Teen activist Dylan Brandt, the young man behind the 2021 state lawsuit that helped transgender kids in Arkansas access gender-affirming care, toasted to transgender families across the country.
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00:00 I contemplated deeply on what message I wanted to convey,
00:04 and I realized that it is a message of hope, resilience,
00:06 and unity.
00:07 As a small-town kid born and raised in Greenwood, Arkansas,
00:10 I couldn't have imagined that I'd
00:11 be here with you guys today.
00:14 Time to question about who inspires me the most
00:16 has led me to reflect on my journey as an advocate
00:18 and ask the question, why do I do this?
00:21 The answer is simple.
00:22 In recent years, we've seen remarkable progress
00:24 in transgender rights in the United States,
00:26 from legal victories to increased public awareness.
00:30 We've made positive strides.
00:31 However, it is vital to acknowledge
00:32 that the battle is far from over.
00:34 Discrimination, bias, and inequality
00:37 still persist in the lives of transgender individuals.
00:40 In our nation, there are families
00:42 living in constant fear, the fear of losing
00:43 their basic human rights, the fear of not
00:45 being able to provide their child what they know they need.
00:48 My own family became in the legal battles
00:50 of transgender rights in 2021 because we
00:53 refused to be silenced.
00:56 In this journey, family extends beyond blood,
00:59 encompassing anyone who supports me
01:01 and helps me find my own self, defining my support system.
01:06 This especially includes the incredible individuals
01:08 behind the directly-grouped models of loss,
01:10 who have been by these families' sides since the very beginning,
01:12 lifting us up and creating a safe space where
01:14 we can be ourselves.
01:15 Their presence has given me and countless other trans kids
01:18 in Arkansas a voice that was previously silenced.
01:20 And their unwavering commitment has
01:22 touched the deepest corners of my heart.
01:24 Growing up transgender in a small town
01:25 has been a daunting experience.
01:28 And I know that I'm not the only one.
01:31 Enclosed in communities where traditions often run deep,
01:33 it can be challenging to express one's true identity.
01:38 Transgender individuals and their families
01:39 often grapple with isolation, discrimination, and a sense
01:42 of not quite belonging.
01:43 So with all of this in mind, I raise my non-existent class,
01:46 because I am 18 years old.
01:47 [LAUGHTER]
01:49 And I raise my class to help others celebrate the connection
01:52 with transgender families across the country who
01:54 have been living in fear but continue
01:56 to be unapologetic to themselves.
01:58 Their strength, resilience, and authenticity inspire us all.
02:01 Let us be allies, advocates, and champions for these families
02:05 that work tirelessly to create a world where
02:07 every individual, regardless of where they come from,
02:09 can live authentically and with the love and acceptance
02:12 they deserve.
02:12 They are my Y. Cheers.
02:14 [APPLAUSE]