Wake Forest University 50th Anniversary Faces of Courage Honors Transgenders Kye Allums and Toni Newman

(GayWebSource.com) – Los Angeles California – September 1962, a Ghana native named Ed Reynolds (’64) became the first African-American full-time undergraduate to enroll at Wake Forest making Wake Forest University the first private southern University to admit African-American student.  Fifty years later, Ed Reynolds came back to the Wake Forest University campus to mark the anniversary of the integration of Wake Forest as part of “Faces of Courage: Celebrating 50 Years of Integration,” a yearlong series of events designed to encourage discussion, bring people together and honor those who helped the school become the first major private university in the South to integrate.

During this 50th Anniversary of Faces of Courage, Wake Forest University is honoring African-American Transgenders Kye Allums and Toni Newman (class of 1985) and others.  Dr. Angela Mazaris, Director of Wake Forest University LGBTQ Center,  decided it was time to include all the faces of the WFU community.  Wake Forest University is again a first major private southern university by honoring Transgenders especially African-American Transgenders for their diversity.

Kye Allums is a 22 year old African-American male from Saint Paul, Minnesota, and proud member of The National Black Justice Coallition’s Leadership Advisory Council. He is a graduate of The George Washington University where he received a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts. While attending GW, Kye made history by coming out as the first transgender basketball player to play openly on a Division 1 women’s basketball team. Since then he has been devoted to making a difference in the world as a passionate advocate for transgender rights. Kye will speak about what it means to be transgender as well as his experiences as an openly transgender NCAA athlete. Allums has been named to the Advocates 2011 40 under 40, The Grio’s 100 History Makers in the Making for Black History Month, and was one of OUT magazine’s OUT 100 for 2011.
http://www.kyeallums.com

Toni Newman is African-American female from Jacksonville, North Carolina, and Author of Memoir I Rise-The Transformation of Toni Newman,  making it the First Memoir in the 21st century by African-American Transgender.  Toni is 1985 graduate of Wake Forest University with BA degree in Sociology and now studying law to obtain JD degree to fight for the equal rights of the minority transgender in America.  The Memoir I Rise was nominated for 2012 Lambda Literary Awards in 2 Categories (Transgenders, Nonfiction). Toni was just featured in November 2012 Ebony Magazine Spirit Quest section for overcoming obstacles and being true to her identity in the face of adversity. According to Flaier.net Book Ranking site based on sales, marketing and publicity, The Memoir I Rise, is ranked #24 of Top 25 Best Transgender Biographies. Chapter 7, The Erotic Professionals, in Memoir I Rise has been turned into Independent Feature Film, Heart of a Woman, by British Director Keith Holland and Producer Alton Demore with Leading Cast members of Transgender Actress/Songwriter Angelica Ross,  Rachel Sterling (True Blood),  Daniel Soberay (Hugo Boss/Calvin Klein Model),  Elisabeth Rohm (Law & Order) and Lesllie Jones (HBO/Def Jam comedian). Several A-list celebrities have agreed to make guest appearances in Feature Film Heart of a Woman to support equality for all regardless of race, sex and gender.  http://www.tonidnewman.com

Diversity and Inclusivity is what makes America great and this country stand above all others.  The goal is to include everyone in the American dream and leave no one behind.  Wake Forest University symbolizes this by including the Transgender community on their  50th Anniversary of Faces of Courage.  Let all Americans reach out to one another regardless of race, sex and gender and show love and understanding and compassion.

This event was held Thursday, Nov. 8, in the Annenberg Forum in Carswell Hall on the Wake Forest University campus.  This event was Sponsored by the LGBTQ Center, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and OUTLaw.   Special thanks to Dr. Angela Mazaris, Angela Glover,  Dr. Lynn Sutton, Dr. Maya Angelou, Dr. Barbee Oakes and President Nathan Hatch of Wake Forest University

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