Transgender Day of Empowerment: Forging Vibrant Futures

By JP Emerson

Tracie Jada O’Brien beat the odds as a Black transgender street kid. She has become a San Diego icon, working tirelessly to give recognition and encouragement to the younger generations of transgender individuals in our community. Founding San Diego’s Transgender Day of Empowerment and the Tracie Jada O’Brien Student Scholarship program, her goal has been to encourage transgender youth to work towards their futures with education and support. Tracie is an advocate, history-maker, and visionary.

Spearheaded by Tracie 21 years ago, the Transgender Day of Empowerment is a day of celebration and hope. Every April, the community comes together to celebrate the lives, resilience, and joy of the trans community. Tracie gathered together a committee of individuals representing a variety of organizations to assist in planning the event. This year, the committee includes Kathie Moehling, the Founder and Executive Director of Trans Family Services; Amber St. James, Program Coordinator for San Diego Pride and drag entertainer; Ashton Keenberg, Health Navigator for Family Health Centers of San Diego; and Eryn Lang, Community Outreach Navigator for the Transgender Health and Wellness Center in San Diego. This year’s celebration is titled Forging Vibrant Futures and features transgender youth. We sat down with the committee to get some insight on their work, their involvement in this year’s event, and how they motivate and empower themselves.

Click on the image for the full interviews

 Kathie Moehling (she/her), the Founder and Executive Director of Trans Family Services

Amber St. James (they/them/theirs), Program Coordinator for San Diego Pride and drag entertainer

Eryn Lang (he/him/his and they/them/theirs), Community Outreach Navigator for the Transgender Health and Wellness Center in San Diego

Ashton Keenberg (he/him/his), Health Navigator for Family Health Centers of San Diego