"If you have questions, ask. There are plenty of people that are more than willing to help you and be there for you." Tonight as I left the International Transgender Day of Remembrance, these words stuck with me. This was an amazing event. Not only was it humbling, but it brought out emotions I just don't know what to do with. I don't want to question my Faith, but I cannot help it. I can assure you these emotions weren't what the event coordinators had planned, but I can also assure you that these emotions were real. I felt the spirit tonight stronger than I have in a long time. No, these individuals weren't all brought to justice, but I feel like I was able to be apart of something larger than my mortal state. I will take a stand. I will not fall silent, no matter how much one may think that I need to mind my own business. Humanity is my business. Loving everyone is my business. Standing up and sticking up for others is MY business. I stand with LOVE. Although, some individuals may have problems with this, I do not, and the Holy Ghost testified to me this evening that my convictions were true, and just. Morally there are no sidelines in a struggle between oppressors and the oppressed. All that oppressors ask from the rest of us is to mind our own business, so by attempting neutrality we implicitly side with the oppressors. If we are truly an interconnected web, then we cannot simply blame the actions of the powerful for the injustice in our society; injustice is also the result of countless inactions by those with a responsibility to our fellow human beings." - Tim DeChristopher
Though yesterday it was football, today it has changed to Social Work. I still love football, with a lot of passion, but social work is where I can truly love with all that I have inside of my soul.
Today we had a couple of speakers working with a couple of different populations. One being the Trans(exual/gender) community. The other being the Refugee community. I felt my heart begin to soften, my eyes begin to fill, and this uncontrollable feeling to cry. I said to myself, "YOU can be the change. YOU will be the change."
I then decided I was going to take part in a couple events in the near future. TDR(Trans Day of Remembrance), as well as go to a lecture event to listen to some other current hot topics in the Trans(exual/gender) community.
Some of you know about my mindset, my struggle, and my growth under the umbrella of LGBTQ community. I wrote a paper on this in my Social Work writing course, and though it helped, I still struggle.
So, on November 20th I am attending TDR at 6:30 PM and I can only hope that my friends will also take part in this event with me.
Also, I am going to take a tour of the Hartland Center, and become a volunteer. My want to go to Africa has heightened - and I feel this will be the best way to see if I am up for the challenge to go and work with the people. I believe if anything, it will sway my decisions to go 10 times stronger. I love the African people, and cannot wait to embark on my journey to discovery.
