The Canadian National Newspaper: From a Man into becoming a Woman

Within every community there are those that find a cause, injustice or revolution for which they can embrace and become passionate. As a community, the gay rights movement demonstrates the power of unified concerns and the tenacity of a common goal. Victor Hugo said it best: "There is nothing as powerful as an idea whose time has come." It seems of late that the transgender movement's time has come.

Most of us are old enough to have lived through the civil and gay rights movements, feminism and the sexual revolution. Nowadays you see the term and the images of transgender everywhere - in the news, in feature films and on television sitcoms. But in recent years the perception of transgender people by the mainstream seems to have shifted just a bit, and we are portrayed as someone's brother, cousin or father - in other words we are just regular people with a slightly different lifestyle.

Transgender Warriors Paved The Way So That You Could Go Out on Saturday nights. How Can You Contribute to Advancing Tolerance?

In the larger metropolitan cities around the world we have become familiar, even if we are in some cases not totally accepted, yet that is something that many of us take for granted. Our ability to step out in the light of day was paved by transgender warriors before us, who refused to be less than who they were. And it was that fearless and unrelentless commitment that makes your Saturday night romps possible. They risked losing friends, family, careers, and enduring arrest, mental and/or physical abuse and being socially exiled.

In every movement there are those that put themselves out there as beacon's of light, in many different ways, to guide those in the shadows and that is still true today. But the real question is WHAT HAVE YOU DONE LATELY? Isn't this part of your community too, isn't this part of who you are? Believe it or not it does not take much to make a difference. Some say, "I can't be in the spotlight - I have to much to lose". So they attend the local events to "get" what they need and call it a day.

Rose Royale stood before a packed house at the first annual Qwe're Music Fest this summer in NYC in 2002 and in her soft spoken way challenged the gay, lesbian, trans-variant and transgender community to be inclusive and respectful of one another.

I realized at that moment that everyone could contribute in a powerful way. You don't have to be a political activist, columnist, performer, celebrity or necessarily visible at all to make a difference - all you have to do is care. "I help out when I can" Rose said to me in a recent interview. Rose, who refers to herself as part drag-queen and part transgender, told me that "if I help one person it makes it all worth while".

So what can you do? Here is a short list. If you have any other suggestions please leave a comment below.

Respect One Another. Our different opinions, perspectives, and experiences make us rich. Engage in ideas not debate

Be Proud of who you are and be of good nature when around those in and outside the community.

Educate the Ignorant and Misinformed. Rose says "I can't live angry, some people really don't understand". Don't respond with anger, take just a moment to educate if the person is willing to listen

Be A Mentor. Provide advice, experience, friendship, or support to someone just coming out

Support Our Allies. The event promoters, performers, publications, foundations, and retailers provide the creative energy and dollars to expand our universe - support their efforts so they can continue their work.

Spread The Word. If you see, read, hear or experience something that moves you, tell a friend - or two, or three.

We are part of the cultural diversity of society who outwardly expresses ourselves more openly than most of the “mainstream“. We can make of this community, our community, and the way it is perceived by the mainstream, whatever we as a group, are willing to visualize.

Brianna Austin is co-author of "I'd Do It Again," a free lance writer, and publisher of TG Life, LINK, a website by, for and about the transgender community.

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