Name: Ceasar Hart
Location: Auburn, WA
How has your understanding of gender evolved over time, and what experiences have influenced that journey?
I feel that gender has evolved substantially over time and honestly feel like Drag has a huge part in that change. Over the 18 years I have been performing I have seen many performers transition to the opposite sexs permanently. Once they perform and see themselves as the opposite sex ignites something in them and they come to realization that they want this to be who they are on a daily.
In your work or leadership role, how do you create space for people of identities to feel seen and valued?
I do my best to always seek out those in the crowd that are a little reserved a little quiet but still shows signs of engaging. Those are the people I want to help bring out of their shell and into our community to feel seen, valued, and loved for who they are. I create space so that people can feel celebrated, valued, seen, and appreciated for who they are. That is creating safe space for them to be in, thats the goal.
What do you wish more people understood about the distinction between gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation?
I just wish people would stop sexualizing gender in general. If you think about it, people are so focused on what’s in people’s pants instead of just worrying about the person not the body part.
Can you share a time when you challenged traditional societal norms—either your own or someone else’s—and what the outcome was?
When living in Grays Harbor Washington very rural area, very conservative area, I heard many horror stories about being lgbtq and going to local establishments and feeling targeted or threatened. Working with Out and Proud Grays Harbor Coalition, producing Pride events for 13 years and helping nonprofits like Harbor Include has definitely helped change things for lgbtqia community members. Is it perfect no. Do we still have alot of work ahead, yes. But standing up to establishments and protesting against them has made impacts. The Black Pearl in Hoquiam one example. The Star Wars shop in Aberdeen is another example. People in tbe Harbor generally respect everyone and do not want hate in the Harbor.
How do intersectional identities (like race, class, disability, etc.) shape your experience and how others perceive you?
I have always said that I have fought so hard all my lofe just to be gay that Ive never had a chance to really fight to be Latino or even being Afab. I also feel like being gay, brown and born female invites people in to want to hear my story and learn more about me and my lived experiences.
What gives you hope or momentum in the current fight for inclusion, especially regarding gender?
I currently have an X on my driver’s license and that is huge for my hope and momentum. Change is coming, change is here! Growing up I never thought Id be in a place that celebrates and wants me to succeed and yet I feel like I am so close to freedom from fear when it come to gender. The amount of gender neutral bathrooms that have become a thing is also another sign that we are being seen heard and accepted.
What advice would you give to young people who are exploring or questioning their identities today?
Continue to explore and question! We only get one life to live so live it! Be your authentic self because that is what we are born to do. There is a reason that trans people exist and intersection people. Point is there is a reason why gender is not just boy / girl, mother nature is doing exactly what she is suppose to be doing. So continue this fight and efforts to be authentic cause that is essentially what society needs.
Do you ever prioritize one part of your identity over another, and if so, how?
Yes, Ive fought my entire life to be gay that I never really got to do much with my Hispanic heritage besides exist. Too busy fighting the fight that I haven’t been able to shift that focus on immigration and deportation and that saddens me. But I feel like being gay is priority over being brown.
What support would be the most valuable that allies can do to help regarding inclusion and equality?
Anyone who has access to policy and procedures should always make sure that they are as inclusive as humanly possible. Use pronouns and respect people’s identity and create safe space for people to be their authentic selves.
How can our community come together as a whole, given how diverse we are?
Learn to help each other. Stop letting things divide us cause thats their hope as they can keep us divided. We are stronger together and we need to figure out the way to meet in the middle and put down the things that do not matter the most that seperate us. I wish I had the answer but in my heart that is what I feel needs to be done.
