Trans & Thriving Fest inspires voices to speak out
Story and photos by Lori King
TOLEDO – Holding a pink blow-up guitar and sporting a pencil-drawn mustache, Chip Brewer took a moment to talk about what it felt like to attend his first all-trans cast festival.
Brewer (stage name Mag-n-Cheese) was at the 2nd annual Trans & Thriving Fest in Toledo last month to perform in a drag show in front an accepting audience of fellow trans women and men and their allies.
“Being at a trans fest feels really surreal,” Brewer exclaimed as he clutched the guitar, a prop for his lip-syncing performance slated for later that afternoon.
“I’m actually a trans kid from the south, born and raised in the greater Memphis area, so I’m not super used to seeing specific spaces dedicated to trans people or appreciating trans people,” he admitted. “Moving up north is definitely kind of a culture shock … to see these types of things.”
The festival, sponsored by Equality Toledo, TransToledo and Holier Toledo, featured resource and vendor booths, food trucks and the family-friendly drag show.
For five hours that day, LGBTQ+ people shared a rare safe space out in the open. It was an afternoon that wasn’t taken lightly by Brewer, who came to the fest to be amongst others who understood and accepted him, celebrated him and were like him.
But this article isn’t about the fest, itself. We wanted to hear their stories, and to give them an opportunity to share what it feels like to be who they are while living in what can be a pretty hostile environment. We wanted to give them a voice.
By clicking on any photo in the gallery, you will be directed to audio files so you can hear them explain what transition stage they’re currently undergoing, the fear they face when in public and what it’s like to be at safe places like the Trans & Thriving Fest.
Perhaps this story can be considered a catalyst for understanding as they continue to fight for acceptance, and even their lives, one public appearance at a time.
According the Human Rights Campaign, consider that in 2023 at least 28 transgender or gender non-conforming people were murdered in the United States, including Toledoans Kejuan Richardson, a gender non-conforming Black man, and Amiri Reid, a Black transgender woman.
Both were considered a hate crime, a violent act that strikes fear into the heart of a community so discriminated against that laws and policies are being enacted to block LGBTQ+ people from playing in sports, reading to kids and even having wedding cakes made for that special occasion.
Because of the enigma of the trans community, hearing them tell their stories might shed light on being trans and misunderstood, and on who they are and what they go through. Though this story only focuses on a few personal stories, it’s a start.
Stevie Phoenix, a trans man undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT), is a parent of two children and married to their father. The family lives in Temperance, Mich.
During the middle of his lip-syncing performance at the Trans & Thriving fest, Phoenix wanted his fellow trans brothers and sisters to know they were “seen,” so he pulled out a syringe, held it between his teeth as he pushed down his legging to just above his right knee, and poked the needle into his thigh.
It was a bold statement that effectively got right to the point … they were amongst their people.
Phoenix explained after his performance that he administers his testosterone shot weekly, typically on Saturdays, “and the reason I do it on Saturdays is just in case there is an event that would be appropriate for me to perform while administering my shot.
“I do that to help other trans men and people who take part in hormone replacement therapy feel normalized and seen,” he said.
“It can be very, very powerful when you see somebody on stage who has a bit of notoriety showcase such a precious part of the trans experience, because it is a precious part. It’s almost spiritual to see somebody take that very, very personal experience and share it with everyone.”
Stevie Phoenix
Nikki Orlowski, co-founder and vice president of TransToledo and a transgender woman, said she was at the fest to support the trans community and to sell her art.
She said it’s hard to put into words what being trans means to her. “It’s obviously a physical journey, but it’s so much more than that … it’s spiritual. It’s my identity.”
As for being at the fest, Orlowski said everyone was there for each other, and they appeared happy and embraced who they were. “It means the world to me. It’s my favorite day,” she said.
Dressed in a white suite with rainbow accents and wearing a drawn-in mustache and beard, Theo Rhetically jumped off the temporary stage to interact with the audience. As she lip-synced to The Greatest Showman’s This is Me, she collected applause and dollar bills.
“We can’t possibly do drag without the amazing people who come to watch us,” Rhetically said. “Drag doesn’t exist without people who choose to support us, love us and give us a place to show them our creation. Without them, I literally can’t do what I’m doing … what I love.
“So if you ever come to a drag show or you support drag and you know drag’s not a crime, always come out and support us,” he encouraged. “You’re cheering, your presence is more than anything we could ever ask. If you like drag, please come and support us. We love you.”
Resources:
- Frequently asked questions about Transgender people
- Understanding transgender people, gender identify and gender expression
- What is the difference between transsexual and transgender
- Transgender violence data
Click on any photo in the gallery to hear their stories on Spotify >
