Visibility, Emergence, Inclusion, Equality Begins at Home
by Paula Funatake (21 Mar 1999)

My initial plan today was to be there standing with you listening to others speak, wondering who from the trans community would be speaking. When my dear, compassionate friend, Lori, asked me to speak for It's Time, Oregon! I was honored and instantly filled with anxiety as this would be the first time I have spoken publicly.

For the first time, my conviction in the issues we, the trans community, face is so strong that I accepted and am standing here now. Everyday my voice grows stronger, fueled by the hate which works to keep me, us, silent. If I remain silent and invisible they will have won. And, then, how will even our supporters be able to begin to understand the depth of what we feel and go through to just be able to live an everyday life? Those things many of us take for granted and do not even think about - buying a tank of gas, that quick run to the hardware store, walking around the block. These can be not only highly stressful, they can be also life-threatening for a trans person.

And these are somewhat "little" things compared to the fact that we have lost our jobs, our children have been taken away, we have lost a roof over our heads, we have been banned from our children's activities. This is in addition to all the issues involved with name/gender changes, the medical processes we must deal with and the enormous costs involved. And through it all, we have little legal recourse to help us.

I cannot begin to express how I have felt supporting and fighting for the rights of the sexual minority communities, ever wishing the transgendered community were included, ever wondering when. Today, that is changing - all across the country, cities, counties and businesses are making steps to not only develop sexual orientation protections, but also gender expression/identity protections. Locally we have Benton-Linn County, the first in the state to acknowledge and provide for gender identity protections. Recently, the City of Portland began the process of establishing protections for transgendered/transsexual persons.

We are becoming more visible - and that is why I am here today. To give you a face, a person to remember when you see, read or hear about the transgender community. I am married, I have two beautiful, loving children, friends. I have hopes and dreams. I work hard to provide for my family and I am very protective of them. I laugh, play and I cry. Is that any different than anyone else?

Less than a year ago, I was content to be in my own world, focus on myself and family. An unknown, young man from Wyoming named, Matthew, changed that forever. I woke up to what fear was about, what hate was about and vowed to not let them win! I had been doing THAT most of my life, it was now time to honor all the victims, to not let their voices go silent. They cannot be here with us, today, but their voices, their songs of hope are louder than ever.

The trans community is emerging, growing. Along with that visibility, the hate has followed. In the last several months, there has been at least one brutal trans murder per month! Many of you may not even be aware of that. There are many more attacks that go unreported, because of fear of the "outing" that often occurs when a transgender person files a report. It is sad to think that it is far easier to take the abuse than to speak up and demand the same protections every one else enjoys. To think that one is so afraid, so filled with shame over who they are, they are willing to give so much power to hate and intolerance. THAT, I hate!

I am here for the transgender community. I am also here for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, for their partners, children, and supporters. I am here not just for E quality, I am here for human quality, for inclusiveness, for strength in community, for the preciousness of life.

Every day, I dream about what life would be like to live even ONE day without fear of discrimination, hate, or fear of violence. I have hope, for myself, for you, for our children and their children. Today, I, we, take that step - to bring equality home.

Thank you