When I got home on Saturday after the Alaska Pride Festival's Equality Parade at the Park Strip in Anchorage, I found myself in profound meditation. What was new this year that I hadn't seen in past years? The bolder, increasing number of transgendered people. Where had they been before? It looked like all of a sudden bravery had taken its legitimate place in society; a new kind of expression was walking tall and facing no more fears. The terror that once was, it was gone -- maybe for a very long time.
BenDeLaCreme was hilarious; I don't remember when the last time that I laughed so hard and so legitimately was. Bringing her to Alaska was a perfect move from the organizers that hopefully will be repeated again She attracted a big, diverse crowd: many lesbians and gay men, transgender people, old people, young people, whites, African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, straights. BenDeLaCreme did a more effective job than a lot of politicians wish they did. A class act to be emulated.
I was compelled to approach a young lady who was sitting next to me in one of the chairs that Kaladi Brothers had in their stand. She looked somehow shy and quiet. I asked her why was she so quiet in this friendly environment; she told me that this was her first time coming out in public and she didn't know what to expect. It had taken a lot of courage for her to dress up and then leave her apartment to come to this event all by herself.
When I asked her what made her make that decision, she teared up and told me, "An angel, an angel called Caitlyn Jenner." I was intrigued at her answer. I recalled everything that had just happened within the last two weeks with Caitlyn's coming out, and I felt that I needed to know more.
She told me that she watched Bruce Jenner's interview in ABC News with Diane Sawyer, and she decided that it was time for her also to do something regarding her own needs and happiness. The problem she anticipated was "when." She had to carefully plan how she would do it, and then she heard about the festival and parade approaching. That was the date that she chose, and now she was here, drinking a coffee next to me, celebrating herself, unafraid and willing to be what she was intended to be.
"Will I see you again?" I asked her, and she said, "I am not going to hide anymore. Yes, you will see me in other events." I pointed out that there were many organizations in Alaska that could mean important support for her, and pointed out that a few of them, like Alaskans Together for Equality and Identity Inc., had a stand in the festival.
I was still thinking about Caitlyn Jenner's interview, trying to understand how someone like her could be so inspirational to others, when I saw another transgender individual walking next to me. I approached her and asked how did she feel about that interview; she got excited the minute I mentioned Caitlyn's name and started to tell me how great an inspiration she had been in her life. She thought that the United States of America was going to start seeing them as people with souls, not as clowns, which a lot of times she felt like.
"Maybe this will be the time when we'll get the respect we deserve," she told me.
I thought I knew everything about the LGBQT community. Was I wrong. This day made me realize that we never cease to learn, and that it just takes somebody to come out expressing their real feelings to make a big impact in the life of another human being. Caitlyn Jenner was born just a short time ago, and she is already bigger than even Bruce was. She is beautiful, she is genuine, she is my new hero.
Miguel De Marzo is originally from Lima, Peru. He came to Alaska when he was 19 years old and has been living here on and off. He is a member of Alaskans Together for Equality.
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