Garrett Ingram says he has known he was transgender since he was five years old.
The now 30-year-old Red Deerian recalled wanting to play the role of the father or brother when he would play house as a child.
“It wasn’t until I got a bit older that I starting thinking that this was different than me just playing dad during house,” said Ingram, who is part of Home, a local organization that aims to establish safe spaces for at-risk youths.
“Once I turned 18, I started using he and him pronouns. I tested out pronouns for years, until I found out that I identified as male.”
Ingram was one of the 50-plus people marching through downtown Red Deer during a Transgender Day of Visibility event on Sunday afternoon. The event was hosted by Home and the Red Deer Queer Community Association.
“Everyone needs to feel celebrated. Everyone needs to feel included,” said Ingram.
“When I was a kid, I wish I had stuff like this to look at. It would have made me feel less alone. … Family doesn’t have to be blood. It can be whoever you choose it to be. If that happens to be a group of random people you met on a Sunday, then cool. If they’re nice to you and respect you, then that’s what’s needed.”
Transgender Day of Visibility, is held on March 31 each year as a day to celebrate transgender individuals who contribute to the diversity in Canada, the City of Red Deer’s website states.
“It’s a time to acknowledge the progress that has been made towards equity for the trans community, and to recognize the struggles, sacrifices and achievements of those who have fought, and continue to fight, for gender equity,” the city’s website states.
“It’s an opportunity to educate ourselves on trans issues and to raise our voices against transphobia and discrimination in all its forms.”
Home is a Two-Spirit, Indigenous and queer-led organization dedicated to offering hope, opportunity, mobilization, education, and advocacy to youth across Central Alberta.
“We only started the organization four or five months ago. We weren’t expecting for things to take off so quickly. It started with my executive director and I sitting in a meeting room one day thinking, ‘There have to be better supports for queer kids in this town – specifically for Two-Sprit kids,’” said Ingram.
“It turned into a discussion around shelters. … Most shelters need parental consent for their children to stay there and sometimes children don’t even live with their parents. A lot of these kids are queer and no kid should be sleeping on the street regardless of gender identity.”
For more information on Home, visit www.instagram.com/homes.reddeer. For more information on RDQCA, visit www.rdqca.com.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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