Solidarity was the theme of the “Sister 2 Cister” event hosted by the Latinx Cultural Resource Center (La Casita) and Queer Culture and Resource Center (QCRC) on Mar. 28. The round table discussion, the second of its kind this semester, coincided with the commemoration of the Transgender Day of Visibility on Mar. 31.
The “Sister to Cister” series explores topics relating to womanhood and sisterhood. The first discussion, hosted by La Casita, the QCRC, and the Women’s Resource Center on Mar. 8, served to honor International Women’s Day. The second discussion emphasized self-reflection on gender identity and womanhood, and explored ways in which cisgender women can be allies to transgender women.
Koatzin Kamil, the program coordinator for La Casita, led the conversation. Kamil, who identifies as a transgender woman, said it was important for trans women and cisgender women to push back against social stereotypes and popular narratives that encourage competition among women.
“I think that oftentimes in womanhood or feminine circles there’s this sense of competition that’s sometimes encouraged, that society encourages amongst us,” Kamil said. “But having solidarity creates a counter-narrative against that idea that we are catty towards each other or are competing against one another,”
Kamil shared what she called her “testimonio,” a first-person account of her own experiences, to explain her own journey with her gender identity. Over a dozen Toros were in attendance and were invited by Kamil to reflect on their own experiences with gender identity, womanhood, and how to show support to transgender women.
“I think it’s so important to go ahead and show allyship because some folks don’t have this anywhere else,” said Laraine Perez, a sophomore English student who attended the event. “This is where they come to see it.”
For Perez, who once identified as non-binary, allyship and support was something that was missing at home. Perez lauded the “Sister to Cister” series, speaking about how it creates a space to discuss how some Toros encounter these challenges on campus.
“I feel like we should go ahead and seek the importance of how gender is a spectrum,” said Perez. “I don’t think that gets illuminated as much… especially here, where we’re focusing on higher education – these are the notions that you’re supposed to be learning.”
Third-year labor studies student Jeydon Vargas, who identifies as transgender, echoed the importance of showing solidarity on campus.
“As a trans person, I understand the need for connection and sisterhood and just community in general,” said Vargas, who works as a QCRC community advocate. “For trans people and cis people to even have a space where they can come together, I was like, ‘I want to support it, I want to be there.”
Vargas said events like “Sister to Cister” provide spaces that help to uplift the voices and experiences of trans people on campus, while also bringing cis and trans people together. That support, he said, is vital to the mission of organizations like the QCRC, which hopes to secure a bigger meeting space on campus.
“I feel as if it’s just our community advocating for it, it’s not enough,” Vargas said. “We need allies and people that support us and see us and recognize us to help us and speak out for us. Our voices can only do so much. As a collective, we can be heard more.”
Kamil, the La Casita program coordinator, reminded attendees that they can support the transgender community by putting in the “werk,” a slang term meaning to perform to the best of one’s ability. She said Toros can educate themselves about transgender experiences, show their support and action for transgender movements, and also stand up against transphobia in their communities.
Kamil also noted that CSUDH can show up for the transgender community by ensuring university databases and platforms are updated with faculty and student’s preferred name rather than their “dead name.” (A dead name refers to a person’s former name which no longer aligns with their gender identity.)
Kamil said there are plans to commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance this coming November. “Sister to Cister” programs will resume next spring.
“I’m a firm believer of ‘the personal is the political,’ and I believe that my existence is resistance,” Kamil said. “There are many people out there who would much rather me not be on this planet, and so I’m challenging that by making space for us.”
