We sat down with Maya Blasingame (she/her), a leader in Denver’s trans community, and Joy Iwancio (she/her), The Center's Director of Transgender Services, to talk liberation, trans joy, finding community, and loving ourselves in a world that doesn’t always love us back.
As we enter Transgender Awareness Week, I’m inspired by their conversation. As a person early into their transition, I look to these two incredible women as role models for how I’d like to live my life. I hope you’ll join me in reading their inspiring conversation.
To hear more from Maya (and see the result of Joy’s hard work,) please join us for our Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremony next Thursday, November 20, at The Pearl.
On the importance of Transgender Day of Remembrance
Maya
“Transgender Day of Remembrance is a day where we truly remember those we’ve lost, and way too many to suicide, murder, and even lack of healthcare, which is a form of systemic violence against our community.
I'm so influenced on this day by Black, Brown, and Indigenous trans women that we lose every year, whose deaths are called a suicide and who are deadnamed and misgendered in the news. Not even respected after death. I think that message is lost a lot of the time.
Our community has endured so much this year. From hateful laws to broken windows, we’ve weathered a lot of storms. TDOR is about sounding the alarm to the violence our community faces every day. This year’s event needs to be big. It needs to be bold. It needs to be by and for our community.
Most importantly, we need to use this time to honor our elders who are still living. They’ve helped me and you get all of the rights we take for granted today, and the time to honor them is now, while we still can.”
On using The Center as a resource
Joy
“As a trans woman working with other trans people, I’ve seen firsthand the difference this organization makes for our community. I still remember a day when someone who was early in their transition came in with their old name on their jacket, nervous to show up as their true self. I asked for their preferred name, they told me their name, I said “it’s nice to meet you, __.”
They started sobbing because that was the first time someone had used their real name and seen them for who they were.
I want to remind our community that we see you, we hear you and we, here at The Center, are definitely here for you, and we want to help with all the needs that we’re hearing. If we can’t give you what you need, we will try our best to connect you to someone who can.”
Maya
“I always reflect on being the person I wish I had in the early stages of my transition. There is so much light you can bring to a person when you just show them basic humanity. I firmly believe in stepping up to fill the gaps in support for our community. If it doesn’t exist, I’ll create it.
It’s places like the Center on Colfax that help us create our space and allow us to find our joy. Our families may not recognize us, our government may not recognize us, but we recognize us. Until my last breath, I’m going to use the time I have on this Earth to inspire others so when we look back, we know we did something. Because not enough people do anything.”
To our allies
Maya
We need good, committed allies now more than ever. Being a good ally to the trans community doesn’t have to be complicated. Small gestures lime complimenting someone and correcting others who use the wrong name or pronouns for a trans person in their life go far. For those who can afford to do so, donating to organizations like The Center and mutual aid groups serving LGBTQ+ people is vital. We also need allies who will provide us with dignified jobs, show up to protest with us and stand with our community even, and especially when, it’s unpopular and difficult to do so.
Final notes from The Center
To our beloved community, thank you for honoring this somber day with us. Every year, we lose far too many trans lives. We at The Center believe in a world where trans people are loved, celebrated, liberated. As Colorado continues to grow as a safe island amid hate states for trans people, our goal is to serve as a national model for work towards true queer liberation for all. We hope you’ll join us this Thursday for an evening of reverence, respect, and rejuvenation.