Thank you very much. I really appreciate the opportunity to be here with you today. I was quite flattered to be asked to speak to you today although at first I was at a loss for what to talk about. When I talked to Max about this, he said that when he gave a similar speech here at Southern Comfort a couple of years ago, he talked about sex. I figured that at least one of us should pick a topic on which we are knowledgable, so I thought instead I would talk about community.
Years ago when I lived in Washington, DC, as I came out through one local support groups there, TGEA, I kept hearing one thing repeated so often, it almost became a mantra--give back to others. At the time, it just went in one ear and out the other, but as I gained confidence in myself and made more friends and became aware of just how extensive our community is, I began to realize that I had to do just that--give back to others. Those who were there for me once had others for them, and I saw that there were others coming along whom I could support and benefit.
This, of course, is not an easy thing to do. We all bring different personalities and talents to bear, and it makes no sense for us all to do the same things, but we have much to offer each other and others out there who are still only beginning to understand and accept themselves.
Twenty years ago this month was an important time in my own emotional growth and maturation, because it was at that time that I first stepped out the door to face the world as my true self. You don't need to experience an 8-Track Flashback to know that 1970s clothes were even worse than the music, but as a 17 year old with no fashion sense, I managed to step out the house in my 5" disco platform shoes and wander around a local mall for about an hour. It was a liberating experience, and yet, I was still alone. Today, the world around us is filled with fashion victims from 17 to 77 who still feel alone and are wondering where we are.
Coming to conventions like these are very moving and enlightening experiences, but how many of us are really doing enough to give back to others? Here in the Southeast, we face unique challenges. This is an area of the country that has long struggled with issues of inclusion and acceptance of diversity. The issues of racism, sexism, religious and cultural bigotry, and homophobia, have long permeated our communities and poisoned relationships within them. And it is in that atmosphere that the Transgender community must attempt to build and grow.
As former House Speaker Tip O'Neill once said, "All politics is local." Well, the same goes for our own organizing efforts, and without a strong, local base, our broader efforts are meaningless. There is much that each and every one of us can do to help our sisters and brothers out there who feel alone and remain isolated from the community that we are building here. And you can be part of that process. While many here and around the country have made an effort to be visible and accessible, many attend functions like this, taking advantage of the short periods of safety these islands of support can offer, but then go home and do nothing. Are you active in your local support group? Are you contributing anything to others in your community from which they can benefit? If you are an officer in name, are you really pushing yourself to do things? If you are in a community without a support group, and unfortunately, many communities in this region of the country still lack viable groups, are you waiting for somebody else to do the work? If a group does exist and you are unsatisfied with it, what are you contributing to strengthen it, or are you the type to just sit back and complain about what is not being done? If we all simply take and never give, then we never grow, and if we never grow, then we cannot hope to be strong.
Regardless of your personal level of activity in your local group, you still owe it to yourself and those who helped you to do other things. You should still feel the urge to write or call or visit your elected in representatives in Washington, your state capitol, and your local city or county council, and tell them that you oppose legislation that discriminates against anybody, and support legislation that extends the rights of oppressed people in our society. It is our fear that has led to the plethora of so-called same sex marriage bans by several states, including in my home state of Tennessee, and the passage of the misnamed Defense of Marriage Act. It is our fear that led to the refusal of the Senate to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Many in our community have been victimized by discrimination and harrassment and hate crimes, including friends of mine, and this is going to continue as long as we allow our fears to intimidate us. If we are not willing to stand up for ourselves, then how can we expect others to do so for us?
As we move among one other this weekend during the myriad of sessions, banquets, and outside social events, we are going to be exposed to the vast diversity that exists within the transgender community. We come from all races and religions. We cover a vast array of socio-economic backgrounds. We have different professions, educational levels, political beliefs, and personal hobbies. We are straight and gay, bisexual, trisexual, asexual and I've even heard the word omnisexual. We are post-op, pre-op, and you're never gonna get me on that table. We are male to female and female to male. We are hearing impaired and physically challenged. This community also includes the significant others in our lives who not only support us in so many ways, but sometimes even lead us when we don't know where we are going. That diversity can make us strong if we utilize it and are willing to work with each other, because first and foremost, we are sisters and brothers who share a unique trait that we come to Atlanta to celebrate. We should each make an effort to expose ourselves to all of this diversity because we all have much to learn from each other. I am proud to be here to help revel in this diversity.
So I conclude by thanking you for this opportunity to address you here today. But to those who are using this weekend to come out and join us, I would like to say a very special "Welcome."
Let us all, regardless of category, newcomer and grizzled veteran alike, be part of what is a very special year for our Atlanta hosts and hostesses: (Dons "Olympic Ring" glasses) Let us celebrate that Olympic tradition. Be part of that torch relay. Always try to give back to others. That is how we build a true community. Thank you.