I grew up with many privileges. Privileges of color, class, gender, physical ability—even height! While my parents weren’t activists, they instilled in me an insistence that everyone be treated fairly.

My journey has been one of listening: listening to historically marginalized people, hearing their stories, coming gradually to understand better their struggles, their courage, and their wisdom. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot from books that shook my complacency and pierced my heart. Books like The Feminine Mystique, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Rubyfruit Jungle.

But I’ve learned even more from the people I’ve met who have challenged my assumptions, shattered my stereotypes, and deepened my compassion. Alex Kapitan is one of those people.

A few months ago, Alex visited my congregation in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and presented a workshop on transgender identity and inclusion. I can’t remember ever learning more in such a short time!

Now Standing on the Side of Love is offering Alex’s brilliant “Transgender Identity & Inclusion” workshop as a webinar on Wednesday, October 17, 7:00-8:15 pm ET. Click here to register.

Alex is funny, engaging, empathetic, self-deprecating, and wicked smart. He completely charmed my congregation, ranging from octogenarian Boston Brahmins to queer youth. I continue to draw regularly on the stories and insights Alex generously shared with us.

Alex’s interactive webinar will provide practical, concrete ways for increasing our mindfulness and support of people of all identities and ways of expressing gender. The workshop is for everyone—whether you’ve had zero exposure to these issues or live them every day. Participants will gain a greater understanding of terminology, the experiences of transgender people, and the ways in which all of us are impacted by gender norms and expectations.

Please join the “Transgender Identity and Inclusion” webinar. Click here to register.

Bring your questions and your curiosity and prepare to be informed, uplifted, and—perhaps most important—changed.

Blessings/Bendiciones,

Rev. Fred Small
Senior Minister
First Parish in Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist
Cambridge, Massachusetts