1 00:00:09,300 --> 00:00:13,100 Almost two years ago when Jonathan the producer of this 2 00:00:13,100 --> 00:00:16,000 podcast and I were beginning tree speech. 3 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:20,200 We saw how the pandemic was allowing more people including 4 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:24,500 us to be outside and experiencing nature as part of 5 00:00:24,500 --> 00:00:28,200 an everyday routine. All we knew was that we loved 6 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:29,900 trees and that we were interested. 7 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:32,700 Stood in exploring our relationships to them. 8 00:00:33,300 --> 00:00:36,700 Since that time we have been constantly surprised and 9 00:00:36,700 --> 00:00:40,400 delighted to further understand the extreme reach and 10 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:45,300 interconnected intricacy that trees have within every aspect 11 00:00:45,300 --> 00:00:49,400 of our experiences and the events that affect our society 12 00:00:49,500 --> 00:00:53,000 and world. We have not found one area of 13 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:57,300 our Modern Life that is not touched in some ways by trees 14 00:00:57,700 --> 00:00:59,900 and our very survival is reliant on. 15 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:04,400 Mum trees also serve as a constant example of how an 16 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:08,800 ecosystem will Thrive best when it supports the needs of all, 17 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:12,800 its diverse members in this episode, I speak with Megan 18 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:17,300 Buell, the founder of trees, the transgender resource, education 19 00:01:17,300 --> 00:01:20,600 and Enrichment, Services organization that she created 20 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:24,000 and leads to provide, transgender education to small 21 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:29,800 towns and Rural America located in South Bend Indiana trees. 22 00:01:29,900 --> 00:01:33,400 Has expanded to develop their Treehouse and inclusive. 23 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,400 Physical space. Containing a resource Library, 24 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:40,700 research areas a meeting room and a place for understanding 25 00:01:40,700 --> 00:01:45,800 and empathy to take root. My name is Dori Robinson and 26 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:49,600 this is tree speech a podcast where we strive to listen to the 27 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,500 forest through the trees. This week's episode was written 28 00:01:53,500 --> 00:01:57,200 and recorded in Massachusetts on the native lands of the wabanaki 29 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:00,900 Confederacy. Penacook It and Pawtucket 30 00:02:00,900 --> 00:02:03,000 people. And in New York, on the land of 31 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,900 the Lenape tribes as well as in Indiana on the land of the 32 00:02:06,900 --> 00:02:09,600 Peoria. Tribe tree speech is co-written 33 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:13,400 and produced by Jonathan's out, Nur with a light theater, guilt. 34 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:17,900 In this country and around the world. 35 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,500 The rights of transgender people have been continuously 36 00:02:21,500 --> 00:02:26,400 politicized as politicians use gender identity as a hot-button 37 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:31,100 issue to prey on misconceptions and a lack of understanding to 38 00:02:31,100 --> 00:02:34,700 scare their voters. This fear-mongering leads to 39 00:02:34,700 --> 00:02:39,200 discriminatory practices in every area of society and life 40 00:02:39,400 --> 00:02:43,500 from federal policies to school regulations military. 41 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:47,800 Bands to Medical discrimination and bathroom bills to sports 42 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:52,000 Fields. Even worse anti-trans, rhetoric 43 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:55,900 creates a divide as groups of people are labeled and seen as 44 00:02:55,900 --> 00:02:59,500 other leading directly to violence toward the transgender 45 00:02:59,500 --> 00:03:04,000 Community, as a result of a perpetuation of false narratives 46 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:10,400 and harmful stereotypes. Under Megan's leadership, trees 47 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:13,900 has identified, a need for education in the underserved 48 00:03:13,900 --> 00:03:18,200 communities, which lie in the rural fabric of this country and 49 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:21,400 their mission is to focus. Their educational efforts in 50 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:26,800 cities towns, and communities of 25,000 people or less, with the 51 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:30,900 goal of using education, to change the culture in these 52 00:03:30,900 --> 00:03:34,000 areas and create a more inclusive environment for 53 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:38,000 transgender identifying individuals to live and enriched 54 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:43,100 Safe and successful Life free of violence and discrimination. 55 00:03:44,100 --> 00:03:47,300 I'd like to offer definitions and Clarity regarding several of 56 00:03:47,300 --> 00:03:51,800 the terms Megan, and I use during our conversation first, 57 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:56,400 the word transgender is a term used to describe people whose 58 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:01,100 gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at Birth. 59 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:05,800 Gender identity, is an individual's personal internal 60 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:10,000 knowledge of their own gender. For transgender people, the 61 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:13,000 biological sex they were assigned at Birth and their 62 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:17,899 gender identity do not match. Transgender is an umbrella term 63 00:04:17,899 --> 00:04:22,200 regarding gender identity and so individuals in the transgender 64 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:26,100 community, may use other terms to be more specific. 65 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,700 We'll have links in our show. Notes to learn more about these 66 00:04:29,700 --> 00:04:34,100 definitions and tips on how to be a supportive Ally including 67 00:04:34,100 --> 00:04:36,600 by using proper terms and pronouns. 68 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:42,500 Megan Buhl is a lifelong resident of Indiana. 69 00:04:42,700 --> 00:04:46,300 She has been a leader in the transgender Community locally, 70 00:04:46,300 --> 00:04:50,400 regionally and nationally and has served on nonprofit boards. 71 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:54,300 Transgender advisory committees and is a regular Collegiate 72 00:04:54,300 --> 00:04:57,900 guest lecturer. Megan began trees ink as a way 73 00:04:57,900 --> 00:05:00,800 to pay it forward to the transgender Community. 74 00:05:00,900 --> 00:05:04,700 After living in transitioning in a small town environment and 75 00:05:04,700 --> 00:05:08,900 successfully traversing the challenges It was an honor to 76 00:05:08,900 --> 00:05:12,900 speak with her about her life and her nonprofit and how the 77 00:05:12,900 --> 00:05:26,300 metaphor of trees guides it all. Let's listen, Hi Megan. 78 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:29,700 Hey, how are you? I'm well, how are you doing 79 00:05:29,700 --> 00:05:31,300 today? Doing well. 80 00:05:31,300 --> 00:05:35,200 Thank you, great. So let's just jump right in. 81 00:05:35,500 --> 00:05:41,900 On your website, the story of Of trees Inc, begins in early 2012, 82 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:47,500 you went from thinking what if to writing how to in an old 83 00:05:47,500 --> 00:05:52,900 beat-up notebook, the idea for trees began to sprout today. 84 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:58,300 You have a sapling tomorrow, a forest, what led you to this 85 00:05:58,300 --> 00:06:02,200 change in thinking. Again, thank you for having me 86 00:06:02,500 --> 00:06:06,100 just to introduce myself. My name is Megan Buell. 87 00:06:06,500 --> 00:06:11,500 And my pronouns, are she, and her and I founded the 88 00:06:11,500 --> 00:06:18,200 organization as part of a giving, back to society, as a 89 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:24,000 way to increase visibility and help communities be better 90 00:06:24,500 --> 00:06:29,200 prepared for when a trans person comes into their environment. 91 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:33,700 So really the, the work is Community Development based on 92 00:06:33,700 --> 00:06:37,500 behalf of the transgender Community as I was growing up 93 00:06:37,700 --> 00:06:42,500 and being confused about myself. There was a lack of resources in 94 00:06:42,500 --> 00:06:46,500 my community visible. People someone to connect with 95 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:52,200 and it it's time. I made my growth really for a 96 00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:56,100 long time. And I just thought it was 97 00:06:56,100 --> 00:06:59,900 important to help others by creating safer. 98 00:07:00,100 --> 00:07:04,000 More inclusive spaces. And so the organization kind of 99 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:08,200 sprouted from seeing so many people have to leave small town 100 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:12,400 and Rural communities to go to other places to find connection 101 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:14,800 resources and people like themselves. 102 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:18,800 And why can't we just turn that 180 in and make wherever they 103 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:22,000 are the best place for them. Yeah. 104 00:07:22,100 --> 00:07:26,600 Why can't we like you said going from what if to how to, which is 105 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:31,200 a really interesting way of thinking of of Going from this 106 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:34,000 might never happen to. I can make this happen and I 107 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:38,900 will make a plan, and I will make the list it mirrors of my 108 00:07:38,900 --> 00:07:41,700 own journey in a lot of ways. Because I never thought that I 109 00:07:41,700 --> 00:07:44,200 would be at this point where I can be out and proud as a 110 00:07:44,207 --> 00:07:48,900 transgender woman. And so it was always a huh. 111 00:07:49,100 --> 00:07:52,800 What if, but never really going to happen and so, starting 112 00:07:52,800 --> 00:07:57,300 trees, was that what if I started an organization, what 113 00:07:57,300 --> 00:07:58,900 would it do? And what would it look like? 114 00:07:58,900 --> 00:08:02,300 And what? Even last and we're coming up on 115 00:08:02,300 --> 00:08:04,200 our eighth year anniversary in January. 116 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:09,300 So what ifs to how to's? Yes, can we hear more about your 117 00:08:09,300 --> 00:08:12,500 journey? So I grew up in a small 118 00:08:12,500 --> 00:08:18,400 conservative Midwest City, where there were, and this was at a 119 00:08:18,407 --> 00:08:21,200 time when there was no internet, there was no cable television. 120 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:25,600 So we were limited in the exposure of anything that was 121 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:28,000 gender diverse. So, the things that I was 122 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:32,200 thinking about and feeling about me, Self didn't match anybody 123 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:35,799 else in my community and my schools even even in the college 124 00:08:35,799 --> 00:08:40,299 time. So I just put store them all 125 00:08:40,299 --> 00:08:47,500 away as one connective experiences and watched how 126 00:08:47,500 --> 00:08:50,800 other boys were growing up and tried to mimic what they were 127 00:08:50,900 --> 00:08:55,200 doing and how they were acting and played the part for a long 128 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:59,200 time. And then in the mid 90s, late 129 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:04,700 90s, I You know, I got connected on the internet to a word called 130 00:09:04,700 --> 00:09:09,500 transgender and I read what it was about and I started to read 131 00:09:09,500 --> 00:09:13,300 some biographies of some folks, identified as transgender. 132 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:20,000 And those things that I had been hiding, those experiences 133 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:25,800 started to make more sense and think of it, as a puzzle, and 134 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:28,300 those pieces of the puzzle started to fit together, and the 135 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:32,400 picture got clearer and clearer. We're as I learned more about 136 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:37,300 what it was to be trans and and I knew I was on the right path 137 00:09:37,300 --> 00:09:41,600 to finding out more about myself than I had ever known before 138 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:45,100 where I thought it was problem. But in fact, it was just a 139 00:09:45,108 --> 00:09:50,400 missing definition and and it gave me direction in my life and 140 00:09:50,700 --> 00:09:53,700 I kept pushing forward and learning more and starting to 141 00:09:53,700 --> 00:09:56,700 understand. And and here I am running late 142 00:09:56,700 --> 00:10:02,200 and organization based on that. Every of that one word that 143 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:06,300 filled in all the blanks for 35 years of my life, really? 144 00:10:07,100 --> 00:10:11,200 That's an extraordinary thing that that's suddenly having the 145 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:15,100 word for something gave you the power to be yourself. 146 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:18,600 So there, there are a lot of people out there that may not 147 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:22,700 have run into that word yet. Or that definition, that may be 148 00:10:22,700 --> 00:10:26,600 struggling. And a lot of those people are in 149 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:29,800 areas of the country that have limited access. 150 00:10:29,900 --> 00:10:34,900 Us to the internet or resources or books, or even a person that 151 00:10:34,900 --> 00:10:39,100 looks different to them. And you know, the work of trees 152 00:10:39,100 --> 00:10:44,100 is really mobile education, and I go there and I just try to 153 00:10:44,100 --> 00:10:48,500 have conversations with folks and say, yeah, this is okay. 154 00:10:48,700 --> 00:10:52,900 It took me a while to find it and figure it out and, you know, 155 00:10:52,900 --> 00:10:57,700 you can be who you are, wherever you're at, and we just have to 156 00:10:57,700 --> 00:11:02,000 create a safer culture. In those communities, tell me a 157 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:05,500 little bit more about what that's been like, first year was 158 00:11:05,500 --> 00:11:09,300 scary, because you create a nonprofit organization, you 159 00:11:09,300 --> 00:11:11,500 know, out of scribbles on a notebook. 160 00:11:11,500 --> 00:11:16,500 As you as you read, you, you never know if anyone is going to 161 00:11:16,500 --> 00:11:19,600 find this as important as you are and you would need to 162 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:23,200 support. I would, I would take our our 163 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:27,500 mission, in our information, to private events and some other 164 00:11:27,500 --> 00:11:31,100 events and the Reaction from people. 165 00:11:31,100 --> 00:11:33,200 When they read it was focused and small town. 166 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:38,400 And Rural communities was like, oh my goodness, we so need this 167 00:11:38,500 --> 00:11:42,400 and nobody is doing this. And I did do a national search 168 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,600 and there's there's no organizations who are set up as 169 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:49,400 a mobile unit working in small town and rural community. 170 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:53,000 So I knew we had something very unique but it was still tough to 171 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:57,100 get those conversations started because I couldn't just go 172 00:11:57,100 --> 00:11:59,800 writing in this small town with my bullhorn. 173 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,000 Earns a day. Let's talk about transgender 174 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,200 stuff. Yeah, they would be like, here's 175 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:06,400 the exit to the town, you know, the other side of that, stop 176 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:11,900 sign, keep going. So we really focused on those 177 00:12:11,900 --> 00:12:15,800 people that had that reaction at those events to say, hey, let's 178 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:18,300 work together. Rent me a room at your Public 179 00:12:18,300 --> 00:12:20,700 Library. I'll come in and do the talk. 180 00:12:20,700 --> 00:12:23,900 We'll have a conversation connect to, you know, people in 181 00:12:23,900 --> 00:12:27,000 your network to resources, inherently. 182 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,500 We're finding people want to do the right things, but they're 183 00:12:29,500 --> 00:12:31,200 afraid. To do the wrong things so they 184 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,800 don't do anything so if we can get them a resource that helps 185 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:39,500 them you know maybe be the first domino in their community and 186 00:12:39,500 --> 00:12:42,800 start conversations. It's a lot of communications 187 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:46,400 work and respectful Communications at that. 188 00:12:47,300 --> 00:12:50,400 Maybe that that town has a chance to change on its own 189 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,100 organically. And we don't have to be there to 190 00:12:53,100 --> 00:12:57,000 nurture that or cultivate that we are planting the seeds of 191 00:12:57,000 --> 00:12:59,500 diversity. And hoping that those 192 00:12:59,500 --> 00:13:03,200 communities then cultivate that inclusive culture. 193 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:08,500 And, you know, it just takes somebody to go in and I use my 194 00:13:08,500 --> 00:13:11,800 own personal stories. I put myself out there to in a 195 00:13:11,808 --> 00:13:14,800 way, humanize it for them because they're probably only 196 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:19,600 getting stuff off the internet or over dramatize things on 197 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:21,800 television. And I just want to tell, you 198 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:25,400 know, I'm simple. Simple people trying to live a 199 00:13:25,408 --> 00:13:28,200 life that may not be the same life that you're living. 200 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:32,500 Doesn't make it better or worse. It just makes it different and 201 00:13:32,500 --> 00:13:35,300 they should all have a chance. But unfortunately what's 202 00:13:35,300 --> 00:13:38,300 happening is either somebody is living. 203 00:13:38,300 --> 00:13:42,100 They're afraid and they start to think that suicide is their best 204 00:13:42,100 --> 00:13:46,000 option or they're being forced to leave or Worse. 205 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:50,500 They're being killed and that has to stop that has to stop. 206 00:13:50,500 --> 00:13:53,300 So are a lot of our mission really is embedded in Saving 207 00:13:53,300 --> 00:13:57,700 Lives, one way or another and using education and resource 208 00:13:57,700 --> 00:14:00,700 building now. As those tools, but it's not 209 00:14:00,700 --> 00:14:02,000 easy. If it was easy, everyone would 210 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:05,200 be doing it right. No, it's not easy. 211 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:08,400 And you do mention saving lives in your mission and in your 212 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:10,200 vision. Can you tell us more about the 213 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:13,900 services that you offer in order to do that? 214 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:18,000 Well, it's really education. I will go and talk to anybody 215 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:22,300 anywhere anytime because that one conversation and sharing my 216 00:14:22,300 --> 00:14:25,600 own personal stories, could make a connection and make somebody 217 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,200 go. Oh well okay. 218 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:32,000 Not so bad because it's more than likely contrary to what 219 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:35,400 they're being told elsewhere. We're not working directly with 220 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:39,600 the Trans Community but we can connect the trans Community to 221 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:44,700 service providers and friendly places, competent Healthcare and 222 00:14:44,700 --> 00:14:48,100 other agencies. So we're like the Clearinghouse 223 00:14:48,100 --> 00:14:50,200 in the distributor of good resources. 224 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:55,800 But what we do in our trainings really is to help organizations 225 00:14:56,100 --> 00:14:59,900 and community members learn how to To think before they speak 226 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:05,700 communicate and effective and respectful way, and understand 227 00:15:05,900 --> 00:15:10,800 that everybody is coming from different places and we have to 228 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:15,800 take that into consideration when we work together, play 229 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:18,700 together, Network together and live together. 230 00:15:19,300 --> 00:15:24,300 It's nothing more than that. So our service is education to 231 00:15:24,300 --> 00:15:31,100 make us safer better world. So people can Can grow and go 232 00:15:31,100 --> 00:15:35,100 from Sprouts to full-fledged oak trees and Powerful. 233 00:15:35,300 --> 00:15:39,700 You know, when I when a gender diverse person doesn't feel part 234 00:15:39,700 --> 00:15:42,500 of the community, the community loses because there's one less 235 00:15:42,500 --> 00:15:45,100 person in their midst. That isn't contributing 236 00:15:45,900 --> 00:15:48,300 communities are best when everybody feels. 237 00:15:48,300 --> 00:15:50,600 They can contribute and be part of that community. 238 00:15:51,300 --> 00:15:54,200 And so it's a win-win all the way across the board. 239 00:15:54,500 --> 00:15:57,400 It really is. It's just such a powerful thing 240 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:02,200 and it it's reflected in all parts of our world that we are 241 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:06,800 better when we are inclusive. How did the tree metaphor begin? 242 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:10,400 I really started to just think about what it is that we're 243 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:13,800 doing and we're planting something for planting an idea 244 00:16:13,900 --> 00:16:19,100 for planting a thought process, where we're starting really from 245 00:16:19,100 --> 00:16:21,500 scratch. We have no idea what this thing 246 00:16:21,500 --> 00:16:25,900 is going to look like, I'll call it micro, do it really had a lot 247 00:16:25,900 --> 00:16:32,400 of the same kind of Growth layers as a tree with and trees 248 00:16:32,400 --> 00:16:36,400 became us. But the metaphor really is about 249 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:41,100 growing something that makes the planet a better place. 250 00:16:41,300 --> 00:16:46,700 When you walk inside, you feel that Vibe of inclusivity and 251 00:16:46,700 --> 00:16:51,200 welcome this. And and that everybody is, is 252 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,500 allowed in and it's not a space just for gender diverse, people 253 00:16:55,500 --> 00:16:59,400 trans people it's for the whole Community because Our real hope 254 00:16:59,700 --> 00:17:03,600 is that maybe a non-binary person is sitting next to a 255 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:06,800 cisgender person and maybe sitting next to a trans person 256 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:10,200 and they're just working under computers doing her own stuff, 257 00:17:10,500 --> 00:17:14,099 but that's what chips away at that stigma when they can just 258 00:17:14,500 --> 00:17:17,500 meet another human being and realize that their, they have 259 00:17:17,500 --> 00:17:19,500 more things in common than different. 260 00:17:19,599 --> 00:17:22,300 That's what we want this space to help nurture in the 261 00:17:22,308 --> 00:17:25,700 community. And so the test run here, in 262 00:17:25,700 --> 00:17:29,700 South Bend, which is my hometown is The hope that we can have a 263 00:17:29,700 --> 00:17:31,600 treehouse in every Community. Right. 264 00:17:32,300 --> 00:17:33,700 Absolutely. Yeah. 265 00:17:33,700 --> 00:17:38,100 Just a lot of different ways to connect to the community that 266 00:17:38,100 --> 00:17:41,200 don't always have to be queer related. 267 00:17:41,300 --> 00:17:43,800 They're just regular stuff that goes on in the community and 268 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:47,300 then people come in and I realize that you know it just 269 00:17:47,300 --> 00:17:51,200 feels like a cool safe. So so you've created this 270 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:54,200 wonderful safe space while we're on the metaphor of trees and 271 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:58,400 growth, where are some of the places you've been and Brought 272 00:17:58,400 --> 00:18:02,400 your mobile education, so we decided that it would be Indiana 273 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:05,200 and states that border Indiana. And we started to make 274 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:09,400 connections and do some work then somebody would find out 275 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:12,500 about us somewhere else. And if I could make it work, I 276 00:18:12,500 --> 00:18:16,900 would go. So I've gone as far away as the 277 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,700 eastern part of Kansas Western Missouri. 278 00:18:21,100 --> 00:18:25,300 Several places in Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, 279 00:18:25,400 --> 00:18:29,000 Pennsylvania. I do some regular Work in the 280 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:34,900 western mountainous areas of Virginia and even flew out to 281 00:18:35,300 --> 00:18:40,500 Oakland California but what we're finding is that people 282 00:18:40,500 --> 00:18:43,100 want information, they're really want information. 283 00:18:43,700 --> 00:18:46,900 So the invitation so our invitations come from all 284 00:18:46,900 --> 00:18:50,400 different places in a lot of it really has started to become 285 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:55,600 from college campuses and for us that's like the biggest bang for 286 00:18:55,600 --> 00:19:00,500 our for our time dollar. Because in a classroom or on a 287 00:19:00,500 --> 00:19:04,600 college campus, you may be talking to 30 40, 50 or 60, 288 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:08,500 small towns and rural areas for one conversation. 289 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:10,900 And those people could be the ones that go back. 290 00:19:11,300 --> 00:19:16,100 The story that connects with that is me being out in proud 291 00:19:16,100 --> 00:19:18,400 and stand in front of a group and talking about my own 292 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:22,100 experience and the organization. Maybe there's somebody in the 293 00:19:22,100 --> 00:19:27,000 audience who is wondering, if they could come out and be proud 294 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:32,700 of who they are, And I got a message about nine months after 295 00:19:32,700 --> 00:19:36,400 I had gone to a small College in Central Illinois. 296 00:19:37,100 --> 00:19:43,800 From a student who was in the audience and they told me how 297 00:19:43,900 --> 00:19:49,100 from the moment they heard me talk about my challenges, but 298 00:19:49,100 --> 00:19:53,800 also how far I had come from those challenges that they had 299 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:59,400 come out to classmates and their parents and their Professors and 300 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:04,000 they felt so so confident that they could also do that. 301 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:07,600 And it was because they were in the audience where I spoke I did 302 00:20:07,600 --> 00:20:12,000 not go and tell everybody to go in to come out and try this but 303 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:17,000 you never know who's listening. So the story the message is is 304 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:21,600 powerful in itself and from my perspective, it's just my life. 305 00:20:21,900 --> 00:20:25,800 I've had been fortunate to be responded to after a talk by 306 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:30,500 parents of trans kids. Who have told me that prior to 307 00:20:30,500 --> 00:20:34,200 meeting me, they were worried about their child's future 308 00:20:34,500 --> 00:20:40,400 because all they had ever seen were the stories of murder and 309 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:44,000 The Stance around suicide and how tough it is. 310 00:20:44,500 --> 00:20:47,100 And then they meet me and they find out that I run an 311 00:20:47,100 --> 00:20:50,600 organization. I'm a elementary school 312 00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:54,400 substitute teacher, I have regular jobs, you know and 313 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:58,700 they're like you gave me more hope for my child and I ever had 314 00:20:58,700 --> 00:21:03,300 before? Yeah, I mean I will do this 315 00:21:03,300 --> 00:21:08,800 forever because it has impact like that what an extraordinary 316 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:16,200 thing to Simply stand there and your existence gives people hope 317 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:21,700 that that you get to be the the model that you didn't get as a 318 00:21:21,700 --> 00:21:24,600 child. The I don't find my my life 319 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:27,800 particularly interesting. Ha ha ha ha. 320 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:34,500 Everyone else seems fine my life interesting enough that they 321 00:21:34,500 --> 00:21:38,100 kind of nudged me even to write a book so I'm writing it for 322 00:21:38,100 --> 00:21:40,600 them. Not well then tell us more about 323 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:43,000 the book. I'm working with a writing team 324 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:46,600 who think this is very important and so we've kind of modeled it 325 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:51,300 as from the start the opening of The Treehouse and backing up 326 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:55,900 into why this is important to your organization, how they got 327 00:21:55,900 --> 00:21:58,000 started my youth, some of my story. 328 00:21:58,100 --> 00:22:01,500 These are growing up some of the stories of being a teacher 329 00:22:01,500 --> 00:22:04,600 places. I've gone, it's just stories of 330 00:22:04,700 --> 00:22:07,600 how I became me. So, you have a book. 331 00:22:07,600 --> 00:22:11,400 You have Treehouse, what are your plans for trees in the 332 00:22:11,400 --> 00:22:14,600 future? I really think like a good 333 00:22:14,600 --> 00:22:17,500 Maple. We're splitting into good to 334 00:22:17,500 --> 00:22:21,800 trunks on this, right. The Treehouse itself is 335 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:24,200 operating kind of as a community resource center. 336 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:28,500 Let's let's get this refined. So we can offer this Two other 337 00:22:28,500 --> 00:22:31,900 communities to try to duplicate the template for it. 338 00:22:32,100 --> 00:22:35,900 So I'd love to see treehouses pop up in other communities, 339 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:40,200 whether their urban areas or rural areas or wherever somebody 340 00:22:40,200 --> 00:22:44,200 could support them just to be a safe space in community. 341 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:47,700 So I'd like to see that. But the the mobile education 342 00:22:47,700 --> 00:22:51,700 part of it is really where my passion is and what started. 343 00:22:51,700 --> 00:22:53,700 All this. Need to get that out to those 344 00:22:53,700 --> 00:22:57,500 areas. So I will continue to do that 345 00:22:57,700 --> 00:23:00,700 above. And Beyond even my time with 346 00:23:00,700 --> 00:23:04,300 your organization because you know as a good nonprofit We 347 00:23:04,300 --> 00:23:05,800 don't stay with these things forever. 348 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:12,800 But I'd like to hand it off to someone to run and duplicate the 349 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:17,700 community center part of it. And, you know, my my retirement 350 00:23:17,700 --> 00:23:21,900 plan is to travel throughout the country and got a college 351 00:23:21,900 --> 00:23:24,400 campuses and do the work and putting everybody in the 352 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:26,700 direction of trees and the tree houses. 353 00:23:26,700 --> 00:23:31,700 And, and Keep the momentum going changing communities and 354 00:23:31,700 --> 00:23:34,500 cultivating safe spaces, within them. 355 00:23:35,800 --> 00:23:37,900 There's lots of lots of seeds to be planted. 356 00:23:38,000 --> 00:23:42,700 I can imagine that in your time, going to different places 357 00:23:42,700 --> 00:23:45,200 speaking with different people that you've really encountered, 358 00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:47,900 quite a few Gatekeepers along the way. 359 00:23:48,300 --> 00:23:52,100 And of course, there's higher up, Gatekeepers and legislation 360 00:23:52,100 --> 00:23:55,700 and in are in politics and all this is there a message, you 361 00:23:55,700 --> 00:23:57,900 would want to share with Gatekeepers. 362 00:23:58,100 --> 00:24:00,700 Near and far, or is there something you would want 363 00:24:00,900 --> 00:24:04,700 Gatekeepers to know? Sure, trans people are just 364 00:24:04,700 --> 00:24:10,900 people and they're they're worth your life is different than the 365 00:24:10,900 --> 00:24:14,100 person standing next to them. But we all are different than a 366 00:24:14,100 --> 00:24:15,700 people. We stand next to. 367 00:24:16,300 --> 00:24:20,100 And again, not one way is better than the other. 368 00:24:20,300 --> 00:24:23,200 And we have to get past thinking that we're right. 369 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:27,100 And somebody else is wrong. Legislation is not going to 370 00:24:27,108 --> 00:24:30,800 stop. From existing all it's going to 371 00:24:30,800 --> 00:24:34,900 do is make it harder for them to it to exist and we're going to 372 00:24:34,900 --> 00:24:39,600 continue to lose lives when we do that, let people be who they 373 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:43,500 are and the goal should be, everyone should have be able to 374 00:24:43,500 --> 00:24:48,700 have a happy fulfilling and Rich life in this country and too 375 00:24:48,708 --> 00:24:51,700 many people are trying to stop that because they somehow think 376 00:24:51,700 --> 00:24:55,300 that it's going to change their ability to have a happy 377 00:24:55,300 --> 00:24:57,800 fulfilling and Rich life when it really doesn't. 378 00:24:58,500 --> 00:25:01,200 You don't have to manage it, you don't have to control it just 379 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:04,600 because you don't understand it. Learn about it. 380 00:25:04,700 --> 00:25:07,200 Have conversation with me and you'll find out that it's 381 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:11,800 nothing more than one sliver of my whole identity and I think we 382 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:15,500 can all coexist very peacefully in the forest. 383 00:25:15,700 --> 00:25:20,000 It's not all one type of tree and they all don't look the 384 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:22,600 same, there's lots of different trees. 385 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:27,800 The canopy, you see from this guy is not made up of one. 386 00:25:28,100 --> 00:25:32,800 Type of tree. So let all the trees grow and 387 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:37,700 prosper and multiply and make this place a better place. 388 00:25:38,100 --> 00:25:42,600 Where do you find? Hope I find hope when somebody 389 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:46,700 walks into the Treehouse and says this place is needed in 390 00:25:46,700 --> 00:25:49,600 every Community, says, places needed in our community. 391 00:25:50,100 --> 00:25:55,200 I want to support you or I hear from a parent who says, I heard 392 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:57,800 you speak and it changed the way. 393 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:03,800 That I have chosen to support my child because those are all the 394 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:06,800 things that give me hope that trans people are going to 395 00:26:06,808 --> 00:26:12,000 continue to live and prosper and you know, be happy in this 396 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,300 country. So the feedback when somebody 397 00:26:14,300 --> 00:26:18,800 says that hearing about trees are meeting me changed how they 398 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:23,200 view the trans Community. Then I'll have that again that 399 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:26,300 conversation with anybody anywhere because it just might 400 00:26:26,300 --> 00:26:30,700 be one person. Whose life and Direction and 401 00:26:31,400 --> 00:26:35,100 view of the world changes. Again, what a pleasure it is to 402 00:26:35,100 --> 00:26:40,000 speak with you, you are such a bright light and you're doing so 403 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:44,400 much for so many and you're doing it with such this warm. 404 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:47,500 Wonderful sense of humor. It's really such a pleasure to 405 00:26:47,500 --> 00:26:50,000 speak with you today. Thank you for making the time, 406 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:54,100 you know, the humor part. I didn't always laugh at it but 407 00:26:54,100 --> 00:26:57,900 I found that when I can make a joke about it. 408 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:02,200 It then the pressure in the room because this is a top, this is a 409 00:27:02,200 --> 00:27:05,200 topic that, you know, people don't want to like, talk about. 410 00:27:05,500 --> 00:27:08,800 But if they can hear me, make a joke, then they laugh a little 411 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:12,600 and everybody takes a deep breath and we come out. 412 00:27:12,700 --> 00:27:15,100 I'm not coming to teach you something that you don't want to 413 00:27:15,100 --> 00:27:17,500 learn. I'm just here to share stories 414 00:27:17,500 --> 00:27:20,300 and help you out. If you're stuck on a word or 415 00:27:20,300 --> 00:27:25,200 stuck on a concept and maybe give you an example of how this 416 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:27,900 looks in the real world and compare it to something. 417 00:27:28,100 --> 00:27:31,900 You're more familiar with, you just open the conversation and 418 00:27:31,900 --> 00:27:35,400 that small shift, that small shift makes an enormous 419 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:39,500 difference. Yes, Meghan, thank you for being 420 00:27:39,500 --> 00:27:44,000 brave to create this community and brave to share your story. 421 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:47,200 Thank you so much Megan for speaking with us today. 422 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:50,100 Thank you again for for finding us. 423 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:53,900 And for inviting me in enjoyed this conversation as well. 424 00:27:53,900 --> 00:27:57,900 And I look forward to listening and sharing them in length. 425 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:08,500 People know who you all are, as well to find out more about 426 00:28:08,500 --> 00:28:10,300 Megan. And the work that is being done 427 00:28:10,300 --> 00:28:12,900 at trees. Please visit we be trees 428 00:28:12,900 --> 00:28:15,300 dot-org. There is also a place on the 429 00:28:15,300 --> 00:28:19,900 website to donate as 100% of this organization, is funded by 430 00:28:19,900 --> 00:28:23,500 donations, as well as contact information for Megan. 431 00:28:23,700 --> 00:28:26,900 If you are interested in her coming to your community, we 432 00:28:26,900 --> 00:28:32,000 will have a link to the He's website in our show notes while 433 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:36,300 growing increasingly, visible in popular culture, and daily life. 434 00:28:36,600 --> 00:28:41,400 The trans Community still faces, severe discrimination stigma and 435 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:46,400 inequalities to name a few. Despite a recent US Supreme 436 00:28:46,400 --> 00:28:49,100 Court decision. That makes it clear that trans 437 00:28:49,100 --> 00:28:52,500 people are legally protected from discrimination in the 438 00:28:52,500 --> 00:28:55,700 workplace. There is still no comprehensive 439 00:28:55,700 --> 00:29:00,500 federal non-discrimination law. That includes gender identity, 440 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:03,700 which means trans people may still lack recourse. 441 00:29:03,700 --> 00:29:07,700 If they face discrimination, when seeking housing or dining 442 00:29:07,700 --> 00:29:11,600 in a restaurant, additionally, there is a lack of HealthCare 443 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:15,900 coverage often because doctors or providers refuse to care for 444 00:29:15,900 --> 00:29:20,400 transgender individuals based on their gender identity, the 445 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:22,700 widespread lack of accurate, identity. 446 00:29:22,700 --> 00:29:27,200 Documents among trans people can have an impact on every aspect 447 00:29:27,200 --> 00:29:30,100 of their lives. Including access to emergency 448 00:29:30,100 --> 00:29:34,400 housing or other public services without identification. 449 00:29:34,700 --> 00:29:38,900 One cannot travel register for school or access, many essential 450 00:29:38,900 --> 00:29:43,800 services, and finally trans people live in poverty, at an 451 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:47,200 elevated rate a rate, which climbs dramatically for Trans 452 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:51,600 people of color, a report by the national black Justice Coalition 453 00:29:51,700 --> 00:29:54,600 and the national Center for transgender equality. 454 00:29:54,700 --> 00:29:59,400 Found that anti-transgender bias coupled with Structural racism, 455 00:29:59,500 --> 00:30:03,400 meant that transgender people of color experience, devastating 456 00:30:03,400 --> 00:30:07,000 levels of discrimination, including high unemployment 457 00:30:07,000 --> 00:30:11,600 rates as well as 41 percent. Having experienced homelessness 458 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:16,700 at some point in their lives. This is why Megan's words are so 459 00:30:16,700 --> 00:30:21,100 dearly needed right now as transphobia, rages nationally in 460 00:30:21,100 --> 00:30:24,600 the United States, causing strife and violence in its wake. 461 00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:30,900 Recently anti-lgbt Q upon And have introduced and passed laws 462 00:30:30,900 --> 00:30:34,700 to ban transgender youth from participating in school sports 463 00:30:34,900 --> 00:30:38,200 from kindergarten all the way through college levels. 464 00:30:38,500 --> 00:30:41,800 These laws would barred. For instance, transgender girls 465 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:46,300 from participating in sports with cisgendered girls or girls, 466 00:30:46,300 --> 00:30:50,300 who sex is biologically, female Idaho became the first state to 467 00:30:50,300 --> 00:30:53,800 try to enact such a ban last year, but was blocked by a 468 00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:58,500 federal judge and 27. Other states have Opposed 469 00:30:58,500 --> 00:31:01,800 similar legislation to give some perspective. 470 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:05,900 Let's focus on Ohio for a moment where the Cleveland seen 471 00:31:05,900 --> 00:31:11,500 reported that since 2015 of the 400,000 student athletes in the 472 00:31:11,500 --> 00:31:15,000 state, only three transgender students competed at the high 473 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:18,900 school level nonetheless for political purposes. 474 00:31:19,100 --> 00:31:23,500 Ohio considered a cruel ban on transgender students in sports. 475 00:31:23,700 --> 00:31:27,900 Thankfully this element has been removed rather than protecting 476 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:32,300 In fairness in sports as they claim to the laws, instead have 477 00:31:32,300 --> 00:31:36,900 targeted only a few students in each state preventing them from 478 00:31:36,900 --> 00:31:40,200 participating. In athletics, with dignity, like 479 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:46,300 their peers Megan pointed out that there are a variety of 480 00:31:46,300 --> 00:31:50,000 trees in the forest and though they are not all the same. 481 00:31:50,100 --> 00:31:53,700 They each helped create the beautiful unique canopy. 482 00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:58,000 There is indeed such a wide diversity in nature, which can 483 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:02,800 be easily seen, but has also been scientifically proven the 484 00:32:02,800 --> 00:32:04,400 Nashville. Tree conservation. 485 00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:08,700 Corporation has stated that among tree species. 486 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:14,500 There are three Sexes male. Female and trees that have 487 00:32:14,500 --> 00:32:19,100 perfect flowers, which contain both male and female components, 488 00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:22,300 some tree species, even change sex. 489 00:32:23,400 --> 00:32:26,600 In addition to trees, there have been copious studies regarding 490 00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:31,000 plants, fish insects, amphibians birds, and animals. 491 00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:35,700 Changing sex, gender, diversity exists, across species of every 492 00:32:35,700 --> 00:32:38,900 kind as well. There is much we can learn from 493 00:32:38,900 --> 00:32:42,900 trees and nature in regards to the many ways that Diversity is 494 00:32:42,900 --> 00:32:46,600 able to thrive. It is the variety of its members 495 00:32:46,600 --> 00:32:51,900 that makes an ecosystem, strong and resilient and our society 496 00:32:51,900 --> 00:32:57,300 functions in the same way, we are inspired by the work that 497 00:32:57,300 --> 00:33:00,800 Megan does to create a safe and enriching life for the 498 00:33:00,800 --> 00:33:04,600 transgender community in places where it is so needed. 499 00:33:04,600 --> 00:33:07,600 And that work is all of ours to share. 500 00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:12,300 There are many actions that can be made to advocate for the 501 00:33:12,300 --> 00:33:16,900 human rights dignity and safety of all within our families, 502 00:33:17,100 --> 00:33:22,200 businesses schools, communities States and world and we will 503 00:33:22,200 --> 00:33:24,500 include resources in our show notes. 504 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:29,600 Our laws and cultural norms should reflect the fundamental 505 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:33,700 Dignity of each human being. This means continuing to 506 00:33:33,700 --> 00:33:36,200 fiercely support, the transgender Community. 507 00:33:36,400 --> 00:33:40,300 As we work towards a world where it is no longer necessary to do. 508 00:33:40,300 --> 00:33:44,500 So, thank you for joining tree speech today. 509 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:51,100 We are so grateful to Megan deal for sharing. 510 00:33:51,100 --> 00:33:54,800 Her story in the story of trees. Ink to learn more about Megan 511 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:59,200 and trees, please visit we be trees dot-org to learn more 512 00:33:59,200 --> 00:34:02,700 about our podcast and episodes. Please visit tree speech. 513 00:34:02,700 --> 00:34:06,900 Podcast.com we're thrilled to be able to offer interviews, 514 00:34:06,900 --> 00:34:10,600 creative insights and stories about the natural world we live 515 00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:13,000 in and the trees who guide our way. 516 00:34:13,699 --> 00:34:17,600 Please also consider supporting us through our patreon every 517 00:34:17,600 --> 00:34:20,199 contribution. And supports our production and 518 00:34:20,199 --> 00:34:22,600 will be giving gifts of gratitude, including an 519 00:34:22,600 --> 00:34:26,699 invitation to our Treehouse, our new virtual community for 520 00:34:26,699 --> 00:34:30,699 patrons of all levels. Please also consider passing the 521 00:34:30,699 --> 00:34:34,500 word to tree-loving, folks, and rate, and review us on Apple 522 00:34:34,500 --> 00:34:37,800 podcasts. Every kind word helps.