30/01/2026
We are not what other people say we are. We are who we know ourselves to be, and we are what we love.
My family and friends, It demands courage to mature; become and be who we really are.
I'm convinced that marriage is between two people; it is not between a man and a woman; it is between love and love.
All human beings deserve equal treatment, no matter their gender identity or sexuality.
Love takes off the masks we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.
We have differences, but it is not our differences that divides us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.
Let's be frank. Pardon me, let's be open, because openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it’s a good place to start.
I once worried that there was no place for transgender people like me to participate in any way in the building, the perfecting and the success of our country 'Jamaica'. Since coming out, though, I’ve seen that change is possible and I’ve learned that the only things that are truly impossible are the things we don’t try. We can run, we can win and we can be the change we desire to see and live.
It is absolutely imperative that every human being’s freedom and human rights are respected, all over the world.
As an activist, I understand that putting ourselves out there is hard, but it’s so worth it. I don’t think anyone who has ever spoken out, or stood up or had a brave moment, has regretted it. It’s empowering and confidence-building and inspiring. Not only to other people, but also to ourselves.
Friends, we must embrace what makes us unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable.
So many people out there don't have the support, love or understanding from their families when it comes to sexuality or gender identity, but just know that there is a beautiful community out there that loves you and cares about you.
Think of those who have not been seen, think of those who sit in the dark and wait their turn, hoping and waiting for a light to light their path. I ask every single one of you, with the spaces that you’re in, and the lights that you hold, to point it in the direction of someone who just needs a little guidance.
Sometimes a breakdown can be the beginning of a kind of breakthrough, a way of living in advance through a trauma that prepares you for a future of radical transformation.
And the truth is, we are that future.
