TIME100 Next Gala 2023: Dylan Brandt Toast

TIME

Teen activist Dylan Brandt, the young man behind the 2021 state lawsuit that helped transgender kids in Arkansas access gender-affirming care, toasted to transgender families across the country.

Transcript

00:00 I contemplated deeply on what message I wanted to convey,

00:04 and I realized that it is a message of hope, resilience,

00:06 and unity.

00:07 As a small-town kid born and raised in Greenwood, Arkansas,

00:10 I couldn't have imagined that I'd

00:11 be here with you guys today.

00:14 Time to question about who inspires me the most

00:16 has led me to reflect on my journey as an advocate

00:18 and ask the question, why do I do this?

00:21 The answer is simple.

00:22 In recent years, we've seen remarkable progress

00:24 in transgender rights in the United States,

00:26 from legal victories to increased public awareness.

00:30 We've made positive strides.

00:31 However, it is vital to acknowledge

00:32 that the battle is far from over.

00:34 Discrimination, bias, and inequality

00:37 still persist in the lives of transgender individuals.

00:40 In our nation, there are families

00:42 living in constant fear, the fear of losing

00:43 their basic human rights, the fear of not

00:45 being able to provide their child what they know they need.

00:48 My own family became in the legal battles

00:50 of transgender rights in 2021 because we

00:53 refused to be silenced.

00:56 In this journey, family extends beyond blood,

00:59 encompassing anyone who supports me

01:01 and helps me find my own self, defining my support system.

01:06 This especially includes the incredible individuals

01:08 behind the directly-grouped models of loss,

01:10 who have been by these families' sides since the very beginning,

01:12 lifting us up and creating a safe space where

01:14 we can be ourselves.

01:15 Their presence has given me and countless other trans kids

01:18 in Arkansas a voice that was previously silenced.

01:20 And their unwavering commitment has

01:22 touched the deepest corners of my heart.

01:24 Growing up transgender in a small town

01:25 has been a daunting experience.

01:28 And I know that I'm not the only one.

01:31 Enclosed in communities where traditions often run deep,

01:33 it can be challenging to express one's true identity.

01:38 Transgender individuals and their families

01:39 often grapple with isolation, discrimination, and a sense

01:42 of not quite belonging.

01:43 So with all of this in mind, I raise my non-existent class,

01:46 because I am 18 years old.

01:47 [LAUGHTER]

01:49 And I raise my class to help others celebrate the connection

01:52 with transgender families across the country who

01:54 have been living in fear but continue

01:56 to be unapologetic to themselves.

01:58 Their strength, resilience, and authenticity inspire us all.

02:01 Let us be allies, advocates, and champions for these families

02:05 that work tirelessly to create a world where

02:07 every individual, regardless of where they come from,

02:09 can live authentically and with the love and acceptance

02:12 they deserve.

02:12 They are my Y. Cheers.

02:14 [APPLAUSE]

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