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K-State Today

November 20, 2014

Honoring Transgender Day of Remembrance with guest speaker Geena Rocero

Submitted by LGBT Resource Center

Geena Rocero

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Resource Center of Kansas State University will observe Transgender Day of Remembrance — a day dedicated to memorializing those who have lost their lives due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice — on Thursday, Nov. 20. As part of this dedication, the LGBT Resource Center is hosting Geena Rocero, a world-renowned transgender model and activist.

Rocero will speak to K-State students, faculty, staff and administration at 7 p.m. Nov. 20 in Forum Hall at the K-State Student Union. Following the presentation will be the annual Reading of the Names, memorializing those transgender individuals that have been taken from our communities by violence.

Born to humble beginnings in Manila, Philippines, Rocero always had big dreams. Growing up, she knew that she was different from her childhood friends. At a young age, she told her mom that her gender assignment at birth was different.

At 15, a pageant manager approached her to join a beauty contest. This opportunity led her to the world of the TransWomen Beauty Pageant in the Philippines. As a young teenager, she then became one of the most prominent figures in the Trans Beauty Pageant world.

Rocero emigrated to San Francisco in 2001, and in 2005, she moved to New York City to pursue a modeling career. She was quickly represented by Next Models, one of the most prominent agencies in the world.

Through her own experience into womanhood and working as a professional model, she realized her bigger purpose in life was to share her journey and work towards justice and beauty in the transgender community.

Rocero is now working full time on Gender Proud, a global transgender rights campaign. Her purpose is to raise awareness of the transgender community and to change the global policy that will allow transgender individuals to change their names and gender markers without having to go through surgery. As a firm believer in the freedom, dignity and enrichment of the transgender community, Rocero is dreaming big.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to stop by the LGBT Resource Center in 207 Holton Hall, visit our website, or contact us at 785-532-5352 or lgbt@k-state.edu.