70th Annual Humanitarian Award Celebration: 2024

Read about the 68th and 69th such ceremonies.

A little inside baseball here. It was my intention to wear this dress to the event. It has never seen the light of day, only having been used in one of my many sanity-saving pandemic selfie photo shoots. For the life of me, I could not make the dress work. It is a large, I am not (usually). While my intention was to have some cleavage in my presentation (as you can see above), it simply dropped way too low to not show my bra and to, shall we say, ruin the illusion. So we called an audible, not wanting to work through replacing everything: shoes, jewelry selected and my purse, so we grabbed this little number. I think she worked… The dress at left is now in the consignment bin, sadly.

November 20, 2024: I basically have the run of the place, acting like an ambassador and keeping an eye out for lines, issues, etc. This is a very well attended event, with many of Cleveland’s most powerful people there. Let’s just say, I am noticed. What you don’t see here, since I put it on after I took these pictures, is the trans flag button I wore. Representing in an obviously safe space. I collected smile after smile, compliment after compliment. As has happened in the past, one particular attendee sentenced me to 33 1/2 months in a Federal prison. I have tried to casually make conversation with him (to no avail) to tell him I respected him for his fairness and humanity. While he did send me away (all my fault, all within appropriate guidelines), he could have gone much further than he did. He (more like me) changed my life, but he did not ruin it. Also, in my one time representing myself in a Federal court (I WON!), he heard my arguments and agreed with me. While I will work until I die because of the government draining me (my fault, again), my arguments helped protect some of our retirement funds for my wife. Not many people would feel this way.

It was just a delightful evening, a heartwarming event and I did notice one thing. Maybe I noticed something that did not exist previously, but I heard no pronouns! Maybe a lesson learned too late…

I had quite a few meaningful conversations, got a lot of “do you remember me’s” (usually answered with a “help me remember where”) and I do know one thing. I am noticed, and I am remembered. I do not say this to brag, it is a fact and it is what I set out to do. Make positive mental images of a trans person in the minds of the general public. Yes, this was a DEI event, but I also do this in so many other circumstances, venues and events. The more mainstream, the more I am the only “one” in the room, the more fulfilling it is for me. I am simply treated like any other woman.

And for this, I am grateful and I never take this for granted.

Could be a bit before Kandi gets out given the upcoming holiday and my work schedule. I may sneak one in, but am doubtful…