important parental support is to transgender youth. Without that support the barriers for living a healthy, happy and fulfilling life are huge. As Co-Vice Chair of The Trevor Project, along with Gina Munoz who is also Co-Vice Chair, I am all too keenly aware of the fact that LGBTQ children of unsupportive parents are eight times more likely to attempt suicide. What are the most challenging issues still being faced? There is still a lot of room for
MICHAELA MENDELSOHN A WOMAN ON A MISSION by joel martens
Pride is a time for celebrations and fun to be sure, we all deserve a moment to let go and revel in
who we are as individuals and as a larger community. Pride is also a time to commemorate the many brave individuals who came before us, those who fought day and night for the rights and freedoms we in the LGBTQ+ community now enjoy…trailblazers who have taken the risk to step out as leaders and lead the way. Michaela Mendelsohn is one of those leaders. She is transgender activist, public speaker, and successful businesswoman. Someone who knows
what it’s like to struggle with self-acceptance, to fight through difficult challenges and then know what it’s like to reach the other side. Mendelsohn is also one of those rare leaders who understands how important it is to remember and talk about that process and through shared experience, bring others with her.
L.A. Pride recently chose Michaela Men- delsohn as their 2018 Grand Marshal andThe Rage Monthly had the chance to chat with her about her journey so far.
Because there still seems to be confusion in both the LGBTQ community and beyond, I asked Michaela to talk a little about what transgender “is” and what it “is not.” “Transgender” is currently used to include a
broad spectrum of individuals and is commonly used to describe individuals who are “gender fluid.” This includes persons who identify as a gender other than identified and/or assigned at birth, whether part time or full time, including those who identify as “non-binary.” This latter category is growing rapidly as younger people are exercising more of their freedom in living outside society’s traditional gender boxes of either male or female. Transgender is an adjective and not a noun. It sometimes is used incorrectly such as “she’s a transgender” versus “she is a transgender person.” The incorrect
use of the word can be offensive. The term “tranny” or “trannies” is often used by gay men and is considered highly offensive by most transgender people. What is the most common misconception that people have? Many people confuse gender identity with
sexual orientation. After transitioning, an individual’s sexual orientation most often does not change though it may open the door to more fluidity which may have already been present though previously inhibited by the constraints of cultural norms. What do you see as the most positive changes you have seen in recent years? Certainly, there is more open dialogue and
media attention on transgender issues. As a result, youth are transitioning much earlier and finding therapeutic and medical support services in order to do so. More often now, parents of transgender children are educating themselves so that they can be advocates for their child. I cannot stress enough how
ULTIMATELY, I WANT TO OPEN AS MANY HEARTS AND MINDS AS I CAN FOR AS LONG AS I CAN. IN MANY OF THE GREAT MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.’S SPEECHES HIS FOCUS IS ON LOVE. ON CHOOS- ING LOVE. ON STICKING WITH LOVE. ON LEADING WITH LOVE.”
education to erase ignorance and fear of the “other.” Though this appears more urgent in politically conservative, right-wing regions of the country, it often rears its ugly head in metro- politan centers such as Los Angeles as well, in the form of violence and lack of employment opportunities. What is your ultimate goal as an activist, speaker and leader? My selfish goal is to feel good about
doing what I can in a world with so much need. It helps me sleep at night. Ultimately, I want to open as many hearts and minds as I can for as long as I can. In many of the great Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speeches his focus is on love. On choosing love. On sticking with love. On leading with love. He inspires me to always lead with love. What does being named Grand Marshal for L.A. Pride mean to you? It’s an amazing honor and one that
I wasn’t sure I deserved, because there are so many people devoting themselves to life-saving work. Foremost, it is an opportunity to bring more awareness to the needs of the LGBTQ communities and the work we are all doing to create positive and last- ing change as activists, as colleagues, as mentors, partners, employers and employees, and as neighbors .
For more of Michaela’s interview go to
ragemonthly.com.
JUNE 2018 | RAGE monthly 21
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