CELEBRATING KING

Tracee made history becoming the very first Trans person invited to deliver her keynote speech at the January 15, 2007 Martin Luther King Jr. March and Rally, just five days before her own birthday.

After leaving the stage, Tracee was greeted and complimented by this beautiful lady, whom shared her experiences with marching during the very first King march and rally. Tracee relished hearing about the route that she'd taken. 

What the sweet lady or no one else knew was that Tracee was very nervous up on the stage talking about human rights for Trans people, because she had no idea of how her message would be received by a majority black group of people that have historically had issues and biases against Trans people.

However, Tracee  persevered through the nerves and butterflies after reminding herself  that she was invited there by Bayard Rustin/Audre Lorde's annual King Breakfast organizers Darlene Hudson and Craig Washington  to illuminate and educate others about who we are, and that's what she'd done every step of the way.

Tracee shared fond memories of her experiences also marching up Auburn Avenue on the front line with former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and civil rights leader Joseph Lowery, amongst others on what would be her first major public speaking engagement since starting her advocacy work around 2005.

It was later reported when the press asked the late civil rights leader Reverend James to comment on the first Trans person speaking being a keynote speaker at the Annual King Celebrations that he and his family organizes to date after his passing?

Tracee was beyond delighted to receive his endorsement. Tracee has shared the whole Orange family's event organizational team that morning were all welcoming and they didn't make her feel like she didn't belong.

As importantly, Reverend Orange's second daughter Tamara Orange is also currently an Atlanta Citizen Review Board member, serving side-by-side as Vice Chair, and a friend and ally to Tracee.