The International Transgender Day of Visibility, commemorated on March 31, was started in 2009 to celebrate transgender people’s lives and to raise awareness about the discrimination that transgender people experience. SpeakOUT invited several of our trans speakers to describe the importance of visibility and why they choose to speak about their lives out in the community. These wonderful speakers are part of the long SpeakOUT history of “telling the truths of LGBTQ lives.” Alley My goal as an LGBT speaker is to gently encourage people to think more flexibly about gender and sexuality, to look beyond the binary boxes that we are too often pushed into: gay/straight, trans/cis, man/woman. I'm a trans woman who lived as a man for decades, but finally reached a point where I had the internal and external resources to transition. Although I now happily live and identify as a woman, I'm the kind of woman who continues to question what it means to be a woman or man. In my speaking, I hope to encourage the emergence of a future in which we can all live outside the box, expressing our own complex genders and sexualities. A future in which people aren't reduced to their bodies. Kai As a trans-masculine person, I’m often asked, “Why be visible?” I can so easily fade into the fabric of our society, so why make myself stick out? I like to respond with a few questions of my own: In a world where transgender people are still arrested, molested, assaulted, tortured, violated, and murdered for simply living their lives, how can I honestly choose to disappear? How can I hide behind a privilege that offers me the very safety not afforded to others? How can I leave my community without a helping hand? The world still clearly needs a lesson in humanity. We are teachers, firefighters, lawyers, bankers, truck drivers, engineers, doctors, police officers. We are parents, children, siblings, and grandparents. We are every-day, run-of-the-mill people, and yet, we still suffer gross injustices each day. Our youth are still seeking suicide as an answer to their suffering. Why be visible, you ask? Because I want every non-trans*person to realize that we are everywhere. And I want every trans*person around the world to know that no matter how bad it is, or how bad it gets, they are never, ever alone. Mitzzy AnneWhy is it so important for me to live and speak about my life experiences as a transgender person? I live my life as a visible transwoman everyday, loving my family and friends, doing volunteer work, working hard at my job trying to be a good person as an example to others. I choose to speak about who I am so people will see that trans people are human like everyone else.I believe that the more I can talk about my own life experiences, the easier it is for people to accept the trans community for who we are. The more of us who speak up to be heard, the easier it is for all of us to be treated with basic human rights, not just here in our community, but across the globe. When I tell my story, I talk about the hard times I had growing up in the hopes of making it that much easier for the next person to be who they are. I also feel that the more people who know about some of the outrages I have seen in my life, the easier it will be to rid the world of these injustices.What I love most about sharing my story through SpeakOUT is that I, in turn, get to hear so many other inspiring stories of love and hope. OscarI love being an out trans person because of the people that I am able to relate to and form connections with. I hope that my enthusiastic visibility can show people that trans people are important because of the unique perspectives they bring. I am a special education teacher that works with autistic students that have intensive support needs. Recently, I had a student that expressed interest in wearing a dress and I was able to advocate for his right to make choices about what he wears. There were some people who wanted to prevent him from making this choice, but as an out trans man I knew how to advocate for him. I was able to find a ton of support amongst the administration and he’s been very happy wearing his new outfits at school. Laurie Being visible as an out trans person is important to me as a social and human rights activist. The more people see me (us) and get to know me (us) the more friends we make. When our common human experiences are out for all to see, the differences begin to be a source of interest and even wonder; we begin to live in the similarities. Therein lies the transformation of society from discrimination to inclusion, and from hate to appreciation and admiration. As a byproduct it creates community and safety, and helps bring about laws which protect me and my friends. This ensures a greater sense of ease for all our families.

SpeakOUT is proud to introduce the newly elected Board of Directors for 2015. This talented group of new as well as tenured members offers a wonderful array of experience, interests, and commitment to help chart the next leg of SpeakOUT's journey. If you are interested in learning more about SpeakOUT and how you can become involved with the organization, please email Executive Director Ellyn Ruthstrom at ellyn@speakoutboston.org or read an earlier post with more details.Bill Barnert is the most tenured member of the Board of Directors, having been speaking for SpeakOUT since 1980. He was a co-host of SpeakOUT TV (the weekly cable show produced by the organization from 1993-2007) and PrideTime for Boston cable. Bill is proud of the organizations he has helped to co-found, including the AIDS Action Committee, Brown University TBGALA, and the Cambridge Men's Group. Bill has sung with the Boston Gay Men's Chorus, danced with the ReneGAYdes, drummed with the Freedom Trail Marching Band, and has volunteered at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School’s GSA, "Project-10 East." Currently, he sits on the City of Cambridge GLBT Commission, and he helps run the Cambridge Men’s Group. Professionally, Bill is a User Experience Designer, and is active in BostonCHI. In what's left of his spare time, he is an amateur actor, comedian, and playwright.Michael Bookman’s attendance at SpeakOUT’s Speaker Training in 2012 inspired him to learn more about the organization and he has been volunteering and speaking for SpeakOUT ever since, joining the Board of Directors in 2014. Michael has served on the Volunteer Recognition Committee and as a disaster services instructor for the American Red Cross of Massachusetts, and as the co-chair of Boston Pride’s Human Rights and Education Committee. Currently in graduate school at Emmanuel College, Michael holds a bachelor’s degree of science in psychology. He is a human resources professional and belongs to the Society of Human Resources Management. Michael has been a proud member and executive club committee member of Toastmasters International, a non-profit educational organization that helps its members develop their public speaking and leadership skills, for over six years.Michele Canero-Conklin has been on the SpeakOUT board since 2012. Her passion is community service, and she is especially dedicated to life preservation and meeting and connecting with people one-on-one, wherever they may be on this journey we call life. Michele is a seasoned, dedicated, compassionate, and service-oriented campus law enforcement/communications professional with a true passion for mentoring youth to become successful leaders and mentors. She’s also a mother of two adult children, coaches little league softball, and teaches self-defense and CPR/first aid classes.George Grattan’s career track and volunteer history has wound through the woods of academia, non-profits, marketing, writing, acting, public speaking, board service, environmental activism, and general "doing of stuff." George joined the board of SpeakOUT the fall of 2014, and prior to that was a board member of Living Routes, an environmental study-abroad program. His day gig focuses on marketing academic and social media content for Bentley University in Waltham, where he resides with his wife Mary. He has worked in the past for Earthwatch, the Urban Ecology Institute, Boston College, and the College of the Holy Cross. He's co-authored and co-edited both editions of Writing Places, a place-based composition reader for first-year college courses, and can be found every third Tuesday of the month at a "Bi Guys Bowling Night." A SpeakOUT newbie speaker, he looks forward to many future speaking engagements.Jenn Guneratne arrived on the Boston scene nearly five years ago following several years of studying across the pond in England. Jenn has a background in music, theatre, and photography, and she currently works at Boston University's College of Communication. In her spare time, Jenn enjoys yoga, cycling, and recently developed a small obsession with learning to play the banjo. Jenn officially joined SpeakOUT’s board in July 2014, having initially signed on as a volunteer in late 2013 to assist with the organization's social media presence. Since then, she has watched the board build with a number of highly talented and enthusiastic members who she is thrilled to be working with during this time of growth.Tracey Solomon-White is a fashion, entertainment and communication industry insider who is happiest working and playing in her hometown of Boston. With that said, it's been a personal goal to use her passport at least twice a year to explore countries such as Europe, the Caribbean islands, and Central America. Tracey was elected to SpeakOUT’s Board of Directors in December 2014 and previously held committee positions with New England Financial, Wayland Public Schools, and Sporty Rich Entertainment. A lifelong volunteer, specifically dedicated to organizations that improve the lives of women and children, Tracey donates her time to Rosie's Place, More Than Words, and the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation. Currently, Tracey is employed at Sotheby’s Imprint as the Account Liaison for cosmetics company, L’Oreal. Tracey’s favorite diversions are anything to do with fashion, reading books of all genres, and playing with make-up—though none of those activities compare to recreating unique meals for her husband and three kids.