From Four Guys to a Community
Beach Party pictures
Sometimes you have to stop and look around to realize just
how far you’ve come. I had one of those moments last Sunday, August 30, at the
beach party in Galveston.
Standing there surrounded by so many transgender people, I
found myself thinking back to 1999, when Troy, Sandy, Kavan, and I
started Some Transgenders Are Guys (STAG). At that time, Houston had three
support groups: Tri-Ess, HTGA, and STAG. STAG was the first support group
specifically for transmasculine people, and I was fortunate enough to be one of
the founding members.
Our beginning was pretty simple. A few of us became the core
organizers and we did whatever we could to create community. We had parties,
BBQs, beach days, fundraisers, and other social events. We wanted people to
have a place where they could come together, meet other transmasculine people,
make friends, and know they weren't alone.
Eventually, STAG became Transmasculine Alliance Houston
(TMAH). For many years we were still the only group in Houston specifically
focused on transmasculine people. And honestly, it wasn't always easy. More and
more transgender people were finding their way to our events. The community was
growing faster than our little group of organizers could keep up with.
But something incredible happened. Other people began
stepping forward. Over the last ten years especially, I've watched Houston's
transgender community grow tremendously. Today, there are multiple
organizations, different groups, new leaders, and countless people working to
build community. The calendar is packed, with three to four meetings or
activities to choose from each week. This is something I never could have even
dreamed of.
At the Beach Party, I looked around and saw people from
Trans Voices, Trans Men Empowerment, Saving Our Sons and Brothers, Texas Trans
Men Resistance, Boi's Club, and many others. Seeing so many people together was
incredibly meaningful.
I couldn't help but think about that very first STAG
meeting. There were four of us: me, Sandy, Kavan, and Troy. That's it. Four
people. Now look at us. At the beach last week, there were five or six times as
many guys—and that was just one gathering of a much larger and still-growing
community.
One of the moments that really stayed with me happened when
a person named Key who was building a huge sandcastle with friends asked me if
we were part of a queer hangout. I told her that we were part of Houston's
transgender community and she later connected with us on social media.
That's how communities grow. Sometimes it's through an
organization. Sometimes it's a beach party. And sometimes it's simply one
conversation with a stranger who becomes part of the community. After more than
25 years, I feel incredibly grateful. I'm proud of what we started and of
everyone who has carried it forward. We didn't just build a support group. We
helped build a community that is still growing.