BY AJ TRAGER
FERNDALE – The Gender-Identity Network Alliance (GNA, pronounced "Gina") will hold its annual Transgender Day of Empowerment on May 31, following Ferndale Pride, in hopes of connecting trans individuals in attendance with a clearer view of "making themselves real."
Transgender Day of Empowerment, according to the website, is about "bravely searching for the undiscovered opportunities that lie within life obstacles without surrendering to the injustice, recognizing the most important relationship is between someone and themselves and realizing that the best relationships are dedicated to truthfulness, transparency and talking."
Co-founder and Executive Director of GNA, Michelle Fox-Phillips, designed the event to empower the trans community and to present a "day of decision, declaration and doing" by taking ownership of existence and taking one more step in the journey of self-actualization.
"I decided as executive director of Transgender Detroit (now GNA) to turn it into an empowering day," Fox-Phillips said. "It's a one day affair. We do it as an antithesis, because in November we do the Transgender Day of Remembrance candlelight vigil. And this is to be the opposite, to have an uplifting day of empowerment versus a downer."
This year's theme is "Building It Real." The event will feature a series of workshops and conversations addressing what it is like to be trans in Detroit, trans ambassadorship, what is "T in the D: Transgender in Detroit," gender variance, workplace empowerment, trans history, gender youth and a lunch address by Roz Keith who will discuss her parent support group for guardians of trans youth. Dr. Sandra Samons and Dr. Steven Rossi will return for a third year and discuss inter-marginalization; the keynote address will be delivered by Affirmations' Executive Director Darrious Hilmon.
Trans Day of Empowerment is geared towards trans individuals, however trans allies and the general community are welcome to attend and gain insight and education into the trans community. For safety, Affirmations will close its doors to the general public not interested in attending the workshops. Between 100-150 people are expected to attend.
"For me, having just one person there is a success," Fox-Phillips said. "A lot of people need help. They are self conscious, they are afraid of discrimination against them — of course I don't blame them — but this is a way for them to gain confidence in themselves."
The idea for Trans Day of Empowerment came from Tina Seitz, former board member of Affirmations. She saw that the San Francisco community was hosting a Trans Day of Empowerment that resembled an awards dinner, and she wanted to expand the idea in Metro Detroit and turn it into a series of workshops.
Fox-Phillips hopes that, in upcoming years, Trans Day of Empowerment can withstand and evolve into its own sustaining conference, providing extended training and resources.
This year's presenters include Hannah Hartly, Jodi Allen, Bre Campbell, Amanda Panda, Dr. Rossi, Dr. Samons, Lolita Davis, Julia Marsh and Aspen and Julani, two local youth.
Trans Day of Empowerment begins at 9 a.m. in the Pittmann-Puckett Gallery. Lunch will be provided. In addition to the workshops, vendor tables will be present.
Other organizations supporting this event include PFLAG Detroit, Jewish-Gay Network and Joshua Moore from Detroit Legal Services.
