[Applause] I’m Ali Michael Cannon and I’m here to
I’m Ali Michael Cannon and I’m here to
I’m Ali Michael Cannon and I’m here to talk to you today about my transgender
talk to you today about my transgender
talk to you today about my transgender journey my story of becoming a man
journey my story of becoming a man
journey my story of becoming a man because I wasn’t always the man you see
because I wasn’t always the man you see
because I wasn’t always the man you see standing here before you because I was
standing here before you because I was
standing here before you because I was assigned the gender identity female at
assigned the gender identity female at
assigned the gender identity female at birth
birth
birth I grew up in the 60s and 70s I’m 53
I grew up in the 60s and 70s I’m 53
I grew up in the 60s and 70s I’m 53 years old today and grew up in Los
years old today and grew up in Los
years old today and grew up in Los Angeles California in the San Fernando
Angeles California in the San Fernando
Angeles California in the San Fernando Valley and when I was growing up in my
Valley and when I was growing up in my
Valley and when I was growing up in my elementary and middle school in high
elementary and middle school in high
elementary and middle school in high school people never talked about lesbian
school people never talked about lesbian
school people never talked about lesbian and gay people and they certainly never
and gay people and they certainly never
and gay people and they certainly never talked about transgender people but I
talked about transgender people but I
talked about transgender people but I did have somewhat of a different gender
did have somewhat of a different gender
did have somewhat of a different gender identity as a kid so I did have a tomboy
identity as a kid so I did have a tomboy
identity as a kid so I did have a tomboy childhood and it was safe to have a
childhood and it was safe to have a
childhood and it was safe to have a little bit more of a masculine identity
little bit more of a masculine identity
little bit more of a masculine identity as a kid growing up so I grew up and I
as a kid growing up so I grew up and I
as a kid growing up so I grew up and I liked to climb trees and I liked to play
liked to climb trees and I liked to play
liked to climb trees and I liked to play sports and I was very lucky to have a
sports and I was very lucky to have a
sports and I was very lucky to have a brother who also supported me in being
brother who also supported me in being
brother who also supported me in being who I was in elementary school I had two
who I was in elementary school I had two
who I was in elementary school I had two friends who also identified as Tom boys
friends who also identified as Tom boys
friends who also identified as Tom boys who were girls but neither of them grew
who were girls but neither of them grew
who were girls but neither of them grew up to be men and they are both women
up to be men and they are both women
up to be men and they are both women today I know that from Facebook and
so what was different about my gender
so what was different about my gender journey well for one I remember a
journey well for one I remember a
journey well for one I remember a profound story that happened to me in
profound story that happened to me in
profound story that happened to me in elementary school and my mother took me
elementary school and my mother took me
elementary school and my mother took me to the boys department to buy wide whale
to the boys department to buy wide whale
to the boys department to buy wide whale corduroy pants and it was an amazing
corduroy pants and it was an amazing
corduroy pants and it was an amazing experience for me because those pants
experience for me because those pants
experience for me because those pants felt like a reflection of my gender and
felt like a reflection of my gender and
felt like a reflection of my gender and they allowed me to express myself in
they allowed me to express myself in
they allowed me to express myself in addition to my tomboy identity and it
addition to my tomboy identity and it
addition to my tomboy identity and it was like I had a reflection of myself by
was like I had a reflection of myself by
was like I had a reflection of myself by being given that permission so in
being given that permission so in
being given that permission so in elementary school I felt comfortable in
elementary school I felt comfortable in
elementary school I felt comfortable in my gender and I got to climb trees as I
my gender and I got to climb trees as I
my gender and I got to climb trees as I said and build secret hideouts with my
said and build secret hideouts with my
said and build secret hideouts with my friends and then when I got to middle
friends and then when I got to middle
friends and then when I got to middle school things became a lot more
school things became a lot more
school things became a lot more difficult the pressure to conform and
difficult the pressure to conform and
difficult the pressure to conform and fit in and perform gender in
fit in and perform gender in
fit in and perform gender in expectations the way girls would be
expectations the way girls would be
expectations the way girls would be according to the feminine expression of
according to the feminine expression of
according to the feminine expression of the time was a lot of pressure from me
the time was a lot of pressure from me
the time was a lot of pressure from me and I couldn’t conform to that I didn’t
and I couldn’t conform to that I didn’t
and I couldn’t conform to that I didn’t have the right clothes it was really
have the right clothes it was really
have the right clothes it was really hard for me to fit in and at my in
hard for me to fit in and at my in
hard for me to fit in and at my in middle school which for me started in
middle school which for me started in
middle school which for me started in seventh grade I experienced a lot of
seventh grade I experienced a lot of
seventh grade I experienced a lot of ostracization and bullying in my middle
ostracization and bullying in my middle
ostracization and bullying in my middle school girls would gather in the quad in
school girls would gather in the quad in
school girls would gather in the quad in our middle school and they would form
our middle school and they would form
our middle school and they would form circles and if they didn’t like you they
circles and if they didn’t like you they
circles and if they didn’t like you they would push you out and they wouldn’t
would push you out and they wouldn’t
would push you out and they wouldn’t allow you to talk to them and that’s
allow you to talk to them and that’s
allow you to talk to them and that’s what happened to me girls that were my
what happened to me girls that were my
what happened to me girls that were my friends in elementary school stopped
friends in elementary school stopped
friends in elementary school stopped talking to me and they wouldn’t let me
talking to me and they wouldn’t let me
talking to me and they wouldn’t let me join their conversations and so I ended
join their conversations and so I ended
join their conversations and so I ended up with only one friend in middle school
up with only one friend in middle school
up with only one friend in middle school who was also kept out of those same
who was also kept out of those same
who was also kept out of those same circles and so it was kind of a lonely
circles and so it was kind of a lonely
circles and so it was kind of a lonely and isolating time for me and I think
and isolating time for me and I think
and isolating time for me and I think that that was a lot had to do with not
that that was a lot had to do with not
that that was a lot had to do with not fitting in to expectations of how girls
fitting in to expectations of how girls
fitting in to expectations of how girls were supposed to be at that time so then
were supposed to be at that time so then
were supposed to be at that time so then I went to high school where things got a
I went to high school where things got a
I went to high school where things got a little bit better I had more friends but
little bit better I had more friends but
little bit better I had more friends but there was still a lot of pressure to fit
there was still a lot of pressure to fit
there was still a lot of pressure to fit in and conform to gender norms and
in and conform to gender norms and
in and conform to gender norms and so in high school I did things like
so in high school I did things like
so in high school I did things like I was part of the prom fashion show and
I was part of the prom fashion show and
I was part of the prom fashion show and I wore a big blue poofy dress and I felt
I wore a big blue poofy dress and I felt
I wore a big blue poofy dress and I felt extremely awkward and I was really
extremely awkward and I was really
extremely awkward and I was really uncomfortable basically being forced to
uncomfortable basically being forced to
uncomfortable basically being forced to kind of fit in and then when I was in
kind of fit in and then when I was in
kind of fit in and then when I was in high school right before my senior year
high school right before my senior year
high school right before my senior year actually I fell in love with a woman for
actually I fell in love with a woman for
actually I fell in love with a woman for the first time but it was a very kind of
the first time but it was a very kind of
the first time but it was a very kind of hidden and I was basically in the closet
hidden and I was basically in the closet
hidden and I was basically in the closet about that and then in about midway
about that and then in about midway
about that and then in about midway through my senior year I came out to one
through my senior year I came out to one
through my senior year I came out to one friend I told her that I was in love
friend I told her that I was in love
friend I told her that I was in love with this girl that I met that summer
with this girl that I met that summer
with this girl that I met that summer and she said yeah I kind of knew that
and she said yeah I kind of knew that
and she said yeah I kind of knew that which was sort of a relief for me but
which was sort of a relief for me but
which was sort of a relief for me but that was the only time I really uh turd
that was the only time I really uh turd
that was the only time I really uh turd that and I really kind of stayed in the
that and I really kind of stayed in the
that and I really kind of stayed in the closet after that and then I went to
closet after that and then I went to
closet after that and then I went to college I attended college here at UC
college I attended college here at UC
college I attended college here at UC Berkeley which I consider my first
Berkeley which I consider my first
Berkeley which I consider my first coming out and they’re in college at UC
coming out and they’re in college at UC
coming out and they’re in college at UC Berkeley I joined a sorority which is
Berkeley I joined a sorority which is
Berkeley I joined a sorority which is basically a Greek organization it’s a
basically a Greek organization it’s a
basically a Greek organization it’s a large group of women I had been part of
large group of women I had been part of
large group of women I had been part of a Girl Scout troop in high school which
a Girl Scout troop in high school which
a Girl Scout troop in high school which was also a big group of women so I knew
was also a big group of women so I knew
was also a big group of women so I knew I liked being around big groups in way
I liked being around big groups in way
I liked being around big groups in way and I so being a part of that
and I so being a part of that
and I so being a part of that organization ended up being very
organization ended up being very
organization ended up being very difficult in my sophomore year when I
difficult in my sophomore year when I
difficult in my sophomore year when I met my first girlfriend so I had my
met my first girlfriend so I had my
met my first girlfriend so I had my first relationship with a woman and they
first relationship with a woman and they
first relationship with a woman and they are at UC Berkeley in in 1982 I was put
are at UC Berkeley in in 1982 I was put
are at UC Berkeley in in 1982 I was put on trial for being gay I basically was
on trial for being gay I basically was
on trial for being gay I basically was charged with behavior unbecoming a
charged with behavior unbecoming a
charged with behavior unbecoming a member of the sorority that causes
member of the sorority that causes
member of the sorority that causes embarrassment to the house or chapter
embarrassment to the house or chapter
embarrassment to the house or chapter members and a hundred of my peers all
members and a hundred of my peers all
members and a hundred of my peers all women in the sorority along with some
women in the sorority along with some
women in the sorority along with some adult women who are alumni of the
adult women who are alumni of the
adult women who are alumni of the organization all voted on me and decided
organization all voted on me and decided
organization all voted on me and decided that I was to be punished for being gay
that I was to be punished for being gay
that I was to be punished for being gay I had to hide my identity it was
I had to hide my identity it was
I had to hide my identity it was basically like the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
basically like the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
basically like the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy if some of you know about that
policy if some of you know about that
policy if some of you know about that that used to be part of the US military
that used to be part of the US military
that used to be part of the US military policy and I I was penalized for being
policy and I I was penalized for being
policy and I I was penalized for being gay and and over time the the
gay and and over time the the
gay and and over time the the persecution became even more intense and
persecution became even more intense and
persecution became even more intense and I was a victim of institutionalized
I was a victim of institutionalized
I was a victim of institutionalized homophobia eventually I left the
homophobia eventually I left the
homophobia eventually I left the sorority as the persecution continued my
sorority as the persecution continued my
sorority as the persecution continued my girlfriend and I would walk around
girlfriend and I would walk around
girlfriend and I would walk around campus people would point at us and say
campus people would point at us and say
campus people would point at us and say the derogatory comments yes eventually I
the derogatory comments yes eventually I
the derogatory comments yes eventually I dropped out of college because of that
dropped out of college because of that
dropped out of college because of that persecution and after being out of
persecution and after being out of
persecution and after being out of college for a year I went back to school
college for a year I went back to school
college for a year I went back to school to UC Santa Cruz where my brother was
to UC Santa Cruz where my brother was
to UC Santa Cruz where my brother was also a student my younger brother and
also a student my younger brother and
also a student my younger brother and there I became a Women’s Studies major
there I became a Women’s Studies major
there I became a Women’s Studies major and I can’t had a whole other level of
and I can’t had a whole other level of
and I can’t had a whole other level of acceptance and coming out into lesbian
acceptance and coming out into lesbian
acceptance and coming out into lesbian feminist community I was part of a
feminist community I was part of a
feminist community I was part of a community that dealt with all forms of
community that dealt with all forms of
community that dealt with all forms of oppression in my college experience from
oppression in my college experience from
oppression in my college experience from racism to homophobia to sexism and
racism to homophobia to sexism and
racism to homophobia to sexism and anti-semitism but no one at my school
anti-semitism but no one at my school
anti-semitism but no one at my school ever talked about gender identity I
ever talked about gender identity I
ever talked about gender identity I never heard of anyone who was born
never heard of anyone who was born
never heard of anyone who was born female transitioning to male and
female transitioning to male and
female transitioning to male and eventually in my lesbian identity
eventually in my lesbian identity
eventually in my lesbian identity formation I adopted a butch identity or
formation I adopted a butch identity or
formation I adopted a butch identity or a masculine lesbian identity
that’s how identified for over 13 years
that’s how identified for over 13 years until I met my wife Jessica who helped
until I met my wife Jessica who helped
until I met my wife Jessica who helped me come out as the man I am today she’s
me come out as the man I am today she’s
me come out as the man I am today she’s bisexual so she embraces all sexualities
bisexual so she embraces all sexualities
bisexual so she embraces all sexualities and she’s always been attracted to
and she’s always been attracted to
and she’s always been attracted to masculine identified people and so what
masculine identified people and so what
masculine identified people and so what started to happen to me and my 30s is
started to happen to me and my 30s is
started to happen to me and my 30s is that my gender identity started to shift
that my gender identity started to shift
that my gender identity started to shift and so for example I would go into a
and so for example I would go into a
and so for example I would go into a grocery store and people would call me
grocery store and people would call me
grocery store and people would call me sue which happened to me as a lesbian
sue which happened to me as a lesbian
sue which happened to me as a lesbian too and when it happened to me as a
too and when it happened to me as a
too and when it happened to me as a lesbian I was like all right this person
lesbian I was like all right this person
lesbian I was like all right this person is never really seen a masculine woman
is never really seen a masculine woman
is never really seen a masculine woman before and they’re kind of mistaking my
before and they’re kind of mistaking my
before and they’re kind of mistaking my gender and it really didn’t bother me
gender and it really didn’t bother me
gender and it really didn’t bother me but as my gender started to evolve when
but as my gender started to evolve when
but as my gender started to evolve when someone would call me ma’am it would
someone would call me ma’am it would
someone would call me ma’am it would make me feel like I wanted to hide in my
make me feel like I wanted to hide in my
make me feel like I wanted to hide in my pocket versus if they called me sir I
pocket versus if they called me sir I
pocket versus if they called me sir I felt like I was being reflected and so
felt like I was being reflected and so
felt like I was being reflected and so then a kind of cool thing happened in
then a kind of cool thing happened in
then a kind of cool thing happened in 1999 Jesse and I traveled to Israel or
1999 Jesse and I traveled to Israel or
1999 Jesse and I traveled to Israel or both Jewish and at that time I needed to
both Jewish and at that time I needed to
both Jewish and at that time I needed to get a passport so I applied for a
get a passport so I applied for a
get a passport so I applied for a passport and I submitted my passport
passport and I submitted my passport
passport and I submitted my passport application I checked the female box on
application I checked the female box on
application I checked the female box on my application I said it submitted my
my application I said it submitted my
my application I said it submitted my birth certificate which at the time said
birth certificate which at the time said
birth certificate which at the time said I was female born female and I submitted
I was female born female and I submitted
I was female born female and I submitted a headshot of myself and I had a pretty
a headshot of myself and I had a pretty
a headshot of myself and I had a pretty short haircut at the time kind of a
short haircut at the time kind of a
short haircut at the time kind of a military crew-cut and I sent my
military crew-cut and I sent my
military crew-cut and I sent my application off for my passport and six
application off for my passport and six
application off for my passport and six weeks later my passport came back with
weeks later my passport came back with
weeks later my passport came back with an M on it so someone in the federal
an M on it so someone in the federal
an M on it so someone in the federal government had decided that I was a man
government had decided that I was a man
government had decided that I was a man and this was basically like a mystical
and this was basically like a mystical
and this was basically like a mystical experience for me
experience for me
experience for me it was like the universe was trying to
it was like the universe was trying to
it was like the universe was trying to tell me something that I was on a
tell me something that I was on a
tell me something that I was on a journey to becoming male so I was
journey to becoming male so I was
journey to becoming male so I was starting to question my gender identity
starting to question my gender identity
starting to question my gender identity and here I was traveling to Israel with
and here I was traveling to Israel with
and here I was traveling to Israel with a passport saying that
a passport saying that
a passport saying that I was a man so we went to Israel for
I was a man so we went to Israel for
I was a man so we went to Israel for three weeks
three weeks
three weeks and the whole time I was there I was
and the whole time I was there I was
and the whole time I was there I was perceived as male many of the places
perceived as male many of the places
perceived as male many of the places that we went as an example of that in
that we went as an example of that in
that we went as an example of that in Israel there are a lot of religious
Israel there are a lot of religious
Israel there are a lot of religious sites that you can visit and at those
sites that you can visit and at those
sites that you can visit and at those sites they have security checkpoints and
sites they have security checkpoints and
sites they have security checkpoints and if you’re a man they give you a yarmulke
if you’re a man they give you a yarmulke
if you’re a man they give you a yarmulke the little like beanie that Orthodox
the little like beanie that Orthodox
the little like beanie that Orthodox Jewish man wear on their heads and if
Jewish man wear on their heads and if
Jewish man wear on their heads and if you’re a woman they give you like a
you’re a woman they give you like a
you’re a woman they give you like a wraparound skirt to cover your legs to
wraparound skirt to cover your legs to
wraparound skirt to cover your legs to show modesty because women have to show
show modesty because women have to show
show modesty because women have to show that their mod is kind of similar to
that their mod is kind of similar to
that their mod is kind of similar to Muslim women as well and so everywhere
Muslim women as well and so everywhere
Muslim women as well and so everywhere we went I never got given the skirt
we went I never got given the skirt
we went I never got given the skirt garment Jessica always got given the
garment Jessica always got given the
garment Jessica always got given the wraparound skirt it was hot in the
wraparound skirt it was hot in the
wraparound skirt it was hot in the summer she was often wearing shorts and
summer she was often wearing shorts and
summer she was often wearing shorts and I only got given the yarmulke and that
I only got given the yarmulke and that
I only got given the yarmulke and that would have been true regardless of your
would have been true regardless of your
would have been true regardless of your race or ethnicity they would perceive
race or ethnicity they would perceive
race or ethnicity they would perceive you it decide whether you’re male or
you it decide whether you’re male or
you it decide whether you’re male or female passing through those gates so
female passing through those gates so
female passing through those gates so that was that was really intense for me
that was that was really intense for me
that was that was really intense for me and in addition to that I went to what’s
and in addition to that I went to what’s
and in addition to that I went to what’s called the Wailing Wall or hotel and I
called the Wailing Wall or hotel and I
called the Wailing Wall or hotel and I took our lesbian friends three-year-old
took our lesbian friends three-year-old
took our lesbian friends three-year-old son up with me to the wall and that wall
son up with me to the wall and that wall
son up with me to the wall and that wall is also divided into a men’s section and
is also divided into a men’s section and
is also divided into a men’s section and a women’s section and that was a very
a women’s section and that was a very
a women’s section and that was a very spiritual experience for me I was
spiritual experience for me I was
spiritual experience for me I was surrounded by all of these all of these
surrounded by all of these all of these
surrounded by all of these all of these men people from all over the world and
men people from all over the world and
men people from all over the world and it’s a tradition to write a note and put
it’s a tradition to write a note and put
it’s a tradition to write a note and put it in the wall and I wrote a note for
it in the wall and I wrote a note for
it in the wall and I wrote a note for transgender people and this is all part
transgender people and this is all part
transgender people and this is all part of my early coming-out process and so
of my early coming-out process and so
of my early coming-out process and so when I came back I knew I needed support
when I came back I knew I needed support
when I came back I knew I needed support so I sought out female to male support
so I sought out female to male support
so I sought out female to male support groups for people born female
groups for people born female
groups for people born female questioning their gender and for people
questioning their gender and for people
questioning their gender and for people who had already decided to live as men
who had already decided to live as men
who had already decided to live as men and in that group for close to two years
and in that group for close to two years
and in that group for close to two years I I tried to figure out what was my
I I tried to figure out what was my
I I tried to figure out what was my gender and after two years of basically
gender and after two years of basically
gender and after two years of basically like a second puberty with a lot of
like a second puberty with a lot of
like a second puberty with a lot of angst-ridden questions going on inside I
angst-ridden questions going on inside I
angst-ridden questions going on inside I decide
decide
decide that I wanted to live as a man and so in
that I wanted to live as a man and so in
that I wanted to live as a man and so in 2001 I started taking hormones
2001 I started taking hormones
2001 I started taking hormones testosterone to help my body match my
testosterone to help my body match my
testosterone to help my body match my gender identity and I basically never
gender identity and I basically never
gender identity and I basically never been happier than being a man and having
been happier than being a man and having
been happier than being a man and having my gender feel whole inside I’m now a
my gender feel whole inside I’m now a
my gender feel whole inside I’m now a proud father and husband in 2001 Jessica
proud father and husband in 2001 Jessica
proud father and husband in 2001 Jessica that’s my wife we were married in our
that’s my wife we were married in our
that’s my wife we were married in our wedding invitation we announced to many
wedding invitation we announced to many
wedding invitation we announced to many of our friends who didn’t already know
of our friends who didn’t already know
of our friends who didn’t already know that I was transitioning that I was
that I was transitioning that I was
that I was transitioning that I was becoming a man and I was I was
becoming a man and I was I was
becoming a man and I was I was transgender and we had a big Jewish
transgender and we had a big Jewish
transgender and we had a big Jewish wedding and celebrated our love and also
wedding and celebrated our love and also
wedding and celebrated our love and also were able to claim my transition in that
were able to claim my transition in that
were able to claim my transition in that public way I never wanted to be a father
public way I never wanted to be a father
public way I never wanted to be a father when I actually I never wanted to be a
when I actually I never wanted to be a
when I actually I never wanted to be a mother as a woman but I as a dad it that
mother as a woman but I as a dad it that
mother as a woman but I as a dad it that has felt so right to me and there’s a
has felt so right to me and there’s a
has felt so right to me and there’s a couple things I want to say just about
couple things I want to say just about
couple things I want to say just about what it is to be transgender and
what it is to be transgender and
what it is to be transgender and experiences that I’ve had so for one as
experiences that I’ve had so for one as
experiences that I’ve had so for one as a man I’ve I have to deal with white
a man I’ve I have to deal with white
a man I’ve I have to deal with white male privilege so as a white person and
male privilege so as a white person and
male privilege so as a white person and having white male privilege I need to be
having white male privilege I need to be
having white male privilege I need to be mindful of that I also need to be aware
mindful of that I also need to be aware
mindful of that I also need to be aware of how I take up space as a man because
of how I take up space as a man because
of how I take up space as a man because in our society men get access to power
in our society men get access to power
in our society men get access to power and privilege in really different kinds
and privilege in really different kinds
and privilege in really different kinds of ways for my transgender brothers of
of ways for my transgender brothers of
of ways for my transgender brothers of color they have to worry about being
color they have to worry about being
color they have to worry about being stopped by the police and being followed
stopped by the police and being followed
stopped by the police and being followed in stores which is something that I
in stores which is something that I
in stores which is something that I don’t have to worry about and so I also
don’t have to worry about and so I also
don’t have to worry about and so I also need to show up as an anti-racist Ally
need to show up as an anti-racist Ally
need to show up as an anti-racist Ally for my transgender brothers of color
for my transgender brothers of color
for my transgender brothers of color I also have noticed some interesting
I also have noticed some interesting
I also have noticed some interesting things in my transition it’s a little
things in my transition it’s a little
things in my transition it’s a little bit harder to cry and this is something
bit harder to cry and this is something
bit harder to cry and this is something that has been confirmed for me by other
that has been confirmed for me by other
that has been confirmed for me by other transgender men I know who’ve also taken
transgender men I know who’ve also taken
transgender men I know who’ve also taken testosterone so there’s some biological
testosterone so there’s some biological
testosterone so there’s some biological differences between men and women it’s
differences between men and women it’s
differences between men and women it’s also I also have to be a little more
also I also have to be a little more
also I also have to be a little more mindful about angle because being on
mindful about angle because being on
mindful about angle because being on testosterone you actually are do have an
testosterone you actually are do have an
testosterone you actually are do have an easier access to anger and that’s
easier access to anger and that’s
easier access to anger and that’s something I should be mindful of as a
something I should be mindful of as a
something I should be mindful of as a feminist man that’s important to me to
feminist man that’s important to me to
feminist man that’s important to me to be aware of being quicker to anger and
be aware of being quicker to anger and
be aware of being quicker to anger and how I take up space and so my story is
how I take up space and so my story is
how I take up space and so my story is not only my story it’s also my family
not only my story it’s also my family
not only my story it’s also my family story it’s my wife story to tell she’s
story it’s my wife story to tell she’s
story it’s my wife story to tell she’s an elementary school principal and she
an elementary school principal and she
an elementary school principal and she has to choose whether or not to come out
has to choose whether or not to come out
has to choose whether or not to come out in her professional life
in her professional life
in her professional life about our family it’s also my son’s
about our family it’s also my son’s
about our family it’s also my son’s story to tell he’s in middle school
story to tell he’s in middle school
story to tell he’s in middle school right now and he has to decide when it’s
right now and he has to decide when it’s
right now and he has to decide when it’s safe to come out to his friends it’s my
safe to come out to his friends it’s my
safe to come out to his friends it’s my father’s story to tell my dad who’s in
father’s story to tell my dad who’s in
father’s story to tell my dad who’s in his 80s now was dating in his 70s and he
his 80s now was dating in his 70s and he
his 80s now was dating in his 70s and he would often come out to women that he
would often come out to women that he
would often come out to women that he was dating about his son to see if this
was dating about his son to see if this
was dating about his son to see if this person would be accepting of his family
person would be accepting of his family
person would be accepting of his family so it’s my family story to tell as well
so it’s my family story to tell as well
so it’s my family story to tell as well as my own and I’m very proud to say that
as my own and I’m very proud to say that
as my own and I’m very proud to say that my family celebrates me as the man I am
my family celebrates me as the man I am
my family celebrates me as the man I am in the world today and I’m hoping that
in the world today and I’m hoping that
in the world today and I’m hoping that by hearing my story here today you’ll be
by hearing my story here today you’ll be
by hearing my story here today you’ll be inspired to show up as an ally for
inspired to show up as an ally for
inspired to show up as an ally for transgender people most of you aren’t
transgender people most of you aren’t
transgender people most of you aren’t going to question your gender identity
going to question your gender identity
going to question your gender identity but some of you will and it’s become
but some of you will and it’s become
but some of you will and it’s become more common in part because of
more common in part because of
more common in part because of transgender people like myself and my
transgender people like myself and my
transgender people like myself and my generation and the generation before me
generation and the generation before me
generation and the generation before me and the generation that’s coming up now
and the generation that’s coming up now
and the generation that’s coming up now we’re more kids or coming out earlier
we’re more kids or coming out earlier
we’re more kids or coming out earlier and earlier as gender
and earlier as gender
and earlier as gender and you can be an ally by reflecting the
and you can be an ally by reflecting the
and you can be an ally by reflecting the pronouns that we want to be called by by
pronouns that we want to be called by by
pronouns that we want to be called by by reflecting the names that transgender
reflecting the names that transgender
reflecting the names that transgender people sometimes choose to change our
people sometimes choose to change our
people sometimes choose to change our name and that’s a way that you can show
name and that’s a way that you can show
name and that’s a way that you can show up as an ally you can decide to make
up as an ally you can decide to make
up as an ally you can decide to make your restrooms safe spaces so it’s
your restrooms safe spaces so it’s
your restrooms safe spaces so it’s actually the law here in California and
actually the law here in California and
actually the law here in California and your education code that all schools
your education code that all schools
your education code that all schools need to be inclusive and welcome
need to be inclusive and welcome
need to be inclusive and welcome welcoming of gender non-conforming
welcoming of gender non-conforming
welcoming of gender non-conforming people and one way that you can do that
people and one way that you can do that
people and one way that you can do that like some LGBTQ youth I know made this
like some LGBTQ youth I know made this
like some LGBTQ youth I know made this gender fabulous bathroom and at their
gender fabulous bathroom and at their
gender fabulous bathroom and at their school and these are ways that you can
school and these are ways that you can
school and these are ways that you can help transgender people feel safe and
help transgender people feel safe and
help transgender people feel safe and included not only in restrooms but in
included not only in restrooms but in
included not only in restrooms but in all places of where we are this is most
all places of where we are this is most
all places of where we are this is most recently at the LGBT Pride Parade in San
recently at the LGBT Pride Parade in San
recently at the LGBT Pride Parade in San Francisco I went with my family my kid
Francisco I went with my family my kid
Francisco I went with my family my kid made a sign it says my mom’s by my dad’s
made a sign it says my mom’s by my dad’s
made a sign it says my mom’s by my dad’s trans and I’m proud of my family and I
trans and I’m proud of my family and I
trans and I’m proud of my family and I hope that you will join me in that pride
hope that you will join me in that pride
hope that you will join me in that pride and celebration of transgender people
and celebration of transgender people
and celebration of transgender people now is the time where our community is
now is the time where our community is
now is the time where our community is under attack in part because of how many
under attack in part because of how many
under attack in part because of how many people have come out and it’s become
people have come out and it’s become
people have come out and it’s become more there’s been more awareness and
more there’s been more awareness and
more there’s been more awareness and education around transgender live so I
education around transgender live so I
education around transgender live so I hope that you will as I said be inspired
hope that you will as I said be inspired
hope that you will as I said be inspired to show up as allies and stand up for
to show up as allies and stand up for
to show up as allies and stand up for transgender people when we need your
transgender people when we need your
transgender people when we need your support and love so thank you for
support and love so thank you for
support and love so thank you for hearing my story
”
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