| FEATURE STORY
Respect and Protect Trans Women
By Tori Cooper Unleashed
1. As we celebrate PRIDE around the world for the LGBTQ community. What meaning does PRIDE have for you? I am a proud Black, transgender woman and that’s Black with a capital “B”. I am proud because society sees and says that someone like me is “less than”, “weird”, and deserving of every societal problem that comes my way. I am proud because people who walk this same walk are living their best lives in the face of a government that seeks to erase our very existence. I am proud because my sisters and brothers choose to be visible and vocal when folks like us are being murdered and beaten and discriminated against all across this country and across the world. I am proud that
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pioneers paved the way for me to live and navigate in this world as my most authentic self.
2. Tell me what are you most passionate about and why? I am passionate about improving the lives of the Trans community, especially my sisters. It’s one thing to see a 5 foot 2 man. But it’s another to see a 6 foot 2 woman. We have to navigate this world among people who don’t understand us and even some who mistreat us. I don’t think people hate us as much as we believe. I think it’s often a lack of understanding that leads to discrimination and anti-trans thoughts and actions. When I tell a cis woman that I am also a woman, for her to believe me, that means she has to rethink what she believes a woman is. I think it is one of my purposes in life to help people understand, as Maya Angelou wrote, that we are more alike than we are unalike.
I am also passionate about ensuring that my sisters have access to every success in life that is afforded our cis counterparts. That means living long and healthy lives, having mutually fulfilling relationships, and economic opportunities. Also I am passionate about love and learning how to give and receive love.
3. What would the legacy of Tori Cooper look like? My legacy is love. I love all of the communities that I represent. I live by the scripture that to whom much is given, much is required. This is the ultimate act of love in my opinion. It is important for all humankind to share all of our gifts and talents with the world. As Trans people, we have the rare gift of embodying both masculine and feminine energy and thoughts. This duality gives us greater empathy and compassion and insight when we use these gifts to help others.
