some people like me stand out these introductions are a step
stand out these introductions are a step
stand out these introductions are a step in the right direction for sure but at
in the right direction for sure but at
in the right direction for sure but at the same time they heighten the stakes
the same time they heighten the stakes
the same time they heighten the stakes in this game for transgender individuals
in this game for transgender individuals
in this game for transgender individuals by reminding us just how important it
by reminding us just how important it
by reminding us just how important it really is to pass in a perfect world
really is to pass in a perfect world
really is to pass in a perfect world none of this would matter transgender
none of this would matter transgender
none of this would matter transgender folks would be loved for who we are as
folks would be loved for who we are as
folks would be loved for who we are as individuals and not what we look like
individuals and not what we look like
individuals and not what we look like the weather we passed or how well we
the weather we passed or how well we
the weather we passed or how well we embody the gender that we identify with
embody the gender that we identify with
embody the gender that we identify with based on society’s norms and
based on society’s norms and
based on society’s norms and expectations playing this game would be
expectations playing this game would be
expectations playing this game would be completely unnecessary but at the same
completely unnecessary but at the same
completely unnecessary but at the same time it’s not just transgender
time it’s not just transgender
time it’s not just transgender individuals who are constrained and
individuals who are constrained and
individuals who are constrained and measured against dominant gender ideals
measured against dominant gender ideals
measured against dominant gender ideals and gender stereotypes it affects every
and gender stereotypes it affects every
and gender stereotypes it affects every single one of us men and women for
single one of us men and women for
single one of us men and women for example are shown idealized images of
example are shown idealized images of
example are shown idealized images of how they’re supposed to look and get
how they’re supposed to look and get
how they’re supposed to look and get sick trying to pursue them men are given
sick trying to pursue them men are given
sick trying to pursue them men are given mixed messages about forming intimate
mixed messages about forming intimate
mixed messages about forming intimate relationships with one another and women
relationships with one another and women
relationships with one another and women in the workplace are still subjected to
in the workplace are still subjected to
in the workplace are still subjected to an outdated view that says they are
an outdated view that says they are
an outdated view that says they are incompetent everyone is playing the game
incompetent everyone is playing the game
incompetent everyone is playing the game but we don’t have to be when someone
but we don’t have to be when someone
but we don’t have to be when someone tells you or makes you feel that you
tells you or makes you feel that you
tells you or makes you feel that you have fallen short of that dominant ideal
have fallen short of that dominant ideal
have fallen short of that dominant ideal of the gender that you identify with
of the gender that you identify with
of the gender that you identify with it’s okay be kind to yourselves but
it’s okay be kind to yourselves but
it’s okay be kind to yourselves but don’t stop questioning we should ask
don’t stop questioning we should ask
don’t stop questioning we should ask ourselves when is gender important when
ourselves when is gender important when
ourselves when is gender important when is it appropriate in which contexts do
is it appropriate in which contexts do
is it appropriate in which contexts do we need it
we need it
we need it and I don’t have all the answers to
and I don’t have all the answers to
and I don’t have all the answers to these questions but as we learn and
these questions but as we learn and
these questions but as we learn and interact with one another I know we can
interact with one another I know we can
interact with one another I know we can strengthen our communities do you know
strengthen our communities do you know
strengthen our communities do you know how sometimes we only have to make big
how sometimes we only have to make big
how sometimes we only have to make big decisions in life we like to anchor them
decisions in life we like to anchor them
decisions in life we like to anchor them onto things that are out of our control
onto things that are out of our control
onto things that are out of our control that’s exactly what I did when I signed
that’s exactly what I did when I signed
that’s exactly what I did when I signed up for this that student speaker
up for this that student speaker
up for this that student speaker competition I told myself if I won I
competition I told myself if I won I
competition I told myself if I won I would come out to my parents it was go
would come out to my parents it was go
would come out to my parents it was go big and call home the conversation I had
big and call home the conversation I had
big and call home the conversation I had with them was really healthy for a
with them was really healthy for a
with them was really healthy for a relationship and they reaffirmed how
relationship and they reaffirmed how
relationship and they reaffirmed how much they loved me but there are so many
much they loved me but there are so many
much they loved me but there are so many hurdles to cross and just as I patiently
hurdles to cross and just as I patiently
hurdles to cross and just as I patiently journey through self-acceptance my
journey through self-acceptance my
journey through self-acceptance my family will be doing the same and I hope
family will be doing the same and I hope
family will be doing the same and I hope that we can all patiently move towards a
that we can all patiently move towards a
that we can all patiently move towards a world in which gender identity is just
world in which gender identity is just
world in which gender identity is just one small part of a larger identity
one small part of a larger identity
one small part of a larger identity one aspect among many others that
one aspect among many others that
one aspect among many others that together make us who we are when I think
together make us who we are when I think
together make us who we are when I think about how we identify and label
about how we identify and label
about how we identify and label ourselves as well as others I like to
ourselves as well as others I like to
ourselves as well as others I like to imagine this block with a spectrum on it
imagine this block with a spectrum on it
imagine this block with a spectrum on it and you cut it into parts and then four
and you cut it into parts and then four
and you cut it into parts and then four and then eight and then you keep cutting
and then eight and then you keep cutting
and then eight and then you keep cutting and cutting and cutting until the parts
and cutting and cutting until the parts
and cutting and cutting until the parts are so small and the divisions so thin
are so small and the divisions so thin
are so small and the divisions so thin that when you take a step back we begin
that when you take a step back we begin
that when you take a step back we begin to see that there are no divisions at
to see that there are no divisions at
to see that there are no divisions at all it begins to look like one whole
all it begins to look like one whole
all it begins to look like one whole block again a fluid spectrum a society
block again a fluid spectrum a society
block again a fluid spectrum a society in which gender is identity and not
in which gender is identity and not
in which gender is identity and not performance this game is much bigger
performance this game is much bigger
performance this game is much bigger than me or the transgender community
than me or the transgender community
than me or the transgender community everyone is playing it but together we
everyone is playing it but together we
everyone is playing it but together we can change its rules I know we can thank
can change its rules I know we can thank
can change its rules I know we can thank you very much
you very much
you very much [Applause]
”
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