4th Submission

All material copyrighted by Red Jordan Arobateau. This speech may be found in his book
SACRED JOURNEY Part 2—The ongoing Journals of Red Jordan Arobateau, Vol. 18, ©
2009, on Lulu.com. Red gave this speech on receiving his award for being a
‘Community Activist and Living Legend’, on Trans Week, June 19, 2009.

MY PERSONAL MESSAGE
Everyone, here practically, is transsexual. Or transgender if you prefer. There are very
few of us on earth, maybe half a percent of the whole human race of 7 billion human
beings. We were born this way—some, can document our gender struggles as early as
age 2 or 3. In my case knowing I was a boy, acting boy-like; at the beginning of the day
demanding my mother put out boy clothes for me to wear, or I wouldn’t get dressed at all;
and my sisters, likewise knowing they were little girls & the fierce struggle that entailed
to be true to their inner female selves. We transsexuals are a special breed; a special kind.
A strange fruit, who, in some cultures, down thru history have been revered as being
wiser then ordinary people, who came to us for advice & guidance. —Maybe because, if
we are honest, we can see thru both lenses—both female and male. Are we a mistake?
Or were we intended to be the 3rd sex, by specific design---as our special contribution to
the human race? Doing what others cannot do. Yesterday we heard the intelligent,
informative, and inspirational presentations from women of the Native American,
Hawaiian, Latina, and Mother African trans community—on their birth cultures
transgender traditions, obstacles, victories, & future aims and goals. Also these sisters
gave their extension of good will, and vision of positive progress for us, today, in the
present and all our tomorrows of the future!

Now, here is from me, Daddy Red; my personal message to us; three things.

First, It is most important that we, us special breed, us transgender, transsexual, Two
Spirits--- hold true to who we are! Each of us individually. To never loose sight that
Creator has given us this road to travel. Wither it be rocky or nearly impossible, we must
travel it. If we keep ourselves upright and walk in The Light, doing as little wrong as
possible, we will be empowered to give a very unique contribution to society, that few
others are able!

The Second, we must not fail to assemble ourselves together---as we truly are a flock of
the same feather; wither or not some wish to admit this, or publicly represent. Those of
us who can, must. For there is power in assemblies of people, and much good has come
by it, in the past. As Queen Latifa, (a suspected transgender), sings; U.N.I.T.Y.
U.N.I.T.Y! I will tell you a word we used in the protests of the 1970’s grape workers
strike with Caesar Chavez; we massed down the streets chanting, the people divided will
never be defeated! Victory to the people! Vencermous!
And the third, finally, my brothers stay strong, my sisters be beautiful, all of you radiate
your light! Go in love and walk in peace.

This is the intellectual property of the author, Red Jordan Arobateau