Throwback to when I started my very first blog in 2012. This was the first interview (of sorts) that I had ever done. With all the happenings of the time, I was completely awestruck that I actually heard back.
Janot Mock is a transgender rights activist. Her book Redefining Realness became a New York Times bestseller and in 2015 Time magazine named her one of “the 30 Most Influential People on the Internet.” This is just a couple of her accomplishments and honors received. She is definitely an inspirational individual and an influential figure in the realm of LGBTQ issues.
October 1, 2012
After learning about the It Gets Better Project, and reading more about the stories of Janet Mock, Dan Savage & Ben Cohen, I had to ask a question: What was the defining moment in your life where you made the choice to step up from the sidelines and step into the spotlight, sharing your story, experiences and hardships in order to be an example for others to create change in their lives?
It was a last minute email I had sent, Thursday night, and so I especially wasn’t expecting to hear back by #SpiritDay. But, I did. Janet Mock, despite her insane schedule and being in the midst of traveling, she warmly and timely replied…
Hi Angela,
Thanks for your moving post and email. I appreciate you using your platform to ignite change.
The defining moment for me came two years ago, after hearing about the deaths of so many LGBTQ youth or those perceived by their peers as being LGBTQ. One story particularly that touched me deep down was that of Lawrence “Larry/Leticia” King (1993-2008) who was shot twice in class by his peer whom Larry had made advances to. (I wrote about his story here:http://janetmock.com/2011/09/11/larry-king-brandon-mcinerney-trial/)
Larry’s story and that of Gwen Araujo and that of many young trans women who die way too soon pushed me to tell my story and show young people that happiness is possible for them despite the sometimes hostile nature of our world when it comes to intolerance and acceptance. I shared my story in an It Gets Better video and Marie Claire (and my upcoming book Fish Food: A Memoir – debuting in Fall 2013 with Atria Books) with the hopes that it would resonate with some young people and let them know most importantly that they are not alone.
Thank you again,
Janet
Thank you so much, Janet, for your quick response and taking the time to share these stories that have inspired your life. Looking forward to your book release next fall!
To learn more about Janet Mock you can follow her story on Twitter, Instagram, and her website at www.janetmock.com
