UPDATED: Dec. 4, 2018 at 10:00 p.m.

Ruby Corado stood in front of a small crowd in Slocum Hall on Thursday night, wearing a bright pink dress, black heels and long eyelash extensions as she shared her story of domestic violence, homelessness and perseverance.

Corado was the keynote speaker for Syracuse University’s Trans Day of Remembrance commemoration, an internationally recognized day that memorializes and honors transgender people who have been murdered as a result of transphobia and calls attention to the continued violence endured by the transgender community.

Corado founded Casa Ruby, the only bilingual and multilcultural LGBTQ center in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and has been an advocate for LGBTQ rights, immigrants and access to healthcare.  

She said she came to SU to tell her story to the people that can relate a little, those that can relate a lot and those who want to learn more about an LGBTQ community they do not understand.

Corado was born in El Salvador and immigrated to Washington, D.C. Since her journey to the U.S., Corado said she has been a victim in the human trafficking industry, experienced terrible treatment when she dressed as a drag queen, spent many years homeless, fought for a gender change on her I.D. and has almost died in a domestic violence attack.

But she persevered, she said, and the many setbacks that she had have brought her to where she is today. Corado said she was awarded $12,000 in damages because of the domestic violence attack, which was enough money to open Casa Ruby in 2012. The center now provides social services to more than 6,000 clients and provides 100 beds for homeless LGBTQ youth, she said.

“I wanted to start a movement, led by ‘disposable people,’” she said. “I wanted a place where I could wear glitter and not shave and not have to wear clothes that force me to conform and make me uncomfortable.”

Casa Ruby is helping 23 confirmed asylum-seeking migrants coming up from Mexico in the caravan of 5,000 people that President Donald Trump has called an “invasion,” Corado said. These migrants hope to gain asylum and come live in Casa Ruby until they find stable employment in the U.S., she said.

“Under the Trump administration, I will not remain silent, and I will make a difference,” she said.

Corado said when she speaks at churches she has a particular message for those who may hate her: “Wherever I am going after this life, I know I will be able to go in peace. I will go knowing I didn’t hate anyone or impose my religious beliefs and views on anyone, and I made my own and others’ lives better.”

Niya Klayman, a junior majoring in sociology, women’s and gender studies and education, said in an interview after the event there needs to be more education about trans people, especially during the Trump administration.

“Even at an event like this, yes there was an OK turnout, but there needs to be even more people and more attention,” Klayman said.

After the event, Amery Sanders, a genderqueer graduate student in the international relations program, said celebrations like the event held on Thursday night are positive sources of support and help for vulnerable trans people. But they said the way people recognize Trans Day of Remembrance is changing.

In recent years there has been a push to focus more on what can be done to further trans rights and celebrate the trans people who are alive, rather than focusing solely on honoring those who have died, Sanders said.

“Give us our roses while we’re still living,” they said. SU’s event succeeded at doing that, they added.

Sanders said many people see trans identities as mental illnesses, but they would like to ask those people why it would matter if they did have a mental illness.

“Why should that person be any less deserving of dignity, of respect for their person, respect for their ability to live their lives which doesn’t hurt anyone else?” they said. “I don’t think it matters. It shouldn’t.”

CLARIFICATION: In a previous version of this post, the transition of  Ruby Corado was misstated. Also, the purpose of Trans Day of Remembrance was not fully explained.

Published on November 30, 2018 at 11:35 am

Contact Gabriela: gknutso@syr.edu