My remarks upon accepting the 2018 Leppen Leadership Award

Leppen Leadership Award

Acceptance Speech

Wonka Ball, May 11, 2018

I've been privileged to return to the theatre at a moment when America needs the arts to help change -- not merely reflect – our troubled society. And Chicago artists have risen beautifully to that call.

I am not an activist, not much of a organizer. What I've been is visible, and audible -- a loud, obnoxious, squeaky wheel -- when my vulnerable tribe seems at even further risk. If any good has ensued, its due to the commitment and support of many others.

Emjoy Gavino, who schooled me that even we lowly actors can and should stand up to make a difference.

Kelli Simpkins, who got me back onstage for an About Face Theatre project and has encouraged me ever since.

David Zak, who had faith in me to handle a major role, though I hadn't performed one in over 12 years.

Andrew Volkoff, who trusted that my oddball casting idea for "I Am My Own Wife" wasn't just to feather an actor's cap but to bestow representation upon an entire community -- and also to gift his audience the rare privilege of a trans actor embodying a remarkable, very human, trans character.

Scott Duff, who killed it on that stage with me every night, kept up cast morale before and after the 2016 election, and who generously lends the megaphone of his radio program whenever needed.

The Goodman Theatre who helped assemble 100 key Chicago theatre makers to better understand how their artistic choices can directly impact transgender lives, and deaths.

Megan Carney, who shaped and then moderated that groundbreaking event with her signature compassion, clarity and sensitivity.

And for the 10 long years I withdrew from the theatre, struggling with gender identity and so much more, one person was there for me who -- in just about every way you can imagine -- simply would not let me disappear. Thank you Penny Slusher.

I accept this award on behalf of these persons and the vital, absolutely essential theatre company we celebrate tonight.

Thank you.

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My Special Project

Hello...

The regular blogging thing is apparently not for me, as my output here has been very sporadic.  The best online places for news about my life pertain to my acting work, which has progressed very well in the last 17 months.  My professional website's blog can be found here.

Instead of regular Brand New Day blog posts this site is now the home of a serialized project recounting the entire arc of my transgender life to date.  This series is called Days of Gratitude and was conceived to commemorate the fifth anniversary of my Coming Out (May 27) and Legal Name Change aka Re-birthday (June 21).  This year the 25 days between those anniversary dates will each feature a new essay focusing on a person, institution, or group of persons critical to my transition.

If by some chance you've ended up here, I have indeed published some random posts over the last five years, and you're welcome to peruse them.  Some are referenced in the Days of Gratitude series as sidebars for more detailed reading.

You can access the "table of contents" for Days of Gratitude through the menu above or by clicking here. 

I hope you can follow along in the coming weeks, and I welcome your remarks.

Delia

My take on the CNN Photo Essay, "A Moment in Transition"

The photo essay published last week in CNN.com has caused me a great deal of anxiety. I've debated whether to acknowledge it, or hope it just blows over, unnoticed. 

I've finally arrived at the conclusion that, while I cannot endorse this article, its out there all the same.   And I need to set the record straight on what I strongly feel are misrepresentations, in the images and especially the text, likely to confuse and misinform the viewer.  After all, this is my story, and I need to have some say in how its presented to the world.

Before Delia, Part I. No Pictures, Please.

Its hard to imagine some people not happily smiling before a camera.

By my own admission, I'm one of them now.  Ah, Delia and her photographs. Portraits are the peanut butter to my jelly, Sonny to my Cher.  Chicago to my winter.

I've 100 Facebook albums and nearly all of them were posted after transition.  Since June 21, 2011 when first coming out to The World my friends and family have been subjected to a LOT of me.  Each photograph is a confirmation of who I've become and, even more so, who I'm becoming as I riff along on seemingly endless permutations of my female-ness.  Even now, 10 years later, still I play with variations of clothing, hairstyles, makeup, and more subtle characteristics ... as I observe other women doing throughout their lives.

I get that, and I appreciate that you also get that and don't seem to mind too much.  Photos are my bread crumbs, marking not only where I stand ... but the long, winding and incredible path where I've trod.

But it was not always so. And thereby hangs a tale.

Friday the 13th

My long sabbatical from blogging ended today. Inspiration came from my friend Robyn, who was having a pretty bad day, and appealing to all Facebook pals for some Friendly relief. 

Be forewarned.  This post has nothing to do with my being transgendered. Except to the extent that, if you picture me enacting all this in sandals, cute black T top, and freshly washed hair, I may seem even more pathetic.

The Quiet Anniversary

Last Sunday was a special anniversary for me.  One year ago on April 22nd, the words Delia Marie Kropp were set down together for the very first time on any official document. 

That was the Year That Was ... Incredible

Dear friends,

First of all, my apologies for such a long blogging lapse. The fact is, I've just felt too happy living my life to pause and document it. Even at its craziest, I've been enjoying the ride too much to step off and comment about the view.

But now an incredible year is coming to an end. And a profusion of "Best Of" and "Top 10" lists all testify to our modern culture's drive to summarize, draw conclusions, and even proselytize a bit when the calendar flips. It feels like I too must step up to the microphone, and say something about 2011. So here it is.

Gun Hill Road

This is not a review or an endorsement, but a definite heads-up on what promises to be an exceptional movie featuring a transgender character.

Last weekend I saw a trailer for Gun Hill Road. 

Dressing the Part, Chapter One

I try never to wear my own clothes, I pretend I'm someone else.
- David Byrne

In those earliest days, long before gender transitioning involved matters of medicine, anatomy and biology, it mostly found me experimenting with clothes.  Dressing up, in other words. Finding apparel to look and hopefully feel, as Mr. Byrne would have it, like "someone else" ... even before I realized, ironically, that the someone else was actually me.

Three Faces of Gender

Genitals.  Brain wiring.  Society.

Which of these make you a man, or a woman?

Rock Bottom: from JK to DK

A few days back, I watched the incredible live YouTube webcast of the Harry Potter world premiere celebration. All Trafalgar and a good part of Leicester Square (very brief clip) was packed with fans, cameras, and large outdoor movie screens paying tribute to the genius of JK Rowling's entertaining and superlatively money-making creations. It did me good to see the H.P. cast and especially JK herself give stirring little speeches, and take their final Potter bows before the entire world.

But to me one of Rowling's finest creations -- and certainly one more of us can relate to -- was her extraordinary speech before the Harvard Graduating Class of 2008.  If you can believe it, the topic was one hardly associated with the (officially) Wealthiest Author Ever.  The subject was: Failure.

State of the Blog

For some of us, the more we live life, the less we tend to write about it. Between coming out to my family and you all, attending the Be-All Conference, implementing my name change, and marching in the Pride Parade ... well, I've not written much these last few weeks.

However I've recently improved my other "Pages", over there on the right, adding a Welcome page and incorporating others together, making this blog easier to digest, hopefully, if not necessarily tastier.

Freedom To Be

Possibly the first ever transgendered High School Prom Queen.

I am so happy to learn about this. Amazed, and happy.

Proud

As the date for my name-change court appearance drew closer, I began to feel pretty good about how far I'd come these last 7 years. One morning a thought possessed me: this year, I'm marching in the Gay Pride parade.

Seven Years in the Making

Set your reading glasses down and just enjoy this one.

Lucky Lady

Its been two weeks since the momentous Coming Out, on Facebook and through emails to other pals. And I can say one thing for certain. I am a Lucky Girl.

So pardon me if I take a moment to talk about a trans woman who was not so lucky.

Important Message to my Friends

Recently I spent hours wandering the halls of our Circuit Courthouse down in Daley Center, on a mission: to legally change my name. And by June 21st it shall be official and final. I'll no longer be David.

This name business is of course just the tip of the iceberg. And I understand how a major life change can make others feel left behind, alienated.  Like when your child graduates from high school, or neighbor gets divorced, or even when a loved one passes on.

I'm sharing my journey in some detail expressly so you won't feel that way.  I care about you, and our relationship.  Reading on, please remember, you are not just part of my history. You will always play an ongoing role in my life, be it high school pal, drama school alumnus, neighbor, fellow arts professional, or simply ... my friend.

So you deserve to hear this straight from me. Not through the Holt gossip mill, a friend of a friend, or some other social grapevine. If you're willing to give me a listen, please begin reading here.

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