Episode 6: “The Dreams of My Generation” with Marcus Arana
Episode Description
In our final episode of Youspeak Radio 2024, Ameer (he/him) speaks to Marcus Arana (he/him) about practicing love of self and advocating for the self determination of transgender communities. Marcus reflects on his journey of spirituality, his advocacy for transgender rights and gender-affirming healthcare, his multiple coming out experiences as a young lesbian and later as a transgender man, his Two-Spirit identity, and his advice to LGBTQ+ youth today.
Trailblazer – Marcus Arana
Marcus Arana, Holy Old Man Bull, (he/him) is a Two-Spirit, transmasculine elder of Blackfeet, Ohlone, Indigenous Mexican, Scottish, and Irish heritage. As a teen in Fresno, California, Arana spoke to college psychology classes about his experiences as a young lesbian. He moved to San Francisco in 1976, where he was inspired by Harvey Milk, becoming an organizer against the Briggs Initiative and anti-LGBTQ+ violence. A musician and former radio DJ, he helped produce women’s music festivals in Northern California in the 1980s. After coming out as a transgender man in 1994, he led efforts by the San Francisco Human Rights Commission (SFHRC) to train thousands of police officers on transgender issues and create safety procedures for incarcerated trans people. As a discrimination investigator for the SFHRC in the early 2000s, he helped to investigate and author reports on intersex infant surgeries and Native American community needs. In 2001, he played a significant role in pushing the County and City of San Francisco to become the first major employer in the United States to offer health insurance coverage for gender-affirming surgeries. Arana has embodied strength and warmth through his battles with cancer, physical disabilities, and homelessness. Born in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1957, he earned a bachelor’s in History from Humboldt State University in 1992.
Youspeak Fellow – Ameer
Ameer (he/him), 18, is an incoming first-year college student from Inglewood, Los Angeles, with plans to study forensic science. A transgender, pansexual young man of Mexican heritage, Ameer has been a thoughtful, outspoken role model and protector for his LGBTQ+ peers and younger students. He finds joy in music and reading.
This Youspeak Radio project is made possible with generous support from the Dwight Stuart Youth Fund.
Music: “Living Life” and “Think BIG” by Scott Holmes, Creative Commons licensed (CC BY-NC 4.0) on FreeMusicArchives.
