Photo by Anh Dao Kolbe (adkfoto.com)
~ The following is a guest post from the desk of Lonnie McAdoo, Director of Community Programs at AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts
I had the honor and privilege of attending the Transgender Day of Remembrance on Saturday evening (Nov 20th) and was incredibly impressed by the event. The venue (St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral) was great and the attendance was strong (a few hundred people it looked like), but what was truly impressive and inspiring was the program and all who spoke.
From the welcome given by the Minister (forgive me for I don’t know his formal title) of the church that hosted us, who apologized for the pain caused to folks by some element of “the church” who (clearly in his opinion) misrepresent God and do so at many people’s expense including those in attendance; to the woman who was/is a client of TransCEND who spoke about how the program helped her when no one else would/could (and her 12 year old daughter who spoke about how lucky she was to have a great mom like her); to a young man from BAGLY named Connor who gave an inspiring and hopeful speech about his experience and the good supportive people in his life who have helped him through (a favorite moment for the folks where I was sitting was later when another woman spoke about the need for allies – she also mentioned that she’s Connor’s girlfriend’s mom and confirmed that he’s a great guy!); to our own Elizabeth Rivera-Valentine who gave an incredibly moving and heart-felt speech that left everyone drying their eyes.
Many individuals, programs and agencies contributed to the success of the event and right in the middle of things and referenced several times; was TransCEND.
It was an incredibly powerful event and I was very happy I was there and VERY PROUD to now have a direct association with this impressive program and the important work they’re doing with important people.
Thanks to all who were involved. My soul needed that.
~ Lonnie
The following are links to news coverage of the BTDOR 2010 event:
Boston.com - "Remembering the lost, working for a brighter future" (11/22/10) By Jeremy C. Fox
BayWindows.com - "Vigil honors transgender murder victims" (11/22/10) By Angela Alberti
