This year May is Trans is going digital! May Is Trans elevates the profile of the trans and gender non-conforming communities in the greater Washington, DC, area through advocacy, workshops, and providing a safe space to be your authentic self. SaVanna Wanzer, the founder of Trans Pride, and May Is: All About Trans, has been intentional since the beginning about creating a celebration of us, and providing programming that is educational, affirming, uplifting, inspiring, and most importantly showcasing representation of Black and brown trans communities, who are so often pushed aside and delegated to the sidelines when part of bigger celebrations for LGBTQIA+ Pride celebrations.
During Covid, SaVanna and the board stepped up to the plate to go virtual and make sure we could feel connected and not alone. They have assembled the best of the best from around the country, which is one major positive of having to go virtual because of the pandemic.
No one is forgotten under the transgender umbrella, whether you are trans, intersex, no-binary, feminine, masculine, and everything in between. Regardless of color, you will see representation and feel connected. Come enjoy a fun-filled month, and stick around for programming throughout the year. SaVanna and her Black girl magic will always provide a May to remember!
Our DC BEINGS community is excited to amplify the amazing voices and powerful stories from our transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender expansive communities all month long. Here are some of our favorite events happening this month:
May 11th – HIV, PrEP and Transgender Communities
An educational conversation about living with HIV and whether PrEP is the right option for you. Our panelists include Anthony Gutierrez, Octavia Yaz-mine Lewis, Jasmine Bryant and Lucas Rojas.
May 14th – Story District & Team Rayceen Present: 11th Annual Out/Spoken
On May 14, 2021, Story District will present their yearly LGBTQIA+ focused storytelling event, Out/Spoken. For the eleventh annual edition of Out/Spoken, Story District has partnered with Team Rayceen Productions and will stream live from Union Stage. This year’s program will celebrate the various LGBTQIA+ Pride celebrations which take place in the Nation’s Capital, including Capital Pride, DC Black Pride, Capital Trans Pride, DC Latinx Pride, Youth Day, and Silver Pride. Event host and community advocate Rayceen Pendarvis, known as the Empress of Pride, will return to co-host along with Krylios, Team Rayceen YouTube channel host and announcer on The Ask Rayceen Show.
May 15th – May Is: TransPride
May Is: TransPride was created to address the critical gaps in information, services and visibility of the transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender expansive communities in the DMV. Today, the event has grown into a true celebration including over 75 community partners and over 700 attendees. This year’s virtual event includes partnerships with organizations and leaders from across the nation! The workshops and talks include topics on Gender and Name Change in DC, Gender Affirming Services at Whitman-Walker Health, Choosing a Health Plan for Medical Transition, LGBTQ Youth Housing, Decolonization, and more.
May 19th – Allies of the Transgender Community
By becoming an ally of trans communities, your actions help change the culture, making society a better, safer place for transgender folks and for all people (trans or not) who do not conform to conventional gender expectation. The panelists are Justin Woods, Stephania Mahdi, and Jewel Addy.
Visit the May is Trans website and follow the hashtag #MayisTrans on social media for more events and activities taking place this month!
Taylor Lianne Chandler
Taylor Lianne Chandler is a former sign language interpreter and crisis management consultant, published author and national speaker on gender issues. Today, Taylor is a Public Relations Consultant and Social Media Manager. She is part of the Marketing Team with Capital Pride Alliance and Capital Trans Pride in Washington DC, and sits on the board of May Is? All About Trans. Taylor has a degree in Social and Behavioral Science, as well as her VQAS in American Sign Language from the State of Virginia. She was nominated in 2006 for the Energizer Battery Keep Going Hall of Fame. She has appeared in many national magazines, television, and radio shows. Taylor is engaged to Matthew Meagher-Walker and plans to marry September of 2019.
