Living Stronger - Our Stories

The Trans Justice Summit, a one-of-a-kind weekend leadership summit, has a huge variety of trainings and workshops to empower our community and build the movement for Trans Justice in Oregon.  Take a look at some of what we have lined up, and don’t miss your chance to be a part of sessions discussing trans friendly skills and services and to connect with the trans community and allies.  The Summit will also feature exciting lunch caucuses, including “Language Politics and Gender Theory 101” and “How to be a Great Trans Ally.” 

Kylar was the keynote speaker last weekend, but here's a look at the schedule. 

Trans Justice Summit, Portland, Oregon

The following videos share cultural and ethnic aspects of the LGBT experience. The Pacific West Coast communities are invested in justice for all. These are a few examples.

What's your story?

What about Black LGBT Lawyers

Founded in 1925, the National Bar Association (NBA) is the nation's oldest and largest association of African-American lawyers and judges. The organization’s constitution states that its objective is to “promote legislation that will improve the economic condition of all American citizens regardless of race, sex, or creed.” Despite its mission to “protect civil and political rights of the citizens and the residents of the United States,” the National Bar Association overwhelmingly defeated a measure that would include LGBT-specific nondiscrimination language in its constitution in a vote of 36-120.

But has the NBA turned it's back on Black LGBT lawyers? Kimberly McLeod, at EBONY.com,  shares the stories of LGBT lawyers, including Kylar Broadus,  and their allies in this fight for equality.

"During the first quarter of the 20th century, twelve African-American pioneers with a mutual interest in, and dedication to justice and the civil rights of all, helped structure the struggle of the African-American race in America." (From NBA Perspective)

Justice for all means just that, all? So what happened?

Still Black: A Portrait of Black Transmen

STILL BLACK: A Portrait of Black Transmen is brought to life by the stories of six thoughtful, eloquent and diverse transmen. Preachers, teachers, students and activists educate us simply by making their presence known. Each man brings a colorful and complex richness as he describes his relationship to himself, as well as others in his life — the cadence of his voice keeping in rhythm with how the speaker displays himself to the camera. ...

"STILL BLACK: A Portrait of Black Transmen more than entertains, it gives the LGBT community an opportunity to learn about itself."

Democratic National Convention 2012

I was honored to be a delegate this year to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. I was one of 13 out transgender delegates. I attended the 2000 convention where there was only one official transgender delegate. While there is always room for improvement, this was movement. Until the rules for delegate selection where changed, it was hard for transgender Americans to become delegates. It is important for several reasons but mainly because this year was the first year that the party platform included "gender identity" and marriage equality which made the Democratic platform the most inclusive of any of the parties. Secondly, the hope is that more people are educated about transgender people. And, thirdly, that more transgender people participate in the process.

President Obama has been the only United States President that has gone on record in support of inclusion for transgender people even before he took the oath of office almost four years ago. The POTUS' inclusive lens has been amazing. I've visited the White House and worked on several issues with federal agencies. This is the first time these organizations have been inclusive of ALL people.  I think it's important for an administration to look like the people it serves. If it doesn't, then how can it adequately represent us.

Kylar Broadus Makes History Before the Senate

Kylar Broadus made history by becoming the first openly transgender person to testify before the U.S. Senate. Broadus was speaking on behalf of  Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Kylar W. Broadus is a professor, attorney, activist and public speaker from Missouri. He is an associate professor of business law at Lincoln University of Missouri, a historically black college where he previously served as chair of the business department. Kylar has maintained a general practice of law in Columbia, Missouri since 1997.   

In February 2011, Kylar was awarded the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Sue J. Hyde Award for Longevity in the Movement. (see blog photo)

Kylar was featured in BlackEnterprise.com discussing his personal experience with workplace discrimination.  In 2010, Kylar founded Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC), the only national civil rights organization dedicated to the needs of Trans People of Color. 

He currently serves on the board of the National Black JusticeCoalition and was board chair from 2007 to 2010. After the Democratic National Convention, follow him in DC for Out on the Hill - September 19 - 22, 2012 Black LGBT Leadership Summit.

"When you're dancing with a bear, you can't get tired and sit down. You wait until the bear gets tired, then you sit down." Now I want you to know that this old dancer is getting real tired, and I'm ready to recruit some new partners to dance with the bear so we can eliminate oppression for all people. (Lifted and adopted from a speech by Joycelyn Elders)

Follow the journey of freedom and equality and justice for all.

Democratic National Committee and Obama for America Announce 2012 Convention Platform Committee

President Barack Obama with Kylar Broadus June 2012

Kylar Broadus has been appointed to the Rules Committee for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) 2012 Convention Platform Committee. 

Kylar is a critical voice for the LGBT family and will be representing the transgender community and all those voices that often go unheard. 

Kylar consistently shows up as requested across the country to shift prevailing perspectives and effect statues and legislation.  Please show your support in advancing freedom and change with a financial gift toward upcoming travel expenses.

Whether you can give $5, $20, $50 or even a $100, it will go a long way to help Kylar Broadus represent us properly without incurring a debt beyond his means.

PayPal account setup to expedite your ability to help out.

Instructions: To send money via PayPal, please click below:

https://www.paypal.com/webapps/mpp/send-money-online

Please use kylarb@hotmail.com as the recipient's email and follow the instruction given from there. 

Thank you very much for your donation.

Please follow as the journey continues.   

This convention will look different than any other in the history of our party. It's the most open and most accessible - focused not just on the same old political rituals, but on real Americans coming together at the grassroots level, engaging the American spirit, and enlisting people who want to put their shoulders to the wheel and change our country for the better. 

~Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz

 Chair, Democratic National Committee