PRIDE Initiative Celebrates International Transgender Day of Visibility
Stevie Jolie Stallmeyer, Joanne Keatley, Gabbi Ludwig, Hon. Victoria Kolakowsky, Rayden Marcum
San Mateo County celebrated International Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, 2015. The San Mateo County PRIDE Initiative teamed up with the LGBTQ Commission to create a day of county-wide events to honor the struggles and victories of our transgender community. In the morning, the Board of Supervisors presented a proclamation acknowledging the day and its significance to our county, and Commissioner, Stevie Jolie Stallmeyer, accepted the proclamation on our behalf. In the afternoon, Anthony Ross and Rodrigo Garcia from Outlet/Adolescent Counseling Services, provided a Transgender 101 Workshop for the community to better understand the transgender experience and how best to support our transgender community in our agencies and institutions. The evening began with a reception and a reissuing of the Proclamation by Supervisor, Dave Pine,and was followed by a moving panel discussion of trans leaders in the Bay Area. The panelists included Joanne Keatley (Director of the Center of Excellence for Transgender Health at UCSF), Hon. Victoria Kolakowsky (Alameda County Superior Court Judge and first openly transgender trial judge in the U.S.), Gabbi Ludwig (Mission College Athlete), and Rayden Marcum (Youth Speaker). With the adept facilitation of Commissioner, Stevie Jolie Stallmeyer, the panelists shared their stories of courage to be themselves in the face of tremendous adversity. It was an inspiring day and a good step toward acknowledging and honoring our transgender community.For more information about the PRIDE Initiative, check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SMCPrideEvent or website: http://smchealth.org/bhrs/ode/pride
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