In honor of Transgender Awareness Month, Metro Wellness is hosting the second annual Tampa Bay Trans Pride 2015 on Nov. 13-14.
The first trans pride event in Nov. 2014 sprouted from an idea between Tristan Byrnes, licensed mental health counselor, and Chris Rudisill, Metro Wellness director of LGBT community center services. Byrnes and Rudisill wanted to organize a reception honoring Dr. Kathleen Farrell’s retirement while recognizing Transgender Awareness Month. The event unexpectedly became Metro Wellness’ first Trans Pride.
“Immediately after we did the event, people were asking, ‘What’s the date for next year?’” Rudisill says. “We’re really excited to host this event again this year for the community.”
Trans Pride 2015 weekend will precede the Trans Day of Remembrance on Nov. 20, dedicated to the remembrance of transgender community members who have been murdered this year. So far, 21 transgender individuals have been murdered in 2015.
“I like it when we can get together for a more positive reason, not to advocate for something or because someone was murdered,” Byrnes says. “I think now and again we need to celebrate ourselves as a community.”
The weekend will kick off at Metro Wellness on Friday, Nov. 13, at 8 p.m. with a performance by Scott Turner Schofield, “Changing the World One Story at a Time.”
Schofield began his entertainment career in 2002 with a full production of his one-man show, “Underground Transit.” He says people knew very little about transgender issues at that time, so he also had to raise awareness and conduct workshops.
“I’ve always wanted to be an actor,” Schofield says. “But my gender expression was too fluid. I wasn’t masculine or feminine enough and I couldn’t get any roles. My mentor took me aside and told me, ‘You can’t wait for a role to be written for you. You have to write your own.’ So I did.”
Schofield went on to perform “Underground Transit” for seven years, wrote two additional shows and became the first transgender recipient of the Princess Grace Award. In March 2015, he landed a role on The Bold and the Beautiful, becoming the first transgender actor in daytime television.
During Friday night’s performance, Schofield will compile his stories in an interactive framework and allow audience members to choose which stories they want him to tell. Schofield says he believes what happens in the audience is as important as what happens on stage. Schofield is also planning to introduce the “Changing the World One Story at a Time” course he’s developing, which he says includes a layer of social activism.
“A lot of people walk away from my events thinking, ‘I didn’t know it was going to be so funny!’” Schofield says. “I’ve been to so many that were so serious and thought, ‘I’m never going to do that to people.’”
Byrnes describes Schofield’s style as “sophisticated standup.” Schofield says he is hoping to create an “uplifting, honoring and enlightening” mood by discussing deep issues, laughing at the realness in the room, and talking about how to change the world.
“One of the most important things is that our stories be told,” Rudisill says. “One of the biggest lessons I get from Scott is that the experience of storytelling and changing the world is essential for forward action.”
Tickets to “Changing the World One Story at a Time” are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Tickets may be purchased online or in person at Metro Wellness Center or the LGBT Welcome Center. A cash bar (by donation) will be included. Funds will benefit Metro Wellness’ transgender programming and miscellaneous funds for entertainment, events, support groups and town hall meetings.
Trans Pride 2015 will continue on Saturday, Nov. 14, through a free community conversation with Schofield at the LGBT Welcome Center from 1-3 p.m. Byrnes says the conversation will be more issue-oriented. The day will end with a free reception at Metro Wellness Center from 7-10 p.m., including entertainment from the transgender community, a recap of the trans community’s wins and struggles throughout the year, light appetizers, a DJ and a cash bar by donation. Schofield will act as emcee for the evening.
“I’m always excited to participate in trans pride events because they’re so vital right now,” Schofield says. “We’re at more than 20 trans people who have been murdered in 2015 alone. We can spend a lot of time focusing on the tragedy of that, or we can focus on our pride and ourselves.”
Byrnes and Rudisill are encouraging all walks of life to celebrate Trans Pride 2015, especially transgender allies. Byrnes says he is expecting about 100 people this year and is hoping the event will continue to grow. In just one year, it has turned from a simple evening reception to a weekend-long celebration. He says when Trans Pride becomes larger, he would like to do a march in the future.
“It’s a great opportunity for the community to come together,” Rudisill says. “We have several trans events throughout the week and month. We offer counseling and health care, but this is a chance for the community to come together, to get to know each other, to network, communicate and have a good time.”
Another way community members can support Trans Pride 2015 is through sponsorships. Sponsorship levels are as follows: $100, which includes company logo promotion at Saturday’s event; $250, which includes logo promotion, marketing materials display, and two tickets to “Changing the World One Story at a Time;” and $500, which includes logo promotion, a table at Saturday’s event, and four tickets to “Changing the World One Story at a Time.” To sign up for a sponsorship, please email Tristan Byrnes at twbyrnes@gmail.com or Toli Gentoli, Metro Wellness’ LGBT program manager, at tolig@metrotampabay.org.
“I encourage the Tampa Bay community to really take pride in ourselves,” Schofield says. “Get healthy, get strong, take no crap and be the incredibly world-changing people that we are.”
