Celebrating Local Trans Folks - TDOV 2020

Written by Keegan James, Secretary of Fierté Simcoe Pride

Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) is an annual international holiday dedicated to celebrating and uplifting the accomplishments and lives of trans, gender non-conforming and gender diverse people while raising awareness of the work that is still needed to save trans lives. Find more info at: tdov.org.

At Fierté Simcoe Pride, we believe in the power of local community and the strength founded in our roots. Our organization is proof of that, comprising of local volunteers dedicated to running events and creating support systems in community. We work to honor the activists who are at the forefront of community work daily, and the trans and gender diverse folk who are living their best lives - and in doing so inspire the work that is done worldwide. It is so crucial to lift up the voices of people on the front lines, and support grassroots work. They are the ones who sustain our community. We work to honor, and wish to celebrate, these grassroots workers on TDOV and every other day of the year. 
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There are so many individuals, trans community workers and members alike, not featured here who are hitting the pavement and fighting the good fight. This is just our way of spotlighting the work of some - and we send our appreciation, support and resilient spirit out to all our trans and gender-diverse community members.  
Especially in the midst of a pandemic and global grief, there are reasons to celebrate - be it the work being done, or just the pure magic of trans and gender diverse joy. So here are some of the local folks you nominated to be included in this years post. 

We would also like to honor that the land on which we do this work is situated in the territory of the Haudensaunee and Anishnaabeg peoples. We are thankful for the generations of work that have gone into these lands and the history we have to build upon. As a Board of settlers and Indigenous people, we are thankful and humbled to continue to reside and work in these territories. 

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Image Description: Standing infront of a white background, Meg smirks into the camera. They have brown, short hair and dark eyes. They are wearing a dark blue jean jacket over a black shirt with the words "support sex workers" across the chest.

Meg Minnikin (they/them) 

Meg shows up for their communities in a variety of ways, from volunteering to peer support. They are known for their kindness and willingness to help all, and while being newer to engaging in community they have made a large impact.
Meg is currently a student at Georgian College and works in healthcare. Their positive outlook and sweetness are reason alone to be celebrated on Trans Day of Visibility, but they also work incredibly hard to educate others in the post secondary system.

Their unique outlook, disposition and compassion are just some of the reasons we are celebrating them this year!    

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Ali Tuckey (they/them) 

Ali is the youth program coordinator at the Gilbert Centre in Barrie, Ontario. They are
known and loved by the youth they work with as a compassionate, radical and relatable community worker who knows how to keep it real and maintain boundaries. The connections they facilitate have impacted the lives of youth across Simcoe and Muskoka the past several years.
Their dedication to the community and the youth they work with are just one of the reasons we are celebrating them this year. Ali offers the youth a supportive space to land.
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Ali's openness, humor and “swagger” are some of the reasons the youth of Simcoe County know and love them.

Image Description: Ali smiles to the camera, showing teeth. They stand infront of a grey background and are wearing a crisp white collared shirt under a grey vest. They have dark hair and dark eyes.

Parker Buchanan (they/them) 

Parker currently sits as a Director with FSP, joining the Board in December 2019, they had spent the previous summer volunteering their time to make sure events run smoothly.
​A passionate, vibrant nonbinary femme, Parker strives to speak up and out for other femme and nonbinary folk. This year, they were invited to speak at Georgian College about what being a femme meant to them - and they blew the crowd away.

They are an active artist and dedicated to improving community through collective care and direct action.

Brandon Amyot (they/them) 

Brandon is well known throughout the community for their activism and volunteerism on several fronts. They were a founder of FSP, working with the organization through a variety of roles until they stepped down in December 2019 as a new Board stepped up.
Currently, they lead several Indigenous Rights initiatives across Simcoe County and work with their local school union, and their social media is a hot spot for all the details on the County. As a two-spirit, non-binary individual, Brandon paves the way for other activists to start the work. 

Brandons passion for community and organizing shows in their dedication and consistency when showing up for those who need them most. 

Image Description: Brandon stands in a crowded street, wearing a black hat over their curly brown hair. They are holding a megaphone to their mouth. Brandon is wearing a beaded fringe earring, grey jacket and grey scarf.

Image Description: Evan smiles into the camera. His head is clean shaven and he has a grey and white beard. He is standing in a faded room, wearing a collared shirt, purple tie and jacket with a red ribbon on the chest.

Evan McCraney (he/him) 

Evan has worked in several roles with the Gilbert Centre, but most notably acted as the trans peer support worker. He strives to educate others and facilitate safer spaces that are trans inclusive.
​Evan is recognized by members of his community as compassionate, kind and dedicated. He has been acknowledged by community members for his constant push to develop more trans programming in Simcoe, as well as his love of sloths. 

Evan's personality and approachable nature are just a few of the reasons we are celebrating him this year! 
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Christian Kenehan (they/them)

Christian (also goes by Chris) is a non-binary (agender) person with disabilities who uses they/them pronouns. They have experience working with local LGBTQIA2S non-profits and Asexual and Aromantic Spectrum groups and non-profits. They love to give back to their community in whatever way they can. Visibility can be a double edged sword as a lot of trans, non-binary and gender diverse folks don't have the ability to be safely visible in their community. Christian is a facilitator of TransQ Simcoe County, is the Vice Chair of the Fierté Simcoe Pride Trans Pride Sub Committee, and most recently founded openspACE Simcoe (A group for Asexual and Aromantic spectrum people in Simcoe County). In their free time they love to play Dungeons and Dragons, are an avid reader, and spend time with friends. 

Chris is thankful to have the ability to be visible and work in the Trans community locally!

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Image Description: Christian smiles into the camera, sitting infront of an off-beige background. They have red hair and amber eyes, and are wearing a light grey tank top.

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​Don't forget to join us tonight for our TDOV Online Conference. Featuring workshops and discussions by local trans folks and allies!

More information can be found at: ​facebook.com/events/229454148240446/

Running via Zoom 
Starting at 6:30 PM