Equality Florida Voices For Change Convening Ushering In “Equality Florida: TRANSEQUALITY”
(Orlando, FL) America has this weird and pervasive narrative that people from significantly disadvantaged backgrounds must somehow pull themselves up by the bootstraps and with drive and determination alone, fight their way into a life of economic stability and “success”. The concept of the “American Dream” is patently false and criminally misleading. The majority of people we consider the most successful came from old money or started with points of privilege or legacy that created an uneven playing field that they benefitted from. They very well may have worked hard, but it wasn’t just tenacity that got them where they are. The true way that most of us find our footing is from depending on each other and when one of us makes it through a door or to a table, we reach back and bring our people with us. In the village, in community, there is no room for gate-keeping- only collaboration and sharing what we know.
In mid-August, Equality Florida hosted the 2nd Annual Voices for Change Convening in Orlando, FL led by Angelique Godwin, their Director of Transgender Equality. The foundation of the Voices for Change Convening brought key Trans leaders from throughout the state together to impart “a deep understanding of strategies and tools necessary to overcome the persistent challenges faced by the Transgender community. These strategies and tools must be developed by the community itself…. creating a space to cultivate innovative and impactful solutions to combat the anti-Trans violence and rhetoric” both the state and the country are currently facing. The convening builds off of pillars that were established the year prior and through careful work and collaboration throughout the year: Community Education, Resource and Information Sharing, Healthcare, Funding and Housing. Angelique and her team were expanding and cultivating the village.
For the second year in a row, Blaque/OUT Magazine and Editor Tamara Leigh were invited to the table. To listen, to learn, to celebrate the wins over nearly insurmountable odds and sit amongst the powerhouses of Trans leadership that kept communities afloat during some of Florida’s darkest hours. It was a great honor and always a pleasure to watch community- work, and engage with the people keeping the wheels turning. Notably, the conference went from attendees in the 60’s in 2024 to a gathering in the 90’s that was overwhelmingly Black, Brown and Trans. There was something magical about the convening being hosted at Disney but equally beautiful that the attendees were able to step away from real life for a few moments to breathe or sit by the pool between poignant testimonies and back to back educational opportunities to learn from their mentors and peers.
The “Community Education for Trans Liberation” panel featuring Fidel Gomez, Tatiana Williams, Regina Livingston, Ashunte Coleman, and Andy Citino focused on Florida as the blueprint to the resistance and establishing the connective tissue between the lifelines and resilience while reminding folks that solidarity takes, “work, attention, and love”. Collaboration, community and mutual respect isn’t a given. It is a lifelong learning process that requires intentionality and care.
The Youth Leadership and Advocacy panel featured young adults already deeply imbedded in the work, Jae, Dante and Cameron. They spoke eloquently and honestly about their experiences, their motivation and interestingly, about the things they have already learned about the pitfalls of being young in community spaces.
Other panels discussed the view as a healthcare provider and inspired poignant comments about what the healthcare system doesn’t get right and the obligation of doctors and healthcare providers to stand in their privilege for their patients. There were also panels that centered housing justice and fundraising.
The spaces were a place of education, growth and learning but overwhelmingly teaching from the wealth of experience that sat in every room. Tatiana Williams, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Transinclusive Group, a Trans-led non-profit advocating for the rights and equality of Transgender and LGBTQ+ individuals in South Florida dropped jewel after jewel on panels and in comments, “Before you can liberate others, we have to liberate ourselves. [If you aren’t healed, you] bleed on community.”
Ashunte Coleman, co-founder of LIPSFlorida, and several other panelists, spoke lovingly about about Icon, Marissa Miller, and how she taught her to see herself as the powerhouse she has become. Reminding her that she has a “Ph’D in life” that made her voice in community, legislation and advocacy so incredibly important.
It was lessons in humility and cheering on your sibs when the moment might be theirs but yours is coming. It was reminders that rage is an “unmet need” and how to handle community with understanding and care. It was about remembering the assignment at all times because the crown placed upon your head may some days be extremely heavy.
Most importantly, besides the camaraderie and community, was possibly a session led by Jasmine McKenzie, founder of the McKenzie Project, Inc., that guided participants through the treacherous waters of grant funding and securing capital to make their ideas and organizations come to life. She shared her experience, the hundreds of individuals and orgs she’s helped secure funding for and what she had learned along the way.
Jasmine McKenzie
The nights ended with laughing and kiki-ing in the hotel lounge and by poolside. The dinners were family-style as more family was built and selfies were snapped. On the final evening, Angelique glowed in a pink gown while addressing the room. From the podium she announced the formation of “Transgender Equality”. A department of Equality Florida, Transgender Equality seeks to create a Florida where all Trans, NB, and Intersex individuals can live safely and have access to the necessary care for them to have the best quality of life. The vision is to create a longstanding communal ecosystem that allows the intersectional departments, orgs and leaders to pour into the development and protection of the Trans and NB communities. They hope to focus on ways to connect, uplift, educate and participate in and with the Trans community as a whole in the state through training, tools and building connections which is exactly what Godwin has spent the passed 2+ years doing.
Several community leaders left with more than just a renewed sense of purpose and belonging, they were granted an award and honorarium gifted by internationally acclaimed poet, comedian, public speaker, and actor, Alok.
Tatiana William, Regina Livingston, Andy Citino, Jasmine McKenzie, Cielo Sunsarae, Janel Diaz, [not pictured, Jiyah Bolden]
The last day of the gathering ended with a day at Disney’s EPCOT Center. It cannot be overstated that the work doesn’t stop in non-profit world and community doesn’t close at 5PM. There can be good days, there can be wins, occasionally glam but it is more often than not, sleepless nights, endless work and little appreciation. Fun, laughter and play shouldn’t have an age cap, tax bracket requirement or be earned. Joy is the single highest form of resistance and a lil Disney magic doesn’t hurt either.
