Name: Benny Ilac
Company Name: Montana Trans Joy
Location: Missoula, MT
When did you start getting involved with being an activist or advocate and why?
I first became involved with community organizing as a board member for Seattle Trans Joy. I had attended their first ever Trans Camp at a very important moment in my life; as I prepared to completely come out as trans and live my life as an openly trans person, the impact of being in such a joyful trans-only space was huge. Seeing other trans people, especially trans elders, who had happy, successful, and love-filled lives gave me the hope for the future that I needed in that moment. Having that experience was so meaningful to me that I quickly became involved in creating more Trans Camps and similar spaces!
What are the issues that you focus on?
The issue I am most passionate about is encouraging trans joy. I believe that people should feel joy because of their identities, and not in spite of them. I express this value in my work with Seattle Trans Joy (and my personal spin-off project, Montana Trans Joy) by focusing on organizing camping trips, movie nights, and other joyful gatherings. I also know that there are many other issues faced by trans, non-binary, and Two Spirit people that stifle our joy. In my work with TransVisible Montana, I also work to fight transphobia by increasing education for our allies, creating connection in our community, and mobilizing people to protest and testify against harmful legislation.
How does your work help build our community bigger and stronger?
Creating joyful spaces for community connection makes our community bigger and stronger in many ways! Having positive experiences builds our capacity for resilience and gives us a much-needed break, however brief. Creating a comfortable, transnormative space encourages people to dream about the kind of world they want to build, which is an important step in our liberation. And bringing together community members creates networks that people can rely on (and have relied on) for emotional and material support.
What is the greatest achievement you have had in the work you are doing?
I feel that my greatest achievement in my organizing work has been seeing the way my work inspires others to be activists and advocates in their own ways. When I receive questions about how other people can start their own trans camps, I am excited for more people around the country to have the chance at that meaningful I experience that I did. When my campers tell me about spaces and events that they have started to organize in their cities, I feel so proud of them and so hopeful for our future. What I have done as an individual pales in comparison to what everyone I have connected with can create as a community.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in doing your work?
One big challenge I have struggled with, especially in Montana, is the pressure of creating some of the few trans-focused events. With so few opportunities out there, I feel the pressure of wanting my organizing to be as accessible and appealing to as many folks as possible. But time, capacity, location, and other constraints will never make my events accessible to all trans, non-binary, and Two Spirit folks. And not everyone is interested in camping, or movie nights, or educational workshops. Which is why…
How can others help you in the work you are doing?
The number one thing other queer and trans people can do to help me in my work is practice building the spaces they want to see too! If you are yearning for a particular space – if you want a warm dinner, or to watch that new show, or to learn a new skill, or to play your favorite board game, or play that one team sport – you can find and build that with your community! It can be intimidating to organize a space or be ‘in charge’ for the first time, but as long as you focus on doing something you enjoy, you will find others that enjoy that too. Although no single space or event will appeal to everyone, I believe that in a world where more people make the spaces they want to see, everyone will be able to find a space and community that resonates with them!
What calls to action would you ask of our community?
See above! If organizing an event seems too big or scary to start with, no worries. Start by hosting a fun activity for your friends. Can’t think of a fun activity? Try a movie you’ve been meaning to watch or a game you’ve been wanting to play. Don’t know who you would invite? Start by attending other events in your community. You can look for social media posts or flyers at your local library or coffee shop. Even just participating in events and spaces you are interested in contributes to keeping them around and inspiring more in the future.
Looking at the current climate, what words of hope do you have for our community and what should we be most concerned about?
With our current climate, it can feel difficult to remain hopeful or envision a positive future. The moments that I feel most hopeful are when I am learning about our queer and trans ancestors before us. They also existed in tough times where they may have felt lost and hopeless. And yet, they also lived meaningful lives with their loved ones and found moments of joy, resistance, grief, beauty, power, and the whole of the human experience. And we will too.
Who inspires you to keep fighting the good fight?
Our ancestors and our youth. Our ancestors are important to me, and I know that one day I will be an ancestor to our current and our future youth. If I can contribute even one bit to a better world for our queer and trans children, and their children, I will feel peace.
