The words of Jessamyn D. Rae – organizer of the Gender Free For All March.

“This march is the first stand alone Trans March in Portland. But I look around and and I know tht I do not stand alone. I see transfolks, genderqueer folk, gender conforming and gender non-conforming folk. I see folk who refuse or even CONfuse the very idea of a defining label.  I”m proud to call us all allies.

Today, we march for the freedom of every individual to express in dress and behavior however they see fit.

We are marching for the freedom to live and play within a duality of gender even as we demand the freedom to live and play outside of a strict either/or choice.

We are marching in solidarity with and as people who have struggled tearfully and joyfully through a metamorphosos of their bodies.

We are marching in solidarity with and as people who have struggled tearfully and joyfully to love what IS.

We are marching as people who have struggled to know who we are, in a world constantly telling us who and what we should be.

We are marching as people who have struggled to be seen for who we know we are.

We are marching to raise awareness that these struggles take place.

The bottom line is: We are marching to celebrate the amazing truth of being human—and we are proof that there are as many ways to be trans as there are people.”

Unthank Park, Portland Oregon, Saturday, August 1, 2009.

Tags: trans/gender, unthank park