Can You Imagine?

From the Press Enterprise:

A Chapman University senior became the first transgender contestant in the school’s annual all-girls pageant Wednesday night, winning the title of Miss Congeniality. Addie Vincent, 21, faced off against 15 other competitors for the title of Miss Delta Queen, a competition organized by the school’s Greek system.

For the talent competition, Vincent recited an original poem called “The Look,” which chronicled the stares and stereotypes transgender individuals experience daily. In the poem, Vincent encouraged compassion and understanding for those who don’t fit traditional gender roles. Following the poem, students shouted, “We love you Addie,” and gave Vincent the night’s only standing ovation. “Addie has inspired so many people,” said Lauren Shouinard, a friend and former pageant contestant. “Addie sent a message so many people needed to hear.”

How encouraging it is to see the joy on the faces of the other participants!  To paraphrase John Lennon's Imagine, Imagine there's no gender bias, it's easy if you try.

Addie is working on that too, she is attempting to create Chapman’s first gender-neutral “frarority,” and said a goal for participation in the pageant was to bring awareness to “trans-visibility.”