TRANS AWARENESS MONTH
Today is Trans Day of Remembrance. On these days where we remember and honor those who have come before us, we pause to acknowledge how far their lives have taken ours, especially at a time when their very existence was discouraged and denied. We honor their legacy by recognizing all the services and access and language and visibility that we enjoy today as beautiful gifts they have given us.
November is Trans Awareness Month and Nov. 20th is Transgender Day of Remembrance.
On these days where we remember and honor those who have come before us, we pause to acknowledge how far their lives have taken ours. Especially at a time when their very existence was discouraged and denied. We honor their legacy by recognizing all the services and access and language and visibility that we enjoy today as beautiful gifts they have given us. May we honor the privileges we enjoy of being and becoming who we are even as we face forces that continue in vain to try and dim and extinguish our beautiful and eternal light.
brief HISTORY
Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded in 1999 by a small group, including Gwendolyn Ann Smith, Nancy Nangeroni, and Jahaira DeAlto, to memorialize the murders of Black transgender women Rita Hester in Allston, Massachusetts, and Chanelle Pickett in Watertown, Massachusetts.
Remembering Rita Hester and Chanelle Pickett
VIA Transremembrance.org: What began a quarter century ago continues today. Activists and organizations around the world work collectively and independently to honor and remember our dead. We share names and stories, talk to loved ones, scour news and police reports, and build networks in our communities. Still, the work is never done, and the list is never complete.
Black trans women are more than the victims of anti-trans violence; they have always been at the forefront of the movement – building community, advocating for policy change, and organizing to protect our rights. Read more here.
90’ TRANSITIONING TBT
A note from Sam, EVERYBODY Co-Founder: In 1998 I remember standing in a line and then sitting in a row of chairs for up to five hours or more to be seen in a clinic on “Transgender Tuesdays” at the Tom Waddell Clinic in San Francisco. This room was a sanctuary for people like me seeking care that was not yet available anywhere else.
Tom Waddell Health Clinic in San Francisco
I remember how it felt like such a gift that the only cost was the endless wait. This was only made bearable by the gorgeous array of people in the room. Everyone shared their beauty tips and pointers for how to pass, where to get surgery and who to avoid. The jokes were nonstop, the comments searing and riotous. The stories were heartbreaking and hilarious in equal turn. The range of lived experiences in the room was vast and there were huge chasms of privilege between so many of us and yet there we were together, all in desperate need of the same free services the City of San Francisco was openly providing us. What a time to live through. I’m so grateful for this experience.
‘Transgender Tuesdays’ highlights the personal stories from and services provided to the Trans Community during the 1990’s at the Tom Waddell Clinic in San Francisco.
Today I want to honor those people who shared that room with me, 25 years ago as I know so many of them are no longer with us. We have lost too many of our elders far before we should have. Too many have been victims of mental illness and forces of violence beyond their control. And some of us live on, still fighting, still pushing forward and insisting on a more inclusive world. Sabel Simone Loreca (pictured below) was there with me in that room then, and I’m so grateful to still share space with my beautiful sister today.
Trans Community Advocate and Personal Trainer Sabel Samone Loreca
Thank you to Trans Advocate, Activist, and EVERYBODY Personal Trainer Sabel Samone Loreca for continuing to build and fight for safer communities, access to gender affirming health care, and resources for our Transgender community since the ‘The Bad Old Days’ of the early 90’s . Please follow Minority Aids Project and G.L.A.M.O.R. MAP for more.
TRANS AWARENESS MONTH & BEYOND
We are Trans and Woman owned and actively hire within the wide spectrum of our Queer and Trans communities. We are currently connecting with local orgs in ‘Red States’ to offer free online programming to Trans youth in need while locally continuing our sponsorship program for Trans folks at the Gym. We will also continue to support LGBTQ founded and focused orgs including Pink Haven Coalition: community defense, mutual-aid, and alternative systems of care for gender diverse people, Border Butterflies Project: an arm of the Trans Law Center assisting LGBTQ+ asylum seekers at the U.S. Border, and Miry’s List: assisting new arrival refugee families.
Border Butterflies Project
When we first opened our doors in 2017, we faced similar circumstances to the ones we find ourselves in today- a government taking power that openly opposes and blocks access to care for so many in our marginalized communities that are in struggle and need: the trans community, the immigrant community, BIPOC folks, disabled folks, survivors of sexual abuse, the elderly, the list goes on...
We will continue to show up for all our communities in need, to provide safe harbor and access to resources for hope, strength and resilience. We will continue to offer opportunities for our community to explore and expand relationships with our own bodies as sacred, inspired, whole, and a source of connection to all beings everywhere. May our movement practices deepen our compassion for ourselves, for each other, and provide a gateway to our own refuge and recovery.
May we continue to shine for our ancestors, transcestors and for each other, always.🏳️⚧️
aug blog: CREW & MEMBER LOVE CLUB
We know it’s still Summer, but so much has been FALLing into our laps, we wanted to share! Here is a little late summer roundup of inspiring stories from our staff and members…
We know it’s still Summer, but so much has been FALLing into our laps, we wanted to share! Here is a little late summer roundup of inspiring stories from our staff and members…
FALL IN GLOVE 🥊
Did you know our Boxing Basics Instructor Katie Singer is also a published author with a PhD in American Studies? Katie’s work engages the fields of African-American History and Culture through Oral History and Urban History, and in her new book ‘Alien Soil: Oral Histories of Great Migration Newark,’ she foregrounds stories of a city, and a historical era, that too often get told by those without lived experience.
“I draw on this academic background in my activist work, as well. I am involved in various political and social justice organizations around immigration justice, carceral reform, and the election of progressive candidates.
If oral histories were more often taught in the classroom, maybe some folks out there wouldn’t be quite so confused about our country’s story!”
Pick up your copy of Alien Soil here and Fall in Glove with Katie’s Boxing Class Tuesdays 6pm/ Thursdays 9am.
Coach Katie has been a champ filling in for Juri’s Boxing classes while he was on his Classical Guitar Summer Tour. What does boxing have to do with guitar? Juri is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Southern California where he is researching how the application of sport's psychology can help musicians with performance anxiety and stage fright.
Curious? Get a taste of Juri’s IRL Boxing Classes on HOMEBODY VOD or IRL here!
MINDFUL
August was the birth month of our lovely Leo Sabel and Transgeder Awareness Month! You can book Personal Trainer Sabel Samone Loreca Saturdays and Sundays as she has adjusted her schedule to focus on her passion working with the Trans-focused G.L.A.M.O.R. division of Minority Aids Project.
We also featured Sabel’s projects last week on IG for #NationalNonprofitDay. We wanted to also give a shout out to the Audre Lorde Health Program, your local body positive, sex positive, patient centered, trauma-informed sliding scale Health Care Provider centering the LBTQ community.
COSMIC EMOTIONS
Did you know our Yoga Instructor mx puja singh (they/them) is also a brilliant singer, songwriter, activist, and producer? Immerse yourself in COSMIC EMOTIONS, puja’s new album which will be out on their bday, Friday September 6th! They will also be having a release show + birthday party that night at 7p @kiefy.studio in LA. ‘plz help spread the word! I CANNOT WAIT TO PERFORM FOR YOU + CELEBRATE W YOU!!!!!!’ 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸
Get your tix and stream Puja’s music here!
Corn stars
In other news…Our HR heroine Jamie has joined a new Queer Corn Hole league. Yes, @funbagsla, ‘LA’s first(?) queer she/they cornhole league’ is every Tuesday at the 4100 Bar in Silverlake starting this Tuesday 8/27. Butter her up by going to support and LET THE GAYMES BEGIN!
MEMBER LOVE CLUB
Thank you for mentioning us in your new blog, Jamie Hahn! We’re honored (ok, blushing) to be mentioned alongside Queersound and The Lex App as an engaging queer space to connect and meet new ppl! Here’s a little excerpt from 3 (and a half) Secrets to Making Queer Friendships in Los Angeles:
Jamie recently quit their 9-5 job to start their own marketing biz for artists, creative, and the queer community. Need more connection, direction, or just a little rebrand? Follow @jamiehahncreative and look for her note up on our EVERYBODY Community Board! Next time you’re in the gym (or see Jamie at a Queersound show or on the apps ), make sure to connect! A member to remember!
stuntin’
Wrestling 101 has been tons of fun and GOING STRONG since May. We recently welcomed Pro Wrestler American Oni to the team to add B2B Beginner Wrestling Dates while Pro Wrestler Candy Pain has gone full Nelson and is now part of a local play:
Happy Fall: A Queer Stunt Spectacular is an original theatrical experience about a queer closeted stuntman’s journey to discover himself in a world of faux masculinity, unmasking the importance and danger of being true to oneself. Happy Fall is running thru Sept. 8 at the LA LGBT Center.
DOUBLE DOWN
We are so excited that Queer Wrestling is making a comeback! Just heard on the Gaydar: Transdudes of LA are having an upcoming wrestling match Sept. 21st and our Wrestling Instructor American Oni will be participating! Follow them for more info! It looks like a super fun down n dirty, yall!
We’re also excited to announce we’ve been plotting and scheming our own special match with Candy and Oni for a while and will announce our date soon! Plan your outfits and get ready to RUMMMBBBBLLLLLE!!!! Curious? Check our schedge for the next Wrestling 101!
CREW CUTS
Some clips from last month’s Staff Social. <3
Stay tuned for next month’s Fall Member Feature on Veronica Huerta, Mexican Olympic Curling Team Medalist!
If you are a member and would like to be featured, please DM us at @everybodylosangeles or email media@everybodylosangeles.com
🥊BIGLOVE. - EVERYBODY