The 2012 LGBT Latino Pride in Washington DC - Program & PHOTOS [and my transition]

This week is the 2012 Capital Pride festival and parade in Washington, DC, a list of events celebrating the gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, and queer communities. This program is mostly free and open to everyone. 

Capital Pride is organized by the Whitman-Walker Clinic with the support of a community board of 11 LGBT organizations in the DC area. See a list of 2012 Capital Pride events.

As part of Capital Pride the non-profit Latino LGBT History Project has organized the 6th Latino DC Pride, a 4-event program that continued with last night's "La Platica" a community fair and panel discussion.

This event included a community resource fair, a "Transgender Latino leaders" digital photo exhibit , free HIV testing, and a panel discussion about Employment Discrimination, which was moderated by Alma L. Molina of the D.C. Council government, Alexa Rodriguez of TransLatina Coalition, Gustavo F. Velasquez director of the D.C. Office of Human Rights, and Jack Harrison of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute.

I have posted more photos of La Platica.  

Transitioning [La transición]

Last night was my first time attending a public event since I started a process of transition to become a transgender woman. I'm currently on hormone treatment.

Ever since I was a child I dreamed of becoming a transgender woman, but different factors in my life prevented me from doing so, until now. I will write about these intense and personal experiences later, as time allows.

My goal is not to pretend being a woman. I'm a Two Spirit person, which means I was born a human with a masculine and feminine soul. I want to embrace my woman side in a more visible way, so it can truly match my soul. So far, this experience has been very good to me.

Last night I felt embraced, respected and included. I run into many people that I had met before, most of whom I had not seeing in years. For me, it felt great. I purposely dressed very casual and extravagant, because for once I wanted to feel liberated and unique.

La Platica was for me an event of pride. I know I still look like a man, but deep inside I'm feeling the process of change. When I got home last night, I started writing a letter that I will eventually share with my family about my transitioning from Carlos to Camila.