Donna,
The best part of this event next to chillin' in the RV and meeting a few of my TransGriot readers was finally getting to spend some quality time with you. ;)

Looking forward to the next time our paths cross.

The Northampton Trans Pride March has inspired a number of blogs around the theme of being trans and proud, including my own: http://transcendgender.com/2008/06/08/trans-and-proud/. Being proud of who we are and refusing to be cowed by the fear and shame that some segments of society seek to impose on us is an essential step to freedom and respect for our own generation of trans people and for countless more to come.

A personal view, and one I don't expect others to share, it's just me.

I don't feel "Proud" to be Trans. Heck, I don't feel particularly "Trans" for that matter, whatever it might mean.

I'm not proud to have khaki green eyes, or dark chestnut hair. Not ashamed either, it's just the way I was born.

I do feel proud that I helped make the most complex microsatellite ever launched, and gave some help in a very minor way for the MESSENGER satellite that's exploring Mercury. I'm proud that some of my software has helped rescue many people too.

I'm proud to be amongst some of the bravest and kindest women on the planet, those who have transitioned and rather than leave, have stayed around to give others a hand. I'm particularly proud to be held in high regard by some of the people I most respect, even though I think that regard is rather higher than it should be. I'm egotistical enough without that.

I just don't feel comfortable marching in some parade. Maybe it's a cultural thing, we're not big on marches here. ANZAC day, the Gay Mardi Gras in Sydney, and Moomba festival in Melbourne. That's about it for the whole country, floats and banners and hoopla just aren't part of our culture. I can't imagine anything like the Mummers, or even the Boston St Patrick's day parade here.

But even those who don't participate in marches can do their part. Radio broadcasts, newspaper articles, letters to editors and human rights organisations, lectures at universities, blogs, even "human interest" stories in mass-market glossy magazines. There's no chance of remaining un-noticed when your picture is in a publication with a readership in 7 figures.

Blogs, Newspapers, TV stations, they nearly all have a place for online comments and feedback. If we never let a single one of the berserk, transphobic and often incoherent articles and comments go unanswered, if we can provide a humane, logical, and respectful rebuttal, we can influence the grassroots at least as much as by spectaculars. Even those who are Stealth can do that.

This is an important article on Bilerico because it talks about an event that over time will become a very historic one with regard to the movement for Transgender rights and equality.
I am going to take some different approaches to this subject. First of all, there are many in the transgender community who, thanks to people like Donna and Monica and Ethan and many others who have helped us move beyond the unholy trinity of fear, shame and guilt. We who transitioned as adults know only too well these emotions on deeply personal levels.
But thanks to people like Kim Pearson and www.tyfa.org, gender variant children are being helped to transition and be themselves so they can be helped to avoid the unholy trinity.
There are those among us who continue to live with this unholy trinity on a daily basis with varying degrees of success, and that is the gender variant community who for whatever reason are unable or unwilling to transition. I, personally, did not have the courage not to transition because I knew the intense pain that I would experience if I did not. I don't think I could have survived it.
But when we speak of community, I believe that it does include all of us - the young and the old, the transitioned and untransitioned, the pre-op, the post-op, etc., etc.
I am convinced we all need the acceptance, and the love and support of one another. We'll all lead happier lives if we do.
That's what it's all about, isn't it?

I believe there are any number of "flavors" of being Trans and feeling pride. "Trans and Proud" may not be the same as "Proud to be Trans", and it may simply be a matter of semantics, but they essentially achieve the same goal - finding something positive out of something that for so long was an overwhelming burden. There is pride for many of us in having the opportunity to experience a broader spectrum of life than most, in overcoming paralyzing fear on a path of self-actualization, in taking control of your life rather than allowing life circumstance to dictate who they are, in achieving life goals that at one time seemed impossible. Not all of these experiences is uniquely trans, but all help to inspire pride.

Great article Donna. We have much to be proud of :-)

I am very much looking forward to Trans March for just that reason!

I loved this!

"But we already have a parade for you people." Us people? Who is us people? They apparently felt that since there was already a Gay Pride parade that there really wasn't anything more to do. They have since been "educated."

And this speaks volumes!

There was recognition that we as a transgender community need to take a more active role in determining our own destiny.

Transgender Pride is a concept whose time has come. As indicated by the success of this year's events, it will continue to grow and mature. It is symbolic of our growth as a community and, in fact, is a celebration of that. It is an opportunity to take center stage, to recognize that we share experiences and identities with the broader GLB community but have our own as well, to honor our own community heroes, and to escape being simply the silent’t’ at the end of GLB.

These were very poignant observations of Donna’s activism in the Trans community. Thank You for being “The Rose” in the garden of hope!

Thanks for sharing this, Donna! I've never seen a trans pride festival!

Sounds great!

Bil: I doubt if anyone else ever saw a trans pride festival either. If someone has, would they please tell us about it?

There is something like this out in San Francisco the day before Pride Day, and the big parade. There are lots of trans-related events, but I don't think there is a parade. Has anyone been to that?

Did the organizers of this year's event say they will do it again next year?

Donna, I just realised I omitted something very important.

Thanks for doing so much for so long. Your example was an inspiration to me in my own transition too, so add a personal "thank you" for that.

Thanks, Donna, for sharing this. Wish I coulda been there.

Shari,
The shirt I have for the event says the first annual, so I'd say that there's a strong probability that the NE Transgender Pride event will happen next year.

Hi Dona,
Haven't had the pleaure of speaking with you, in person, since the Gay Games.

Since the Trans community has a perfect event of civil disobedenice, that pre-dates Stonewall, by 3 years-the Compton Cafeteria riots, it would seem we have a real right to have our own celebrations.

How each different local community decides to conduct their celebration will be interesting.

However, the idea of having a seperate celebration, is no differnt than the Lesbian, Leather, or Latino focused celbrations that all take place during Pride month, June.

If there is anyone here, in the Chicago area, who would be interested in working on a Trans Pride event, for the 2009 Pride month, please contact me, directly, at: jlatrobe@centeronhalsted.org.

All the best,
June

Four years ago you never would have convinced me that there was anything to be proud of wrt being trans. Now, 4 years later, I am post-op and living and working in the same place in rural Vt that I have for 24 years. That, in itself, is an accomplishment that I am proud of! "Pride" comes in many forms. You don't have to be out marching in the streets to be proud of who you are. There are many, many people out there that, simply by transitioning, have improved conditions for the Trans Community as a whole. At this stage in the Trans Rights Movement no steps are small ones. The best parts of the Rally for me were getting to meet Donna, Monica, Miss Major, Ethan and so many of the "movers and shakers" from our community. And then there are people like Rhiannon O'Donnabhain hanging it all out there... taking on the IRS for the GRS tax deduction... simply because it is the right thing to do. These folks deserve our respect, admiration and sincere gratitude. Last, but definitely not least, there was the opportunity to touch the life of a mother of a 5 year old boy who likes to wear dresses and "do girl things". A mother who, in the midst of a custody battle, is trying desperately to do what is right for her child. A mother that, up until the day of the Rally, felt so alone and hopeless in her predicament. A mother who now has hope for her childs' future through the contacts she made and the support network she began creating at Trans Pride. So often we get so caught up in our own trials and tribulations that we forget about those that support us and are dragged (often kicking and screaming) into this with us. This day was also a time to pay tribute to those people, the ones that support us, stand by us and take this journey with us. Thanks to Dru, Jackie, Bet, Justin, Marie and all the volunteers involved in making this first New England Transgender Pride March and Rally an event to remember. BTW Shakay, I'm sure you can count on this event happening, at least, next year. We made enough money through t-shirt and beverage sales as well as the generous donations of our supporters to cover this years' expenses and give us a good jump on next years'.

I would love to be there next year with a few thousand of my brothers and sisters.

Have they selected a date for it yet?