Transgender people have existed and thrived for millennia — across cultures, geographies, and political regimes. In the current sociopolitical context of the United States, when everything may feel daunting and scary, there is a lot to learn from the historic organizing and mutual aid efforts by and for trans communities. Sam K Pearl will reflect on their own experience as a trans organizer, draw on the legacies and traditions of trans elders, and will preach on 3 lessons from trans liberation we can all use to hold hope and fire in our hearts.

Mx. Sam K Pearl is a community organizer, deep midwesterner, proud dad, and lifelong Unitarian Universalist. Sam serves as Congregational Life Staff for the Pacific West Region of the UUA — serving Alaska, Portlandia, the Oregon Coast, NorCal, the Bay, and a smattering of other California congregations. Sam graduated from Oberlin College in 2016 with a degree in Environmental Studies. They remain a lifelong student of ecology and resiliency practices of frontline climate catastrophe communities. They value the placemaking practices of marginalized communities with the land(s) around them. They enjoy crosswords, playing tabletop games, listening to and making podcasts, and LGBTQIA+ comedians. Sam currently lives in Oakland, CA, with frequent trips to Port Townsend, WA with 1 16-year-old kid, 1 8-year-old canine kid, 1 bonus kid, and 1 partner. Sam describes themself as a ‘fairly devout’ Unitarian Universalist and enjoys hiking and reading tarot as spiritual practices.

Click here to listen to the service starting at 10am.