GLBT rights activist Brenda Watson has worked with many community organizations and for many causes over the past five years, including San Diego Pride, Ebony Pride, Latin Pride, Transfamily, Scouting for All, Dyke March, Vagina Fest, AIDS Walk and the Imperial Court de San Diego.

Watson said she saw activism as an alternative to bars and drinking. “I began to realize it was time for me to start giving back, because the bar scene wasn’t enough. It was just like, I’m not doing anything for anybody — all I’m doing is endangering myself out on the road coming home intoxicated. And that was when I [started volunteering] with Mama’s Kitchen for a few years. Then I got involved with PAWS (Pets are Wonderful Support)…. This has gotten to be like a hobby for me; this is something that I enjoy doing.”

As a pre-op transsexual, Watson is an outspoken advocate for transgender rights and protections, speaking at universities throughout San Diego County. She feels education is the key to helping enlighten society and built support for GLBT rights.

“I speak at colleges to educate these narrow-minded people because they don’t understand; if these people would understand that we were born this way, … they would probably be a little bit more compassionate, and I have seen that.”

Watson said she feels that conditions have improved significantly for the transgender community since she attended her first Pride event some 10 years ago. “I mean, look at the Human Dignity Ordinance amendment that’s getting ready to be finalized on July 28,” Watson pointed out. “It’s going to give the transgender community more protection in San Diego. Things are moving up.”

Pointing to the largely transgender-led Stonewall rebellion of 1969, which many consider a catalyst for the modern gay rights movement, Watson said she feels reciprocal support for transgender people isn’t always forthcoming from gay men and lesbians. “We are always at the bottom,” said Watson. “It’s a known fact. We are the target of the rainbow community, because there’s always dissention. We’re the ones who get ‘he-he-d’ and ‘ha-ha-ed’ — We’re the ones that have to absorb all the ugly hate crime; … so we are the ones that have to be stronger.”

In this sense, Watson said she feels there needs to be more awareness of the transgender community under the larger GLBT umbrella.

“We aren’t all a big happy family,” she said. “I mean, we want to be that way, but [transgender people] had to fight to get our name at The Center. We had to fight to get our name on the San Diego Parade and all of the festivities….

“I’m an activist and I’m out there fighting for what we deserve, and I believe wholeheartedly we’re moving forward…. The best you can do if you verbally get knocked down or physically get knocked down,” Watson said, “is don’t give up. Stand up and say, ‘I will survive’ and carry on — be a tough fighter.”

Asked about the future of Pride, Watson said she feels the event is only going to get bigger and better. “Suanne Pauley does a great job and Terri Bishop and everybody in the office…. I know Pride is working real hard making sure that everything’s safe.”

Watson herself is a part of that effort, serving as a coordinator for Pride’s Safe Ride program in the beer gardens.

“It’s my job to make sure that people who have had too much to drink get a ride home with Cloud 9 shuttle … and encourage young kids to get a ride home,” she explained. “I also have people working underneath me, you know, pleading with these people, ‘Don’t drink and drive.’ This is rewarding, because if you go home and watch the news and, at least you don’t see any fatalities from the beer gardens or from Pride, you feel like you’ve done your best.”

Look for the tall, 20-year Escondido resident out and about — you’ll usually find her with her trusty companion, a black Pomeranian named Onyx.