TDoE Ashton Keenberg

By JP Emerson

Please introduce yourself (tell us a little about who you are and what you do)? 
My name is Ashton Keenberg. I was born and raised here in San Diego, and I am a Health Navigator for Family Health Centers of San Diego under our LGBT Housing/ Mobile PrEP contracts. 

Please tell us about becoming involved with Transgender Day of Empowerment:
Ms. Tracie Jada O’Brien asked me to be on the planning committee for TDOE this year as a way of turning the event over to the next generation. 

What is the importance of empowering our Transgender community and for the individuals to feel empowered:
With the political climate we are facing, it is important to bring people together and uplift our community. We must show that everyone’s existence is valid and important. Our community has been under attack for decades but no matter what executive orders are signed, it does not erase our existence. Trans folx have always been here and we will continue to be here no matter what. 

How can folks get involved (talk about your organization and the ways people can support):
People can get involved by volunteering with local trans organizations and events. People can also get involved by speaking out and advocating for the rights of trans and gender non-conforming individuals because trans rights are human rights. 

The WORD is trans existence is resistance.