Profile of a transgender 99’er

In 2009 I lost my livable wage job. That was the beginning of my descent into homelessness. I was able to come up with money to pay rent until the last 6 months. I was evicted in December. It was the biggest loss of my life. But that hasn’t prevented me from documenting and covering San Francisco Bay area Occupations as a citizen journalist. I have captured some of the most dramatic photos of my life.
I know what you’re thinking oh no another Joe Schmo ranting about politics. It’s different for me because I am transgender. TG folks suffer some of the most horrid conditions in life. I am no different. I had a part time job at Safeway, but after a year it seems it has also ended. While employed at Safeway I was forced to perform the same duties and hold more responsibility than other employees who were making anywhere between .30-.50 cents more per hour. The union dues totaled $73.00 per month, but other Safeway employees stated they only paid $40.00 in union dues, and it was deducted from their checks. I was also never afforded the opportunity to have union dues deducted from my check.
Back to my work: I have covered the Occupation of the Financial District in SF, many of the Occupy Oakland events and a few down on the Peninsula. I don’t seek recognition because I like my angle. But I can tell you I have dealt with bullies, rage, police, tear gas, rubber bullets, smoke and even the occasional shove and screamings from other photogs. It seems other more manly types think screaming at me will get me out of the way, but it has not and I have still managed to document one of the most militant and direct activist movements the United States has seen since the 1960’s.
I have posted photos on Flickr, Indybay and CNN’s iReport site. I have sold video and photos from some of the events. But I still remain largely invisible to the other 99’ers. Sometimes some brave soul will converse with me, but it’s rare, and sometimes I will start conversations with complete strangers. Even though they all identify as 99’ers they still seem to create and foster environments where there are insiders and outsiders. I have sought help with my ordeal from my own community, but they also foster environments where insiders and outsiders subsist.
Please check out my work by visiting the links, but heads up 99’ers there are TG folks amongst you who do not get the same respect and or dignity as fellow 99’ers.

Covering Occupy Oakland's Move In Day empowered me, and walking amongst fellow 99'ers gave me the feeling of being free.