Women's March on Washington - Winnipeg - My Speech

I bring greetings from Rainbow Resource Centre staff and Board, we are proud of the many programs we provide to our community for all Lesbian, Bi, Transgender and gender diverse women and their allies.

I would like to share with you some personal thoughts on this important day

I could spend the next 5 minutes telling you why Transgender women are women; and women’s issues affect all of us.  Instead I challenge us all to take a stand and support the rights of ALL women.

I choose to not spend time trying to convince you we are all women because that only perpetuates the labelling of us – dividing already marginalized communities whether it be by gender, gender identity, race, ability, religious, political affiliations, sexual orientations, and body image.

Remember those that wish to divide us, only do so to conquer us. For now we must stand and protect the rights and freedoms that we have.

It could be argued that the last major counter culture was during the Vietnam War era, today we are on the vanguard of a new counter cultural era and look around, we are them.

We all know it took the election of a misogynistic, sexist, xenophobic, racist, homophobic, transphobic and hateful man to create the inertia for this event.

Meryl Streep said very well at the Golden Globes when these behaviours are done by world leaders such as the President elect of the United States, some people will assume it is Ok to carry on in the same manner, and we have clearly seen this happening already in the United States and here at home in Canada as well!!

So I have one message for the new leader of the United States;

Dear Donald, we will not be SUBJUGATED

Watch out Canada we are not immune to the racism, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, and divisive behaviours that were demonstrated by the events of last years US election. Those same forces will try and push their agenda forward in Canada socially and Politically and we must stand always alert and at the ready to defend the Canada we deserve.

But Most Important: Remember there is unity in Community.