1. When she reminded us to always start with loving ourselves:
2. When she dubbed herself a "possibility model" instead of a role model:
"I would never be so arrogant to think that someone should model their life after me. But the idea of possibility… the idea that I get to live my dreams out in public, hopefully will show to other folks that it's possible. So I prefer the term 'possibility model' to 'role model.'" —From an interview with Katie Couric.
3. When she urged us to be true to ourselves, regardless of outside pressures...
4. ... and find our own personal definitions:
5. When, in the third grade, she said this to a therapist:
“The therapist asked me if I knew the difference between a boy and a girl. And in my infinite wisdom as a third-grader, because third graders are so wise, I said, ‘There is no difference.’”
6. When she put things into perspective:
7. When she interrupted Gayle King to challenge gender norms:
8. And schooled Katie Couric on how the media should be discussing transgender individuals:
9. When she reminded us all that we are multifaceted and complex individuals, not defined by one single characteristic:
10. When she nailed transphobia in one simple sentence:
11. When she moved us, using no words at all:
12. When she reminded us about her commitment to human rights:
13. The moment she inspired us to become "liberators for ourselves and each other."
“Each and every one of us has the capacity to be an oppressor. I want to encourage each and every one of us to interrogate how we might be an oppressor, and how we might be able to become liberators for ourselves and each other." – Speech from the GLAAD Media Awards
And emphasized the importance of love:
14. "I believe when we love someone, we respect them, and we listen to them; we feel that their voice matters. And — and we let them dictate the terms of who they are and what their story is."
Wisdom dropped, class dismissed.
