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On behalf of Maui AIDS Foundation’s HEARTSProject (Hawaii’s Empowered Alliance ReachingTransgender Services) as well as communityadvocates in the State of Hawaii, We would like tothank all of our readers and volunteers that havehelped in the creation of AFFIRM magazine.Through our magazine, We wanted to highlight theincredible journey of transgender and Non-Binarypeople across the world. We want you, the readers,to be a part of this journey. AFFIRM is a Trans focused magazine. Content willshare insight and understanding on the journeytransgendered people share from the root of ourexistence. Transgender people will share theiramazing stories and personal histories, resulting inthe beauty of their true selves. AFFIRM will also highlight Healthcare, SocialServices and up and coming Trans led organizationsand businesses. We hope to spotlight Transsupported establishments around the World,resulting in a safer, supported environment for all.Transgender people face a variety of issuesregarding social justice, transitioning, appearance,coming out and love/sex in relationships, all whiletrying to grow and thrive. Tackling basic life skillscan be a burden as We are so focused on fightingfor our rights to be heard, seen, accepted and evenexist! Now is Our time to be heard! This is whyAFFIRM Magazine was created. Topics in AFFIRM Magazine may be controversialfor some readers. In my role as Editor, I want toshare stories of transphobia, fear and persecutionsendured by our community. Through exploring anddiscussing these topics, my Hope is to educate andenlighten people on our experiences and existence.We at AFFIRM Magazine know our rights tofreedom of speech and press and will utilize thisavenue to make changes.AFFIRM Magazine offers you, the reader, insightinto Transgender people’s life. We hope to showreaders the real power and strength of theTransgender community. While not trying to recruitreaders, we do want them to know how Transpeople think, thrive, overcome obstacles and fightfor what’s right….every single day! You don’t haveto accept us, but respect us you will. Trans RightsAre Human Rights!To our Transgender and Gender non-conformingreaders, AFFIRM Magazine wants to hear yourstories. From the peak of Haleakala Mountain,across the United States of America and around theWorld, we at AFFIRM love you as you are andwant to hear from you. send content to:affirmmag@gmail.com of your Stories of struggle,endurance and empowerment are especiallydesired/wanted. This is a real opportunity to helpothers. Please consider sharing your successes andyour struggles. We are here for you.In closing, We at AFFIRM Magazine would like tosend our love and commitment to our sponsors, whohave been patiently there for us. We love you andare superbly grateful for your presence, resilience,existence and most of all, your beautiful support.We THANK YOU! A special Mahalo to thecommitment of Non-Profit Organizations who haveincluded Transgender people into their services.They are the frontline in helping Transgenderpeople access much needed services. Finally, ThankYou to all the beautiful models, volunteers andcontributors who took the time to help createAFFIRM Magazine. You made it possible for us tostart. Without You, there would be no Magazine. B E S T W I S H E S ,Editor in Chief of A F F I R M M A G A Z I N E

Transgender day of Remembrance

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S T O R Y B Y : D A N I E L S O U T H M A Y D" I N C L U S I O N I S V E R YI M P O R T A N T T O M E " Suzy Fu is having a very busy day. Two days ago, theweather on Maui turned rough, with torrential rainsthat forced evacuations in parts of the island. Suzylives very close by to one of the areas most affected,and though she and her property were ultimately safe,it was an anxious start to the week. “I have a confession,” Suzy admits, a shy shadow passingover her frank, European features as she bustles back andforth putting finishing touches on a table laden with hervegan cakes. “I had seven cakes to produce in two days, andthis storm put me behind. I finished these just before youcame. I thought “well, it’s not what I planned, but I likethem.” I like them, too – the striking presentation andSuzy’s hospitality are immediately welcoming, andfascinating. She pops a bottle of Prosecco, declaring the endof the work day with a triumphant flourish. The cakes are incredible. The dramatic centerpiece is atowering six-layer affair, a vegan vanilla rainbow cake, eachcake dyed with vegetables such as spinach, turmeric, peapowder and purple cabbage, and layered with an egglesslemon curd and frosted with an orange buttercream made of body text with condensed coconut milk. There’s also a three-layer gluten-free cake made withcoconut sugar and wrapped with a vegetable-dye paintedsugar collar, and two small rainbow cakes, all topped withgorgeous, local edible flowers. As I marvel at the display, Imake my own confession to Suzy – that I’ve been aprofessional baker, and I’m a card-carrying member of theJulia Child School of Butter and Eggs.“I want my cakes to taste spectacular and keep peoplecoming back for more! I love to experiment but I don’t wantmy cakes to taste like it.” And they certainly do not. I marvelat the moist, tender crumb. I’m in awe of the silky, tangylemon curd, and of the cloud-like buttercream. As I happilydevour this revelation, Suzy regales me with her knowledgeof her ingredients which are, for the most part, locallysourced. I ask her where she studied baking, and she makesanother confession. “I’m not classically trained,” she tellsme. “I love baking. I love feeding people. I love cake.” Suzy grew up in Poland, where her love of baking began veryearly on. She graduated from the University of Warsaw with aMaster’s degree in Linguistics, and after living in France andmaking sojourns to Greece – two places Suzy identifies ashaving shaped her view of celebration as communication –she came to Maui. “I was in Greece when Orthodox Easter and Catholic Eastercoincided, and there was food everywhere. I took a photo of aman cooking lamb, and he invited me to join his family tofeast. That’s how it is in Europe – life happens aroundcelebrations and food and everyone is included. That is whatdrew me to Maui – the culture of celebration andcommunication and inclusion is very similar.”Inclusion is very important to Suzy. She grew up amidstPoland’s sustained attack on the human rights of LGBTpeople, which continues to this day. Reported hate crimesagainst LGBT+ people more than doubled to 150 in 2019, andonly 16% of Polish LGBT+ people reported the latesthomophobic attack they had suffered to police, according to a2020 EU survey. One hundred municipalities covering onethird of Poland have adopted resolutions declaringthemselves "LGBT ideology-free". Recently, Suzy returned to Poland. It was a difficult trip –leaving behind her transgender partner to travel to a place ofnon-inclusion to say good-bye to a loved one at the end of life.

“The last time I was there [in 2018] the country had madeprogress and was more accepting,” she tells me. “But the newleader is very conservative and has used religion as a weapon. Ihad a rainbow sticker on my water bottle, and I felt like it mademe a target. I was walking under a bridge one evening and Iknow I was being followed. I was so scared.” Suzy also tells meof a Post-It note shoved into her family mailbox, with thewords “Bolshevik whore” scrawled on it. But the LGBT+ community and its allies fight back. Althoughdemonstrations have erupted into violence due to policebrutality, the younger generation prefers peaceful means toshow that bigotry and intolerance have no place in today’s world. Businesses post rainbow stickers and lightning bolts intheir windows to show their space is a safe one. Back on Maui, Suzy’s brainchild, Soulfull Pantry, is in its thirdyear, one of the lucky businesses that survived a horrendousyear of pandemic-related business closures. It has beenanother journey of transformation in a life filled with it.In addition to the stunning (and stunningly delicious) cakes, SoulfullPantry offers a wide variety of scrumptious vegan and gluten-freeofferings. Muffins, donuts, seed-loaf breads, and mac-nut bites, adelightful raw and ready-to-eat snack based on macadamia nuts anddates, and in four flavors: cookie dough, brownie batter,snickerdoodle and Turkish coffee. Visitors to Maui will find Suzy andSoulfull Pantry delicacies at the Upcountry Farmer’s Market in Kulaevery Saturday. “I think that people who were able to maintain a positive attitudeand think of this pandemic as an opportunity to experiment andbuild upon what they have, have come out the other side strongerand firing on all cylinders,” Suzy maintains, although she admits it’sbeen a frightening time. “Polish people maybe have a tendency tobe darker, but how can you stay dark when you’re eating somethingdelicious?” I agree with Suzy whole-heartedly, and enjoy another big bite of cake.Visit https://www.thesoulfullpantry.com/ online to learnmore and follow Soulfull Pantry on Facebook and Twitter.Scan Here

HEARTS is a peer lead supportive group for Mahu Wahine, Mahu Kane, Transgender MTF,Transgender FTM, Gender Non-Conforming, Non-Binary and their supportive ally’s. TheHEARTS program aims to create a safe environment here at the Maui AIDS Foundation. Hereis some of what the HEARTS program entails:• Linkage to HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) with Maui County Medical Providers• Linkage to Medical Insurance if non-insured• Linkage to Transgender Behavioral Health Specialist• Transgender Sensitivity Training for medical establishments, schools and any organizationor corporation needing education and resources.• Guidance for legal Name Change & Gender Marker Changes• Group Level Interventions and Individual Level Intervention• Supportive assistance and guidance with family, friends and partners For any information please contact Tiare Sua at the Maui AIDS Foundation at (808) 242-4900ext. 229 or email: tiare@mauiaids.org Scan QRCode OrVisit:www.mauiaids.org

Fact: A person living with HIV who is on treatmentand has an undetectable viral load cannot transmitHIV through sex. In other words, Undetectable = Untransmittable, or U=U For more informationPlease visit:www.preventionaccess.org/undetectableOr ScanQR Code

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