Trans Awareness Week kicks off with launch of video project

"I AM: Transgender People Speak" offers unique public education opportunity.

The idea for "I AM: Transgender People Speak," a public education project that allows transgender people to speak from the heart, came when Gunner Scott heard about a special program called on National Public Radio. The show featured a website called "We Are America" that allowed student immigrants to tell their stories through videos and written pieces.

Scott, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC), immediately recognized the potential of a similar project for educating the general public about what it's like to be transgender, in the hopes of fostering understanding and support for the marginalized community.

The "I AM" project involves transgender volunteers sitting down in front of a camera, and describing their experiences as transgender individuals. The anecdotes range from heartbreaking discrimination to inspiring support.

The MTPC, along with co-sponsors State Street, The Network/La Red, the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, The Fenway Institute, and Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), celebrated the project with a launch party Sunday, Nov. 14 at The Brewery Complex's Bella Luna/Milky Way in Jamaica Plain.

"I was so worried that we wouldn't find enough people to come out and tell their stories," Scott said while setting up before the party began in a side room of the restaurant complete with exposed brick walls, a disco ball, and a large film screen. Eight videos have already been filmed and fully edited for the project; more than 50 people across the state -- as well as dozens out of state -- have indicated their interest in participating.

The "I AM" project is in phase one, marked by the launch of www.TransPeopleSpeak.org, the project's website, as well as launch parties in Worcester and western Massachusetts. Scott said that hopefully by late spring, advertisements for the public education project will have made it to MBTA subways and buses.

Scott said that despite spearheading the project, he probably won't record a video. "People see me a lot," he laughed. "It's really about other folks."

MTPC clerk Jesse Begenyi echoed Scott's sentiments. "It's really empowering to give people a chance to speak for themselves," Begenyi said. The former MTPC intern runs interviews for the project, and edits the final product. Begenyi spoke about out-of-state interest in the project, and its potential for launching internationally. "Trans people are misunderstood everywhere."

Michelle Figueiredo's video had just gone through a test run on the large screen at one end of the room. "I hate my voice," she said quietly, looking at the screen, before turning and smiling at the growing crowd filtering in. "I'm so proud of the work this group does," Figueiredo said. "I want to inspire other people."

Figueiredo is the first State Street employee -- at a corporation of 27,000 -- to undergo a gender transition on the job. She chose to participate in the project to show others "how positive a time" she had during her transition. "For me, it did get better," she smiled.

Despite her confidence, "there's always a little bit of nervousness" sitting down before a video camera, Figueiredo giggled.

Rachel Zall, another project participant, empathized with Figueiredo's stage fright. "It was a little intimidating to think about" beforehand, Zall said, but she's glad she participated. "I think it's a wonderful thing," she said.

Upbeat music was pumped through the room's speakers, and the collective mood of the launch party match its joviality as people continued to filter in, chatting and laughing. Flameless candles topped tables with informational fact sheets fanned out around them.

Advertisements for the "I AM" project were displayed on the screen one after another, and featured pictures of the participants with their personal identifying statements. "I AM: A Daughter, Adopted, A Jew, And I Am Also A Transgender Woman," one read. In each advertisement, the participant's gender identity was listed last after things like "Social Worker" and "Pageant Queen," intimating to the general public that being transgender is not the be-all and end-all of a trans person's identity. Some are cat-lovers; some are feminists. All are people.

Attendees gathered around small tables sipping drinks or signing postcards in support of "An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes," also known as the Transgender Civil Rights Bill, which proposes protections against anti-transgender discrimination in education, housing, and employment.

During his welcome speech, Scott thanked the political figures in attendance, including Reps. Carl Sciortino and Liz Malia, and candidate for City Council Matt O'Malley. Former Bay Windows editor-in-chief Laura Kiritsy was acknowledged along with other contributors for her work on behalf of the project.

"We're so excited to launch this public education campaign," Scott said. "This is not the end; this is the beginning."

Begenyi next took the podium. "I have been given the tremendous opportunity to sit with people and help them tell their stories," Begenyi said, speaking about the importance of "highlighting the realities of lived experience."

Launch party attendees stood shoulder-to-shoulder as the lights dimmed and four of the eight recorded videos were projected on the large screen at one end of the room. Mick, a social worker, told the video camera, "I finally know who I am." Joanne Herman, author of Transgender Explained For Those Who Are Not, said, "I was so much happier being Joanne." Lorelei Erisis, Miss Transgender New England 2009, got a few laughs out of the crowd during her video when she said, "I never found a frog to kiss, but I did find a job!"

Following the screenings, Barusch, a member of the MTPC Steering Committee, instructed attendees to pull out their wallets -- but not just for donations. "Hold up your I.D.'s!" Barusch spoke about the value of a correctly printed name and gender on a driver's license, and an address where the I.D. holder is safe from discrimination -- aspects of life for transgender individuals that would be protected by the Transgender Civil Rights Bill.

The launch party generated even more interest in the "I AM" project, and brought varied members of Massachusetts' LGBT community together. "This is...absolutely wonderful and courageous and groundbreaking work," Grace Sterling-Stowell, Executive Director of the Boston Alliance of LGBT Youth (BAGLY) and a member of the MTPC Steering Committee, said, calling it "a great opportunity" for education and tolerance. Sterling-Stowell also spoke about its importance for "younger trans people."

To donate to the "I AM: Transgender People Speak" project, or to find out how to participate, please visit www.transpeoplespeak.org or www.masstpc.org.