Holden Madagame

As a queer, transgender, Indigenous person who benefits from a lot of various privileges, I enjoy bridging the gap of understanding to discuss and present topics around diversity and inclusion. My focus is on intersectionality, meaning that we all have sets of privileges and sets of suffering. My personal experience is as a queer, trans, indigenous person in opera, theater, and in tech as a frontend developer, but the principles apply to all industries and communities. Diversity and Inclusion benefit all of us, even those with the most privilege. It's not only about lifting up others, but it's about lifting up ourselves and holding ourselves to higher standards to work and live in the most authentic and connective way possible. 

As one of the first and most openly transmasculine people on testosterone in the opera industry and one of the still most visible, I have overcome enormous hurdles to continue working as a performer. Despite the lack of research and hope I had, I persevered and continued to use my voice both as a singer and an activist. As a trans 'elder', I want to make sure other trans, queer, and Indigenous people see that I exist, and that although their path may not look like mine, they have a path. I additionally think that my experiences and wisdom motivate anyone to open themselves up, be vulnerable, and connect with themselves authentically while finding their path.