#ShapePride Summit: Geena Rocero calls for people to 'wake up' during this time to protest

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Geena Rocero gave the keynote address at the Pride Summit.

“Pride Month this year, besides the celebrations, at its core should be a protest! A reminder that the work is far from over," said Geena Rocero at the #ShapePride Summit Friday.

The Filipina American LGBTIQ+ activist gave the keynote address at the virtual event that took place in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, movements for racial justice and renewed push back on LGBTIQ+ rights in some parts of the world.

"We should all protest systems of transphobia, homophobia, racism, inequality and all forms of dehumanization. I’m celebrating by uplifting the voices and leadership of black and brown LGBTIQ+ voices. Pride was started by trans people of color."

June is Pride Month promoting equality and visibility of the LGBTIQ+ community. Pride represents a time to celebrate self-affirmation, reject shame and social stigmas, stand up for human rights and uplift the powers of love and diversity.

This year, Pride Month is taking place within context of the activism spurred by anti-racism demonstrations after the death of George Floyd, a black man, while he was being arrested in Minneapolis two weeks ago.

"If the movements for gender equality doesn’t involve and center trans people of color, it won’t last and it won’t be effective," said Rocero.

"Now more than ever, we have to be there for each other. We have to be more intentional. For me the future of activism is when it is a common calling for everyone. If you’re not dismantling any systems of oppression, it’s time to wake up,” she said.

Rocero (she/her) is a supermodel, transgender advocate and founder of Gender Proud, a media production company that tells stories of the transgender community worldwide to elevate justice and equality, based in the U.S. 

She kept her sexual status a secret as she established a career as an international supermodel. Rocero shocked the fashion industry when she came out as trans in 2014 in a TED talk. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter or at his blog Views From the Edge.

Transgender Geena Rocero is this summer's Playboy centerfold

INSTAGRAM / GEENA ROCERO
Filipina American Geena Rocero is the first AAPI trans model featured as Playboy's Playmate centerfold.

As a Filipina transgender model, Geena Rocero is used to breaking down barriers. This month, she becomes the first AAPI transgender centerfold for Playboy Magazine.

“This Playboy Playmate honor is another moment that I will never forget. I will always know that expressing my unapologetic love for my self, my body, my vulnerability, my journey, my dreams and my hustle is my ultimate power,” she wrote. “I remember seeing Caroline Cossey (Tula) on the cover of Playboy, I told myself that one day I want to be like her. To now be a part of the ICONIC Playboy Family is a definite pinch-me moment, as I think of that little Trans Filipina who grew up in the little alleys of Manila. Woah!!!!”

In 1994, Tula was the first trans woman to pose in the nude for Playboy.

“As the First Trans Asian Pacific Islander Playmate, I feel that I’m making it possible for someone to reach for their biggest dreams just like the people who came before me. I also hope that for anyone who’s been deemed ‘other’ to know that what makes you different, is your power, especially the unapologetic expression of your sexuality, gender and the value of your unique perspective. In this constant political attack on trans lives, I am more inspired to unapologetically proclaim how proud I am of being a Trans Woman of Color and an immigrant.”

Rocero shocked the fashion world in 2014 when she came out during a TED Talk. By that time, she had made a name for herself as a highly sought international fashion model. Until she came out, even her agent didn't know her secret.

“At that time, there was not an ‘out’ trans-identified fashion model so I made the decision to hide my personal journey in order to survive,” she revealed. “After years of being a successful model, my depression and the paranoia of being ‘Outed’ grew larger every day. The shame that I felt about my transness limited the expression of my full self, my ideas and dreams.”

PLAYBOY

Some poses of Geena Rocero's photo spread in Playbody.

Since then, she has become an activist for trans people and the LGBTQ community. She founded a nonprofit, Gender Proud, which uses media to educate and advocate on behalf of the transgender community.

"For so long, we trans people have not been in charge of our own stories," she said in her Playboy article. "Our representation has been predicated on the idea that we’re not the people we are.

Rocero added: "Obviously, this is who we are. This is our lived experience. It’s not up for debate."

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Geena Rocero on why she came out as a transgender person

I POSTED this video below a few years ago when international model Geena Rocero "came out" as trans in a TED talk.

It's worth viewing again since March 31 was International Transgender Visibility Day.

The Filipina/American has become an activist for trans issues and founded ASPIRE to fight for and advocaate for trans people and issues.

RELATED: Geena Rocero joins Covergirl campaign

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AAPI transgender activists fight Trump rollback

Janet Mock on her Instagram

OUTSIDE of Caitlyn Jenner, two of the most visible transgender women in the U.S. today are a Hawaii-born journalist and an internationally famous model, who is an immigrant from the Phiilippines.

When the Trump administration rolled back federal mandates for the use of school bathrooms for transgender people, Janet Mock and Geena Rocero had to act. They had to speak out.

Mock's medium was the New York Times where she published an oped stating recalling her experience in school.

"I was a black and Native Hawaiian trans girl from a single-parent home. I was not naïve," Mock wrote. "I knew that struggle was part of my coming of age, so I wore a smile every day as part of my armor. I didn’t want anyone to see that I was in pain, that I felt like I did not belong and that my body, my clothing, my being was wrong.

"When trans students are told that they cannot use public facilities, it doesn’t only block them from the toilet — it also blocks them from public life," wrote Mock, whose mother is Hawaiian. "It tells them with every sneer, every blocked door, that we do not want to see them, that they should go hide and that ultimately they do not belong. When schools become hostile environments, students cannot turn to them. Instead they are pushed out. And without an education, it makes it that much more difficult to find a job, support themselves and survive.

"That is the situation the Trump administration is creating. Despite the culture of fear, ignorance and intolerance that permeates our country right now, I am here to tell each and every student that you belong, and that nothing — absolutely nothing — is wrong with you." 

The day the current administration announced the 180-degree policy shift, Geena Rocero took to the streets and joined the rally Thursday night at New York City's Stonewall Inn, a historically important site in  the gay rights movement

Geena Rocero at theh New York protest.

"I stand here with all of you, as a VERY PROUD Transgender Woman of color, an immigrant born and raised in the Philippines," Rocero said.

"No amount of Hate, No amount of ignorance will diminished our will to honor the beauty, the diversity, the hope of your trans youth.

"In this very moment, in this powerful gathering, in this historic place," she continued. "History has tried to erase us! I asked you to look at each other, recognize the power in our family, because they will NEVER, EVER ERASE the CIVIL RIGHTS that we deserve. LOVE will win! "

Despite Trump's campaign promise to support the rights of the LGBTQ community, the former Olympic athelete Jenner was perhaps the most surprised by the turnaround from the candidate whom she strongly supported in 2016. 

Using this administration's favorite form of communication, Jenner tweeted:

"I have a message for President Trump from well, one Republican to another. This is a disaster. And you can still fix it. You made a promise to protect the LGBTQ community," she said, holding up her hand like a mock telephone. "Call me."

On Thursday after the policy reversal was signed, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo sent a letter urging the State Education Department “to issue a directive to all school districts making it clear that – regardless of Washington’s action – the rights and protections that had been extended to all students in New York remain unchanged under state law.

“In New York, whether you are gay, straight or transgender, Muslim, Jewish or Christian, rich or poor, black or white or brown, we respect all people – and we will continue to enforce our laws and stand united against those who seek to drive us apart,” Cuomo said.

In Connecticut, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced that in light of action by the Trump administration to roll back federal guidelines, he has signed an executive order ensuring that the rights of transgender students continue uninterrupted.
California’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson, issued a strident press release on Wednesday vowing that the Golden State will protect the “rights of transgender students.”

“All students deserve a safe and supportive school environment. California will continue to work to provide that environment for our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students regardless of any misguided directives by the federal government and the Trump administration,” Torlakson said.

“... California students will continue to have their civil rights protected,” he said. “In California we move forward, not backward.”

“Every child deserves to attend school without fear of discrimination, no matter where they are in the country," said Sasha W, Organizing Director of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance. "This a continuation of the administration’s attack on trans people – trans and gender nonconforming people were affected by the Muslim ban, by the escalation of this country’s deportation machine, and by the increase of power in the hands of police. This administration shamelessly continues to enact policies that simply do not work and that make our communities feel more unsafe in this country.”

In the NYTimes, Mock concluded: "I know first hand how utterly vital it is for young people -- for all of us actually -- to be met with nods, applause, and open doors. It’s even more urgent for marginalized students, regardless of their ability, race, class, immigration status, religion, sexual orientation or gender expression and/or identities.

"To young trans folk (and all the people who love them) I just want you to remember that this is your school too. You deserve to be there just as much as any other student. You deserve equal access, affirmation and an education, and you must recognize and I know you know, that you are powerful. You have agency and voice. Use it to organize, combat against ignorance and resist.

"You belong, and nothing -- absolutely nothing -- is wrong with you."

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Janet Mock is the author of “Redefining Realness” and the forthcoming book “Surpassing Certainty: What My 20s Taught Me.”

Geena Rocero is the founder of Gender Proud, whose work supports transgender communities and their legal rights around the world.