International Women's Day #BeBoldForChange #IWD2017

International Women’s Day -  March 8, 2017

#IWD2017  #BeBoldForChange

Hi My Name is Cynthia, and I am a women!

I also happen to be Transgender. We will talk about me a little later.

My question for you today is: Are you ready to be Be Bold For Change?

Back in January 2017 at the Women’s March on Washington held here in Winnipeg I shared these words:

“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 belief’s, political affiliations, sexual orientations, and body image.

Remember those that wish to divide us, only do so to conquer us . . .”

So how do we stand together and Be Bold For Change?

To answer that question I want to share with you a very personal moment from a conversation with my gender therapist early in my transition journey from about this time last year . . . I have edited the conversation for the sake of time today, it was actually an hour long discussion

My Therapist asked me “Are you a feminist?”

I responded with “I don t know, what is a feminist?”

My Therapist responded with this summarized definition that over time the perception of a Feminist has changed, from burning bra’s, free love, militaristic behaviour, to today’s Feminist, which simply defined, believe in equality for all.

And I responded with  “Oh!!”

Yes, I am a Feminist, because I believe in equality

It was so impactful for me, but as they say you just had to be there to experience that moment with me to understand the Ah Ha moment I had just experienced.

Do you know what an Ah Ha moment is?

Of course you do! Your students and as you learn you make sense of many things your teachers share and when they connect in a profound way your learning becomes more real, not just memorizing, but now it’s experiential.

So I am saying if you believe in this definition I just shared with you that you should be a Feminist? Is that the Be Bold For Change I am talking about?

No.

If we truly believe that being a feminist is as simple as it takes being bold then why are you here listening to me, because we know that this world does not simply allow equality for all.

Look at the folks around you,

Look behind you,

Look on the left side of the room,

Look on the right side of the room,

And look in front of you

What do you see? Differences?

Maybe you are truly enlightened and what you see are other human beings?

So A little about me

I was a Father – I am a Parent

I was Married – I am Separated

I was a Brother – I am a Sister

I was a Son – I am a Daughter

The one thing that never changed during my transition is that I am still a Human Being!

Here are first 3 paragraphs of my coming out letter that I wrote in 2016 to my friends, colleagues, and family.  In it, I acknowledge that understanding will be difficult for some people, for some I now know it may be impossible.

“I am about to share some personal information with you and although I do want to be up front with everybody that I work with, some of you might think that this information is a joke.  I assure you it is not.  Comprehending this information, in fact, may take considerable patience, understanding and compassion.  I expect that some of you will require a longer time to fully process this, as it is not a minor issue like a haircut or a bit of nail polish.

I am transgender.  Specifically, I am male-to-female transsexual. I have been aware of being different most of my life, but only came to a realization in the last few years that it had a name and the extent to which I felt like this. This has caused me an almost inexpressible degree of personal grief and confusion.

After many decades of struggling with my gender identify, I have finally come to grips with who I am.  I have been in therapy since the beginning of 2016 and it has become very clear to me that I cannot continue with the status quo in regards to my life without creating a union between my body and my spirit (for lack of a better analogy, my mind, heart and soul to not coincide with the physical body that I was born with).”

Transitioning my gender I consider the 3^rd major transition in my life;

The first major transition was I was 6 years old living in Belfast, Northern Ireland, sometimes called bang city because of all the bomb explosions that occurred in downtown Belfast due to religious strife between Catholics and Protestants.

My father being English refused to be told who to be friends with and was friends with a wide variety of people. As I now understand too wide a variety as 3 men in black masks appeared on my parents door step to warn my father to stop being friends with the wrong people or else . . .

30 days later at 6 years old I was living in Canada with no idea why, so I transitioned to become a Canadian!

* 2^nd Transition *

My 2^nd major transition happened many years later after meeting what I thought was the women of my dreams, we got married and I choose to become a Roman Catholic, not something normally done for an Irish Protestant. I even taught catechism.

I never told my parents out of fear because of their experiences in Ireland, until one time they attended Christmas service and I got up to serve Mass. After they asked me, don’t you need to be Catholic to serve Mass?

I responded Yes and so my parents who faced the threat of violence in Ireland saw their child go through the 2^nd major transition of my life, changing religions.

And now my gender . . .

Timeline:

- 41 yrs in the making, since 9 yrs old, I am a late bloomer compared to many others who @ 4-6yrs old know.

- 3 Big things in life that caused me to confront my gender identity 

--> Hitting 50 yrs old

--> Last child leaving high school, no longer know as my childs parent, who am I?

--> Maximized Living seeking a deep reason to be healthy for myself

- 2 yrs ago major changes - Pandora (AKA Cynthia) no longer able to kept in her box in my head

--> Struggling to deal with my thoughts

Halloween 2015 - Cynthia had her first outing at friend’s son's wedding social

Halloween 2016 - I was living full time as Cynthia

Family:

Son - 23 yrs - longest to meet me - 30 seconds and he was OK

Daughter - 19 yrs – active in the 2STLBGQ* community in high school - Different when it's your dad

Wife - 31 yrs married, we are divorcing. I hope one day we can be friends.

So what about that Be Bold For Change?

Do you remember when I asked you to look around?

I asked What do you see? Strangers? People Different from you? Queers?

Or Maybe you are truly enlightened and what you see are other human beings?

So if Feminism allows us to see each other equally as Human Beings, is that being bold?

No, but I believe that Acceptance without Understanding is being Bold.

In that concept of equality for all (human rights for all) it beg’s the question, do you need to have understanding of me as a human being and the life journey I am on in order to define if I qualify for human rights?

Is that any different when we see human beings with a skin of a different color? Or from another country, different religion, different gender, or of Indigenous origin?

Reality is that if you consider yourself a human being you are already accepting, while I suspect most of you don't understand, that’s OK and your not alone.

When I talk about acceptance, I am not asking you to accept whatever you perceive as my lifestyle. I am simply asking you to accept me as a human being.

Accept that as a human being my life journey takes me on a path, just as yours takes you on your life path. I ask that you accept that I am following my path.

I am not asking you to accept that I decided this, because as you will learn, being Transgender is not a choice. Would you choose to risk losing EVERYTHING (loved ones, family, friends, home, career, finances) just to be transgender? We have not decided to risk it all, our life journeys have taken us on this path. We could continue to deny who we are in the many ways it manifests itself, but the unprecedented high double-digit suicide rate in all age categories is but one result of not following this life journey we are given.

For some people they will never understand and that's OK, because some days I am not sure I do. That’s why we use mental health professional’s who do not pass judgement on us, but help us unpack this journey so we can accept ourselves without the prejudice of understanding.

The reality is that you may never understand other human beings.

And that's OK, because I am not asking why me, I am moving forward with the life journey I am on because moving forward is the only way we can go.

So Be Bold and please accept ALL of us without understanding

Press Release - MITT_International Women's Day Celebration 2017

MEDIA RELEASE

Celebrate women and ‘be bold for change’

In celebration of International Women’s Day, transgender executive to discuss
equality with MITT students, faculty, and staff

March 8, 2017

It’s been just over a year since Cynthia Fortlage began her new life as a woman. Today, she is sharing her journey with students, faculty and staff at the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (MITT) as part of International Women’s Day 2017, which is themed: Be Bold For Change.

Her message is simple.

“This is not just about someone who is transgender; it also pertains to people of different religions, cultures, refugees,” says Fortlage, who is an international award-winning information technology executive with Winnipeg-based customs brokerage firm, GHY. “What society needs to do is accept us and understand that we are human beings.”

Student members of MITT’s Women in Trades and Technology (WITT) group organized the event. In addition to inviting Fortlage to speak, they created buttons with the help of MITT’s Graphic and Print Technician program. Available for a minimum donation of $1, proceeds of the button sales will go to United Way Winnipeg in support of programs benefitting women in the community. As a show of support, all members of MITT’s campus community have also been encouraged to wear purple – the official colour of International Women’s Day.  

“Our WITT members took this project on in their own time, outside of their studies,” says Liz Choi, Vice-President of Students and Strategic Partnerships at MITT. “We are so proud of their initiative and this event they have put together for the benefit of our entire campus community.”

Formed in fall 2015, The Women in Trades and Technology group invites women in the various programs at MITT to meet, connect with one another, and further develop skills that employers are looking for.

When: March 8, 2017, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where: MITT Deltas, far north side of 130 Henlow Bay campus

Event contact:

Jeremy Brooks, Manager of Public Relations
Office: 204-989-2874 Mobile: 204-806-4491
Email: jeremy.brooks@mitt.ca

About MITT

MITT provides innovative pathways to quality high school, post-secondary education, and apprenticeship training in partnership with industry and the communities we serve. MITT is dedicated to ensuring its graduates successfully transition to employment or further post-secondary education.

-30-

What I learnt in my first 90 days

Acceptance Before Understanding . . . a guide for human society

When I wrote this it was meant to capture my evolution of thought through my transition, but when thinking of recent political changes in the USA and discussions on a global basis of diversity, I think the core message here applies to all situations, although these words are from me on how I wish you to process my transition.

There are many diverse minorities outside of what I now call "normative society" that I used to be part of, instead I challenge you to see ALL of us as "Human Society" first and foremost.

Here is that post on Acceptance before Understanding;

======================================================

Acceptance Before Understanding

This article represents my current knowledge and beliefs on the topic, while I continue to grow as a life long learner it is subject to change. I do not speak for the transgender community, their thoughts and feelings are theirs alone, this is me and I ask you accept me as I am.

I was a Father – I am a Parent

I was Married – I am Separated

I was a Brother – I am a Sister

I was a Son – I am a Daughter

The one thing that never changed during my transition is that I am still a Human Being!

Here are first 3 paragraphs of my coming out letter that I wrote in 2016 to my friends, colleagues, and family.  In it, I acknowledge that understanding will be difficult for some people, for some I now know it may be impossible.

“I am about to share some personal information with you and although I do want to be up front with everybody that I work with, some of you might think that this information is a joke.  I assure you it is not.  Comprehending this information, in fact, may take considerable patience, understanding and compassion.  I expect that some of you will require a longer time to fully process this, as it is not a minor issue like a haircut or a bit of nail polish.

I am transgender.  Specifically, I am male-to-female transsexual. I have been aware of being different most of my life, but only came to a realization in the last few years that it had a name and the extent to which I felt like this. This has caused me an almost inexpressible degree of personal grief and confusion.

After many decades of struggling with my gender identify, I have finally come to grips with who I am.  I have been in therapy since the beginning of 2016 and it has become very clear to me that I cannot continue with the status quo in regards to my life without creating a union between my body and my spirit (for lack of a better analogy, my mind, heart and soul to not coincide with the physical body that I was born with).”

If we consult Collins English Dictionary the definition of the word understanding is:

Understanding (noun)

1. the ability to learn, judge, make decisions, etc; intelligence or sense

2. personal opinion or interpretation of a subject: my understanding of your predicament

So it makes sense that before you pass judgement/make a decision you want to understand. In fact to do so is human.

What I ask of people is Accept before Understanding. This is predicated on the understanding of the definition of Acceptance, based upon the same Collins English Dictionary source.

Acceptance (noun)

1. the act of accepting or the state of being accepted or acceptable

2. favourable reception; approval

The difference between the two words as verbs is that understanding is based upon needing to know the facts in order to understand, where as acceptance is at face value, not unlike faith as but one example.

The difference between the two words as it relates to my transgenderism is based upon a human rights concept of equality for all, or as I come to refer to it now, “Feminism”.

In that concept of equality for all (human rights for all) it beg’s the question, do you need to have understanding of me as a human being and the life journey I am on in order to define if I qualify for human rights? Fact is you never did before my transition!

Reality is that if you consider yourself a friend you are already accepting, while I suspect most of you don't understand, that’s OK and your not alone.

When I talk about acceptance, I am not asking you to accept whatever you perceive as my lifestyle. I am simply asking you to accept me as a human being.

Accept that as a human being my life journey takes me on a path, just as yours takes you on your life path. I ask you accept that I am following my path.

I am not asking you to accept that I decided this, because as you will learn, being Transgender is not a choice. Would you choose to risk EVERYTHING (loved ones, family, friends, home, career, finances) just to be transgender? We have not decided to risk it all, our life journeys have taken us on this path. We could continue to deny who we are in the many ways it manifests itself, but the unprecedented high double-digit suicide rate in all age categories is but one result of not following this life journey we are given.

For some people they will never understand and that's OK, because some days I am not sure I do. That’s why we use mental health professional’s who do not pass judgement on us, but help us unpack this journey so we can accept ourselves without the prejudice of your understanding.

The reality is that you may never understand.

And that's OK, because I am not asking why me, I am moving forward with the life journey I am on because moving forward is the only way we can go.

So please accept us before understanding

Travelling Transgender in Transition

Someone asked me a good question that I thought was clearly understood, but in realization as I explained it to them, it had some merit, so my friends I share with you for consideration:

Question: Why is your first business travel as you a big deal?

Answer:
Dealing with Travel is based a lot upon identity, so while it's in transition there is always a concern of issues arising because of mismatched identity.

It will also be the first time dealing with airport security and their new Trans friendly policy, which as I am lead to believe has more to do with the people controlling security and how they react than the policy itself.

It is my first time with an Airline, Air Canada in this case. Wondering how their staff will react.

I usually travel with my passport, even for domestic travel, this time I will use my Drivers license as it's the only picture ID that matches everything for me.

So why not use my passport, it is the old me, and because it is backed by my immigration documents as I wasn't born here, I am 2 months into a 5 month process to get that paperwork fixed and I had to submit (originals not copies) EVERY piece of documentation that proves I am a Canadian citizen in order for them to grant me new originals.

Since Travel is based on identity, I have never travelled with so little proof of who I am, that's an uncomfortable feeling.

Feb 10/2017 Update
Meet with Canada / USA Nexus teams to start updating my records, they were all very nice, but agreed that it best I not travel until I get ALL my identity documents in line.

Video from the Women's March on Washington - Winnipeg event

Video and Editing Courtesy of: Donna Kurt

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.