Audio Interview, Dantaee Williams, May 8, 2013

  • EVELYN BAILEY: Today is Wednesday, May 8th,
  • and we're at the Gay Alliance library.
  • And I'm sitting here with DANTAEE WILLIAMS,
  • who was a member of the youth group,
  • and who has graduated high school and is now--
  • are you with U of R?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: No, MCC.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: At MCC.
  • And he has many, many talents and much experience
  • in terms of the community.
  • So a little background first.
  • Were you born in Rochester?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: No, I was born in Middletown, Connecticut,
  • which is very small.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: I know where Middletown is.
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: Yes, very small.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: There used to be a cenacle in Middletown
  • that I went to often.
  • Yes.
  • And when did you come to Rochester?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: We moved to Rochester when I was eight.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: And in the city?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: Yes, in the city.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: And what year would that have been?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: I'm turning twenty tomorrow, so--
  • EVELYN BAILEY: Twelve years ago.
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: Twelve years ago, yeah.
  • So 2013 minus twelve.
  • So 2001?
  • EVELYN BAILEY: 2001.
  • OK.
  • And did you go to the Rochester City School District?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: Yeah, I went to the Rochester City School
  • District.
  • My elementary school was school thirty-nine Andrew Johnson
  • Thompson Elementary School, and then my middle and high school
  • were combined.
  • I went to School of the Arts for theater and dance.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: Now, at the School of the Arts,
  • did they have a GSA?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: Yeah, School of the Arts had a GSA.
  • It was pretty set, and it was nice,
  • but it was different from what I thought a GSA would be.
  • And again, I was new.
  • I started going there when I was in the eighth grade--
  • eighth, ninth grade.
  • So I started checking it out.
  • And it was geared more towards the older crowd
  • than it was the younger.
  • And there was a lot of unanswered questions.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: Had you self-identified at that point,
  • or?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: Yes, I self-identified with myself,
  • but I didn't make it public.
  • And then I came out about 10th grade.
  • 10th grade, I came on as a gay male.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: And you're also African American
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: Yes.
  • Yup.
  • So I came out as a gay African American island boy,
  • because I have Jamaican in me.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: OK.
  • A little different than African Americans
  • whose origins are from the South, and so forth.
  • But let me ask you.
  • Did your family experience discrimination because
  • of your racial background?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: Yeah.
  • Definitely, I think that my family
  • faced some discrimination of having a more
  • feminine child who was a boy.
  • But my family was really Americanized
  • and with the African American culture.
  • And not so much as the Jamaican culture.
  • But even in the African-American group,
  • it's slightly looked down on to have a gay son, because it's
  • a lot of stereotypes that gay and black doesn't go together.
  • You're either too black or too gay.
  • And a lot of stereotypes don't really mush them together.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: But as a black person,
  • separate from being gay, did you experience being harassed?
  • Not because you were gay, but many African Americans--
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: Yeah, you definitely
  • get harassed within the group.
  • When you're black or African American there's
  • different shades of your skin.
  • So there's light brown, mid-brown, dark brown,
  • and then there's dark, dark brown,
  • who is around my skin tone.
  • I'm a really dark guy, so I always
  • get, oh, you're too dark.
  • People make jokes about that.
  • So like, oh, I can't see you, or certain skin tone
  • racial comments.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: So would you say in terms of your personality
  • and identity, was it more stressful to be black
  • or more stressful to be gay?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: I don't know if either one is harder,
  • because they both come with stereotypes,
  • and they both come with a lot of stress and crap
  • that we don't need.
  • I think to be a person of color and to be
  • gay is harder on that group than it is on other groups.
  • But then I can't really say that,
  • because I'm not in the other groups.
  • But socially, what we see is a lot of shift power changes.
  • And different organizations are LGBT, most of them
  • are ran by powerful women who are not African or black,
  • or powerful men who are not African black.
  • It's really rare when you see someone in charge
  • at a organization who's black and the LGBT community.
  • So I think to my preference, is I
  • think it is definitely hard to be
  • black to be the gay community.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: So when you were going to School of the Arts,
  • you kind of researched the GSA.
  • What kind of support systems were
  • in place for you as a gay male?
  • But also, I really have to expand that
  • into as a black gay male.
  • Because we're looking at layers.
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: Yeah, definitely layers.
  • We all have layers.
  • Finding that GSA at School of the Arts--
  • it was good, but there wasn't a lot of knowledge base
  • until I took over when I learned so much myself.
  • There were more of like a sense of community, which was great.
  • And it was like, oh, this is the Kinsey scale.
  • It's OK not to be on the Kinsey scale
  • or be many points on the Kinsey scale.
  • And that's the most we learn and just building
  • relationships friend-wise, and just an alliance of, all right,
  • you guys are friends and this is what it means to be friends.
  • And just like, teaching you the words
  • But I'm just a self leader already, so I take it
  • and I run.
  • And I'm just like, all right, give me more.
  • I need more challenge, and I want to know the stereotypes.
  • And I want to know why.
  • That wasn't given.
  • It was more of a like, games and movie type of thing.
  • Which was great until I took over.
  • And then we did both more educating and making
  • a difference.
  • And also doing fun time too.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: So what other resources
  • did you find in the community to help you with that journey?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: I definitely found the Gay Alliance.
  • I've been part of the Gay Alliance for a very long time,
  • and I am thankful for that.
  • And then I also found GLSEN, the Gay Lesbian Straight Education
  • Network through the Gay Alliance,
  • and I became the student leader for that
  • and for the Gay Alliance.
  • And just been doing a lot of great work,
  • and that has helped me be more developed
  • in my character of who I am today.
  • And it's just a lot of resources.
  • And I have been--
  • not really too much--
  • but I've seen and got a little help
  • from MOCHA, but not as much as I got
  • from my other organizations.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: Now, when you say the Gay Alliance, what--
  • The Gay Alliance is this huge umbrella organization.
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: The Gay Alliance Youth drop-in center
  • was the most important in a research thing.
  • The structure of it was awesome.
  • It was for people who wanted to have free time,
  • but also people who are naturally
  • was leaning to do something.
  • And also just be part of the community
  • and just have a voice as someone who
  • was young and gay, because sometimes our young gay people
  • don't have any voices.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: And who was in the leadership position
  • at that time when you first started to come?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: When I first started to come,
  • Jess Collender was there.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: OK.
  • Did you know Toby?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: I did not know Toby.
  • I heard.
  • And it was a year right before she left.
  • So I never got to meet Toby.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: Now, when you came to the youth group
  • under Jess's leadership, what was it like?
  • The first time you came.
  • Do you remember what was going through your head?
  • What were you feeling?
  • What did you expect?
  • What did you find?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: The first thing
  • that was going through my mind was like, oh my God, there's
  • a place like this that exists?
  • What, this is amazing!
  • And then I was really nervous too.
  • I'm not going to tell anyone I'm gay.
  • I'm going to be a straight ally.
  • Because I didn't know what to expect.
  • So it was just like, I don't know if I'm going to fit in.
  • And then just walking in and being introduced
  • and meeting people.
  • I love it, I enjoy it.
  • It just made me comfortable being who I am,
  • and it's just this feeling you can't explain.
  • It's just something that you thought that one day you
  • could be happy.
  • And then this place made me happy,
  • and made me forget all my issues and just hang out
  • with people who were like me.
  • And there's awesome talented people.
  • And then we learned so much, and we grew.
  • It was definitely different, and it was definitely
  • a life experience that I would never forget.
  • Because without the Gay Alliance,
  • I don't know if I ever would have as much leadership as I
  • have now, or be so successful, or even proud to be here.
  • Because like I did go through a period of time
  • where I had eating and cutting issues when I was coming out.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: Now you would have been seventeen?
  • Sixteen.
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: When I came out?
  • EVELYN BAILEY: In age, when you came to the youth group.
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: I was sixteen.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: And when you said you learned so much,
  • what was that about?
  • What did you learn?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: You learned culture.
  • I don't know if there's a thing such as this,
  • but gay etiquette (laughs).
  • EVELYN BAILEY: There this.
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: There Is!
  • You learn gay culture, and people, and authors,
  • and bag reading and watching movies
  • about these everyday people that just are so successful.
  • And it just happened to be they were gay, or lesbian, or trans.
  • And it was just amazing to learn that,
  • and to know it's just not you.
  • And look at everyone before you.
  • Look at the normal people who are your volunteers
  • are not just normal, because volunteers are great.
  • Look at the people who is in your everyday life,
  • but then look at the people who are like,
  • successful in history.
  • So that's what we learn.
  • And just how to build and make connections.
  • The last two years before I left the program,
  • it was college tours, and meeting.
  • And just being able to go like, oh,
  • these are like some queer teachers.
  • These are like programs and there's
  • some schools that only are queer,
  • and some school that have transgender friendly things.
  • Where else do you learn that from?
  • Because on a regular college tour, you don't get that.
  • So definitely all our needs were pretty much met.
  • They have tutoring programs, we have
  • volunteers that helped us with our homework,
  • we did arts and crafts.
  • It was just definitely well stable.
  • And whatever you need it, it was here.
  • And if we couldn't get it, we would
  • have tried to get it, or connect you with someone who can.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: When you talk about the youth
  • group, what kind of--
  • and you became more of a leader in your junior and senior year
  • of high school.
  • What kind of activities did the youth group
  • have that would be more than just
  • what happened on a Sunday afternoon,
  • or a Thursday afternoon, or whatever?
  • What kind of events--
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: Day of Silence, Big Gay Prom.
  • And then we did beginning of the school year party,
  • we did conferences, and we did a lot of different things
  • that got the youth involved.
  • But mostly it was basically ran by the youth.
  • And if the youth wanted something, they invested in it,
  • and then just signed off and guided us.
  • But it was more of what would you guys like to do?
  • So the schedule was made by the leaders.
  • And some people didn't care, some people cared.
  • And if you were a leader you had your two cents in,
  • and we definitely worked with it.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: Talk to me a little bit about the first time
  • you experienced the Day Of Silence Do you remember that?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: I do.
  • The first time I experienced the Day of Silence, I was scared.
  • I had no idea what to expect because it was recently
  • right after I came out.
  • So I was like, oh, everyone hadn't known about me.
  • So I was really scared to even take part in school.
  • But then after school at this rally,
  • I was sitting on the floor waiting
  • and waiting to see what's going to happen next,
  • and how are we going to break the silence?
  • And just see how many people do the Day of Silence in Rochester
  • alone.
  • And Day of Silence is way bigger than Rochester, so it was huge.
  • You had different schools and hundreds of students,
  • and it was just this impact of like, wow.
  • I am part of history.
  • I'm important. and I'm valued.
  • I get to experience this with so many other people.
  • So that was great.
  • And then once we broke the silence,
  • my heart just burst with happiness and a sense
  • of my story coming out.
  • And then now that we did the Day of Silence, now I get to plan,
  • and I'm the adult in charge of the Day of Silence.
  • And we just had it, and so many youth
  • are like, this is amazing, the way
  • you set it up as the best one ever.
  • It's just like, thank you so much,
  • because this was the only way I can be myself.
  • That just makes me feel like I'm completed
  • and I have a purpose as an adult.
  • And I'm listening to my youth, and I'm
  • doing the right thing, because sometimes it gets really hard.
  • And you're just like, what is my purpose of leading this?
  • You question yourself.
  • And then when you get your moment and someone tells
  • you you make a difference, it means so much to you.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: Can you share with me a little bit
  • about how instrumental in your life was Jess?
  • Or was she?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: She was.
  • She was definitely a big part of my life.
  • She was really important to me as an adult,
  • as someone who was caring and respectful.
  • She was professional.
  • We, as youth, didn't get to see that every day.
  • And knowing Jess got paid decent,
  • but probably not as much as she wants to, like the cost.
  • I'm a thinker, so I think of all this.
  • The cost of everything and the time that she put into it,
  • and that she cared for us, that made it worth so much more
  • than, like, I feel like my teachers.
  • I love to appreciate organizations and leaders who
  • do this, because they do the same thing as what teachers do,
  • honestly.
  • And she played an important part in my life
  • because she's the only one that--
  • not the only one, but a really main core
  • person that helped me with my eating disorder and my cutting.
  • And then that kind of showed me, like, this is your potential,
  • I see so much and you.
  • And I think she did that for many youth.
  • Her heart was a pot of gold.
  • And I've never met Toby, so I never know what they had.
  • But when you are young, and gay, and don't
  • have a lot of experience with positive people,
  • when you meet someone, it's like, you're overtaken.
  • You may be like, oh my god, this is way too much at once.
  • But when you realize and you grow,
  • you're like, that was, like, everything.
  • Like that was my, you know--
  • EVELYN BAILEY: Mm-hm.
  • Now, while you were at the alliance in the youth group,
  • you received an award.
  • Was it the presidential?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: No, I got to meet the president.
  • And it was through GLSEN for anti-bullying
  • and the bills were being passed, and the don't ask don't tell.
  • It was really important because it
  • was one of the heights of being an LGBT person
  • and being a youth.
  • It was the safe school don't ask policy was just passed.
  • So for me being part of it, I got an award from GLSEN
  • for being outstanding youth activist, and I came in second.
  • And it was only two awards, and it was amazing.
  • And I got my picture taken.
  • People at number one got to meet Chaz Bono,
  • and it was out of thousands of students.
  • And then cut notch was like, break it down to 1,000, to 500,
  • to 200.
  • And then to be in the final two, and for me to know the winner,
  • I was like, I'm so honored.
  • I don't think I did as much as this person,
  • but obviously I'm doing something right.
  • And I won so many awards for being a great activist
  • and just being involved in my community.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: And how did you come to meet the president?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: The president was through GLSEN.
  • I did a workshop with Eliza, who is
  • the CEO, the executive director of GLSEN.
  • And we did a workshop together, and she got invited.
  • And she was going.
  • Normally GLSEN invites other people.
  • And she pushed my name out there on the table,
  • and they invited me a few weeks after me meeting Eliza.
  • And it was awesome, because
  • I didn't know that I got invited to the White House.
  • I got an email from GLSEN saying you've been invited.
  • I was like, I didn't get anything!
  • And then I checked, and it was crazy.
  • I was wild, I was like, what, I got invited to the White House!
  • A young gay black man.
  • I was just excited to have a president who's
  • of color and who's like, support and just wanting
  • to make a difference--
  • how much he'd done.
  • I'm so honored to meet him, or so honored
  • even to meet the president.
  • And for the reason was amazing.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: And when you met him, what was it like?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: It was a moment you won't forget.
  • It's just breathtaking.
  • Kind of that moment where you just think,
  • wow, I can't believe I did this.
  • I'm at the White House.
  • OK, I'm at the White House.
  • It's fine, you know.
  • Oh, God, I'm going to this private room
  • with four other people and security.
  • Is that the president walking in?
  • I had to not panic, but I had to catch my breath.
  • I'm like, this is really happening.
  • This is crazy, this six foot man is the President Barack Obama
  • walking into the room.
  • It was phenomenal.
  • And then we got to chat, and I got to thank him.
  • And we talked about like why it's
  • important to have safe schools, and why
  • he thinks it's important, and how he supports.
  • Just stuff that the public didn't even know yet.
  • And when he finally came out, I was like, I knew this.
  • And it was just amazing to have that information,
  • just to know that he supports.
  • And he's like, it doesn't matter.
  • My job is not to judge people on who they are.
  • It's to make everything safe.
  • And that at that time was the most important thing
  • I can ever hear from anyone.
  • From a president, from another male figure--
  • it completed me.
  • It made me understand I can do this.
  • I can be president if I want to one day.
  • I can do anything I want.
  • Because it's not about who or what you are,
  • it's about making it safe and doing what you like.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: When you met him, did you shake hands?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: Yes, we shook hands.
  • We took a picture together.
  • And our handshake was slightly awkward,
  • because he's really tall, and I was nervous.
  • So it was more of a handshake, but it turned into like a hug.
  • So he just went right in to hug me.
  • So I was like, oh, OK.
  • I didn't know he was going to do.
  • But it was definitely I'm the only one who got a hug,
  • and everyone just got handshakes.
  • I was kind of like, wow, yes.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: So when you came back to Rochester
  • after this experience, how did you translate that experience
  • into your everyday life?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: I live my life to the fullest.
  • And I went and tried to do everything
  • I can do in the community, and be part of the youth,
  • and to share my story with them.
  • Because I think getting to hear the story,
  • even though they didn't get to experience it first hand,
  • it still amazes them that someone they know got to meet.
  • And that things like this and opportunities like this come.
  • So you just have to hold on, keep doing what you're doing,
  • you will be rewarded for being a leader.
  • And anything I could do to help the youth, or anything that
  • had a good reason and I was for it,
  • I tried to not just be part of it--
  • because anyone can be part of it--
  • I try to take leadership.
  • I try to be front of the line help
  • or even get something started.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: And when you begin MCC,
  • is there a LGBT student group?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: Yes, there as a group.
  • I don't know their name.
  • I'm bad.
  • I'm guilty.
  • I'm not as involved in it as I want to be,
  • because I am a freshman.
  • So I get overwhelmed with a lot of school work.
  • Schoolwork first, and then that can come later
  • in my second year.
  • I was going to run for president,
  • but I just wasn't ready yet.
  • There's a lot of work.
  • And my majors are not the most easy majors I can pick,
  • so I definitely have to focus on that.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: Now in the past year or so--
  • maybe a little longer--
  • you shared with the community another talent for drag.
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: Yes, it has been a year and two weeks
  • (laughs).
  • And three days.
  • I count down because it's crazy, it's epic.
  • It's another part of theater, and it's just
  • another part of me being me.
  • Me being Dantaee.
  • And then recently I came out again as genderqueer.
  • As someone who's just like--
  • I don't like how genders are, like--
  • People refer as they want to be more like this, or the gender--
  • I'm like, oh, gender?
  • Just break it.
  • If you want to identify as a woman,
  • but you have like, masculine tendencies, that's fine.
  • If you want to identify as a man and have feminine, that's fine.
  • But society is just like this is man
  • and this is woman, black and white.
  • And I'm like, no, cause I'm still a man, but I dress up.
  • And I perform as theater and as entertainment.
  • And also I think I'm telling my story within drag.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: When was the first time you performed?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: Performed for fun
  • or performed professionally?
  • EVELYN BAILEY: For fun.
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: The first time was at mother's when
  • we did a youth Halloween dance.
  • And there was a mini drag show slash a talent thing.
  • And I was like, oh, a drag show.
  • I want to do it.
  • I watch Ru Paul, I know this.
  • I didn't have anything.
  • My friend had a dress, and my friend had a shirt.
  • And I had no shoes, I was sockless.
  • It was a hot mess, and I just did it.
  • And I did a song and I danced to it.
  • And I was like, this is really cute.
  • And then I was like OK, and I didn't do anything about it.
  • And then someone's like, oh, this is drag queen.
  • I started hearing more about the night life
  • because I was getting older.
  • And about mothers and stuff.
  • And my friends are older, most of my friends are older.
  • So they go out and they're like get him a drag king.
  • And I'm like, this is awesome.
  • And then professionally, a year ago.
  • From April, right after Day of Silence, actually.
  • So the 22nd of April was my complete year.
  • And that's when I performed at Tilt night club
  • on Fresh Meat Friday with Kyla Minx.
  • And I was so scared.
  • I just danced at school, I don't know.
  • And it's just like, wow, that was amazing.
  • And I ran for the youth pageant, and I won the youth pageant.
  • And then she's like, you're awesome,
  • and she booked me again.
  • And then she taught me a few things.
  • Your legs, and pantyhose, your hair and make up.
  • And I learned so much from Kyla and so many other queens.
  • And Samantha Vega, they just teach you these things.
  • And how to also perform and tell your story,
  • but also perform to give them a show in this break away
  • from society, and break away from normal.
  • And it's just where people can go in to see different things,
  • and just be comfortable, and just see something out
  • of the normal.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: Who would you say is
  • your idol in the drag circuit?
  • Or is it possible to say there's one person, or are there many?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: There's many, but I
  • will break it down easily.
  • Professional and TV superstar, of course Ru Paul.
  • Locally, who got big?
  • Pandora Box.
  • Locally who not struggles, but performs, and she's great,
  • I would say--
  • there's so many.
  • I'm just going to name three.
  • Ready?
  • Samantha Vega, Kyla Minks, and Dede Dura,
  • because they all had different styles, and they all
  • had different ideas, and looks.
  • You're like, wait, I thought this was drag,
  • and then you see someone who's face
  • is more painted and the bright colors.
  • You're like, wow, this is so different.
  • And everyone has different styles.
  • This one dances crazy like me, and this one doesn't dance
  • as much, but she has props.
  • It's just different.
  • So it's cute.
  • And I like to say that I'm my own superstar, because I'm big.
  • I am.
  • I'm one of the youngest drag queens in Rochester
  • that performs the most.
  • Right now, there's another one who's young too,
  • and she just started performing as much as I did,
  • and we're awesome.
  • We love it.
  • A lot of young drag queens want it handed down to them.
  • And you can't.
  • You have to work it, honey.
  • You have work for it, and it takes time,
  • and you have to invest.
  • And my drag mother is delicious, and her name is Cam.
  • She is a trans woman who's awesome.
  • And also Chastity Dee is my drag mother.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: Have you competed in the Miss Gay Rochester
  • pageant?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: I have not.
  • I am not there yet to compete.
  • I do not want to step on toes--
  • no (Bailey laughs).
  • I just don't think I'm ready.
  • I don't think Rochester's ready for all this goodness.
  • I think I'm not prepared yet.
  • I am running in Scoop Ready.
  • Next year, 2014, I'm running for my first title.
  • It's the Queen of Hearts pageant.
  • And she's in the parade, and that's
  • going to be my first pageant, in 2014.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: So, Dantaee, when you look back
  • at your four or five years involvement in--
  • more active involvement-- in the gay community,
  • what would you have wished or wanted to be there for you that
  • wasn't?
  • Anything?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: I don't know.
  • There always could be something.
  • What I would say is I wish there was
  • more adults, positive adults that have a purpose
  • or want to do something with their youth
  • and want to be part of it.
  • A lot of people are were just like, it was volunteering,
  • I don't mind No, you have to have the heart.
  • So I just wish that if you go into it,
  • know the reason why you're going into it,
  • and be ready to touched lives.
  • But also be ready to learn, because the youth
  • can teach you so many things.
  • And you can teach the youth, and it's a learning experience.
  • And that's what I would say.
  • I just wish more people were open minded.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: There certainly is legislation
  • that's been in place, this Dignity For All Students
  • Act, hate crimes legislation, 2011, in June,
  • marriage equality passed in New York state.
  • What, in your estimation, still needs to change?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: That trans people
  • can't get fired for being themselves,
  • and that bathrooms should at least have gender
  • neutral bathrooms, or bathrooms that people
  • who don't agree with their gender
  • and in process of transitioning can use the bathroom.
  • Because honestly, it's ridiculous
  • that you're telling someone they can't use the bathroom.
  • That's just going back to slavery time and gay rights
  • times.
  • And I think as the community and as public, we
  • have to remember that we got this far because of everyone.
  • And we can't forget anyone.
  • And that means the L, the G, the B, the T,
  • the Q-I-A. Everyone is invested, and if we
  • want to better our community, that's what we need to do.
  • And we just have to not have stereotypes within our group,
  • because we take so much shit outside of it.
  • There's no time, no space to forget about anyone.
  • I'm really big on that, because not me just being genderqueer,
  • but me having a partner that is trans.
  • You don't realize so much.
  • I wasn't aware of how much until I started dating.
  • Even as active as I was, I'm like, oh, yeah, yeah.
  • Oh crap, did I forget this?
  • Sometimes, but not all the time.
  • And that made me a better person now.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: What do you think, or-- let me
  • ask you a couple of questions.
  • What are you most proud of as a black gay male?
  • What are you most proud of?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: I'm most proud of people
  • in the community knowing me without me knowing them.
  • As in myself for being a young black gay man, that I am making
  • a difference, and I'm combining the community
  • between the blacks and the gays in the community.
  • And just joining and showing them
  • that you can be black and gay.
  • You don't have to choose one.
  • And also that there are proving to society
  • that there are intelligent young black gay men who
  • are efficient, who can do anything
  • you want them to do, and have great behavior,
  • and who's just so talented.
  • And I think that is what I'm most proud of,
  • because of my age, and because of being black and gay.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: If-- let's say you were sitting here
  • talking to a black gay male who was just beginning the journey.
  • What would you tell them?
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: I would tell them
  • to try to figure out who they are, hold it tight,
  • and shoot for the stars.
  • Because if you don't know who you are,
  • then you're going to try to please everyone,
  • and you're not going to be true to yourself.
  • And it's something you don't figure out all the time.
  • But this hope of who you are, and be comfortable with it.
  • Because there's so many things that we get
  • told that we can't be and what we want to be.
  • And there's so many things just looked
  • wrong for being a person of color
  • and being gay and combining them.
  • And on top of it, if you have any learning disabilities
  • or any visual disability, you are a minority
  • of a minority of a minority.
  • It doesn't get easy.
  • So just to have that in you, and have a dream.
  • And you have to remind yourself, because you have one bad day,
  • two bad days, a bad month, a bad half of a year, don't give up.
  • Fight for that dream.
  • Know you have a purpose.
  • And if you don't feel like you have a purpose,
  • find someone and connect with people,
  • because someone will keep that fire burning in you when
  • you are down and out.
  • That's happened to me.
  • I have friends who rekindled me so many times.
  • When you're just like, I can't take it, why am I doing this?
  • Why do I think I can do this?
  • I did in three months, I did this.
  • It's just knowing your purpose and living for you.
  • Just go for it completely.
  • The sky's the limit.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: Dantaee, you are a wonderful human being,
  • and you have tremendous insight for one so young (laughter).
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: Thank you so much.
  • EVELYN BAILEY: And I hope--
  • and sincerely hope-- that you not only actualize your dreams,
  • but you never stop dreaming.
  • Thank you for this interview.
  • DANTAEE WILLIAMS: Thank you so much.