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Record Turnout at Trans Pride in the Park

(C. Proxmire, Ferndale 115 News Wire, 9/2/2011)

(Also view this story in Between the Lines)

From as far away as Texas, over 100 MTFs, FTMS, trans identifying, gender variant people and allies came to Geary Park on Saturday for the annual Transgender Pride in the Park Picnic.

“This is the first time I’ve experienced a transgender picnic. There have been conferences and meetings and things, but not just this,” said Jennifer Marcus of Royal Oak as she pointed out the tables full of people happily chatting. “I wanted to meet some of my transgender brothers and sisters. It’s important for us to bond. It would be nice to meet each other this way more.”

Organized by Transgender Michigan, the event is large but simple. They brought in the burgers and dogs while guest brought a side dish to pass. A small auction and a jar for donations raised money to cover the cost.

The large turnout meant that many left having made new friends and being enthused to go back to their home communities and do more.

Charlie Ford is an FTM active in promoting transgender visibility and support in Flint. He is the leader of the Team T group of PFLAG Flint and also the founder of Flint Trans Spectrum, a group which meets at the Wellness Services Building. The meetings regularly have 10-15 attendees, who together face issues in the area such as harassment, problems in the jail system, difficulty finding therapists and doctors to treat them, Ford said. “Mainly people should know we exist. We exist everywhere in the world, and we exist in Flint.”

Steph Turner came from Rochester to take part. She is a member of the Michigan Trans Empowerment Task Force and a former member of the Transgender Michigan Board (2007-2009). “Rachel [Crandall] and Susan [Crocker] started this in ’97 at a time when people couldn’t be as visible as they are. It’s empowering to see how many more trans people are out and want to get involved.”

Marcus, who is part of the ACLU Lambda Legal program, too found a message of strength and hope in the event. “A lot of people forgot how hard they had to fight to get their rights. In the 60s people stood up for themselves and each other. But the 80s came along and we got our cocaine and our big manufacturing jobs, or electronic toys and gadgets and we forgot where we came from. …This is the kind of thing we need to get back to having a voice.”

Transgender Michigan Board Member Vanessa Emma Goldman recalled the frustration of having to hide her gender expression in youth. “Growing up in Wyandotte in the 70s you didn’t talk about things like this Goldman said. “I came out in 2005 and I joined the Board in 2008 because I think it’s important. Having an organization like Transgender Michigan makes it possible to come out and be more comfortable in transitioning.” Goldman lives in Gaines Township, a place she says works well for her because “it is out in the country where people keep to themselves, though she still presents herself as male most of the time in public.

“For a lot of people this is the only day they can be themselves and interact with other transgender people,” said Transgender Michigan co-founder Rachel Crandall. She reports that 106 people attended, ranging from toddler aged to 80, with the furthest coming from Texas.

For more information on Transgender Michigan, visit their website at http://www.transgendermichigan.org. There you can also find information about the Transgender Health Fair taking place at Affirmations on Sept. 17 from 1-4 pm.

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