Celebrating Local Trans People (TDOV 2019)
By Keegan Hobson, Secretary and Vice Chair of FSP
Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) is an annual international holiday dedicated to celebrating and uplifting the accomplishments and lives of trans, gender non-conforming and gender diverse people while raising awareness of the work that is still needed to save trans lives. Find more info at: tdov.org.
At Fierté Simcoe Pride, we believe in the power of local community and the strength founded in our roots. We work to honor the daily activists who are at the forefront of community work, and the trans and gender diverse folk who are living their best lives - and in doing so inspire the work that is done worldwide. It is so crucial to lift up the voices of people on the front lines, and support their grassroots work. They are the ones who sustain our community. We work to honor, and wish to celebrate, these grassroots workers on TDOV and every other day of the year.
There are so many people not featured here who are hitting the pavement and fighting the good fight. This is just our way of spotlighting the work of some - and we send our appreciation, support and resilient spirit out to all our trans and gender-diverse community members.
We would also like to honor that the land on which we do this work is situated in the territory of the Haudensaunee and Anishnaabeg peoples. We are thankful for the generations of work that have gone into these lands and the history we have to build upon. As settlers and Indigenous people, we are thankful and humbled to continue to reside and work in these territories.
Image Description: Lane looks into the camera, wearing a black shirt, red beanie and a gold septum ring. Their brown hair curls slightly underneath the cap.
Lane Patriquin (They/Them)
Lane has been active in their local community in a variety of initiatives. They are responsible for coordinating several series of crucial workshops focused on harm reduction in Muskoka. Working hard to bring necessary education to a rural area, Lane is known for their organizing efforts, educational videos and writing. They provide a realistic and accessible way for individuals to access education and continually offer support to other local initiatives.
"I don't know what we would do without Lane right now, so much of what they're doing is so key here and I'm thankful we have them around."
Image Description: Aylisa smiles into the camera. Her shoulder-length hair is pink and matches her pink lipstick and shirt. Aylisa wears black, wide-framed glasses.
Aylisa Kelly (She/Her)
Aylisa is an infinitely wise, attentive and generous woman with a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience with many things including navigating systems, developing resources and providing support in community. At 39 years old, she has known she was a woman since she was 8, and has dealt with gender dysphoria her whole life. Aylisa is a member of Trans Liberation Now! (a trans and gender diverse community capacity building group) and currently a facilitator at TransQ (a local trans and gender diverse program) - she hopes to move forward with her goals of remaining active and supporting other members of her community.
"She has unmatched finesse in holding space for people's self-empowerment while also being quick to offer a wealth of information when needed."
Image Description: Carl smiles into the camera, wearing black framed glasses and a light grey sweater. His hair and beard are both short and black.
​Carl LeMesurier (He/Him)
Carl has been active in his community for 5+ years now - from supporting local movements to public appearances at advocacy events, he has been instrumental to several key services in Simcoe County. Both as a facilitator of TransQ (a local trans and gender diverse program) for several years and more recently as a peer support worker for the North Simcoe Muskoka Trans Health Services for the Couchiching Family Health Team. Radiating support and positivity, Carl is the type of person you want in your corner. ​​
"It is a pleasure to work with him at TransQ and I am glad he is here for our community."
Image Description: Gabriel looks away from the camera, wearing silver framed glasses and a striped and grey hoodie. Their hair is short and black on top, and shaved at the sides.
Gabriel (They/He)
Gabriel (or Gabe, as many people lovingly call him) is a nonbinary, transmasc, two-spirit individual who inspires folks each day with his resilient and beautiful queerness. With empathy at the forefront, Gabriel strives to create a sense of family in this small community. Passionate about keeping abusers out and facilitating safer spaces for our younger/newer community members, Gabriel constantly holds space down and cheers on those around them. Their wide range of resources and life experiences are what makes them a leader in their community.
"They inspire people to celebrate their queerness, their identity, their transition, whether the changes are big or small, visible or not; making him someone I would like to celebrate on Transgender Day of Visibility."
Image Description: Ieiérhes sits on the ground in a cap, sunglasses, black button up and gold shorts. Their tongue is out and they are holding a peace sign up to their face. The signs beside them read: "No Land is Crown Land - Two Spirit Pride" and "Two Spirit Liberation Not Gay Assimilation"
Ieiérhes Flint (They/Them)
Ieiérhes has been showing up for their communities from the moment they rolled into these territories. They are constantly acquiring and holding down space for trans community. Inspiring many with their initiative in creating a capacity-building project that centres trans and two-spirit folks - they centre antiracism and anticolonialism in a way that is crucial for queer community initiatives to function effectively and beneficially. Trans Liberation Now, and their other initiatives like the Sacred Seeds Collective, have started the conversations and movements around showing up for our Indigenous community members in a way we haven't seen in queer spaces in Simcoe/Muskoka before.
"Trans Liberation Now is something that's been desperately needed in the area."
Image Description: Gavrel smiles down at a yellow seed/fruit in their hand. They are wearing a black cap, grey short sleeved sweater and a green undershirt.
Gavrel Feldman (They/Them)
Gavrel is one of the most well known faces around here - their limitless kindness and ability to call people in with care promotes a culture of community that is often disrupted by harsher means. Also involved in the creation, development and implementation of Trans Liberation Now and several other key projects around Simcoe County and Muskoka, Gavrel centres antiracism and anticolonialism work in all they do. Being a key member with notable local organizations, they have worked hard to develop resources and capacity within queer, trans and two-spirit community.
​"Trans Liberation Now is something that's been desperately needed in the area."
Image Description: Ivy lays on the grass, smiling at the camera. Her red lipstick and hair stand out against her black lace dress.
Ivy Lace (She/Her)
Ivy Lace has been showing up for Simcoe/Muskoka queer and trans community for years now. Her dedicated work with several local organizations and bubbly personally are what set her above and beyond. Ivy has been a crucial piece in so many services and organizational structures within Simcoe County and always brings more energy to the table. She is known by her loved ones as kind, loving, thriving, opinionated and energetic.
"Where would we be without Miss Ivy Lace? Not where we are, that's for sure."
TDOV Open Mic
In the spirit of TDOV, Fierté Simcoe Pride is hosting an open mic night at the Lazy Tulip Cafe.
​Please come out, sing, read poetry or perform stand-up and share space with community as we recognize and support our Trans and Gender Diverse community members.
There is no cost for this event.
Find more info here:
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