Tru says Pride Month gives her a chance to think about who she is and to give back
Inspired by the words she committed to memory, Tru Stark lives her life guided by a single quote: “Whatever you love, do it in such a way that inspires others to follow behind you boldly.” Tru, a trans woman, is awed by the feminine energy and power of Portland and inspired by the strong women she’s met here.
“The magic in Portland is a feminine power,” the 40-year-old Street Roots vendor said. And she’s been in Portland long enough to make that assessment, having moved to Portland when she was only 2 years old.
“I love the Rose Garden. I miss the Rose Festival so much. I miss Sunday Parkways and all the really cool Portland outdoor activities — the concerts and all of that. This past Saturday was the first time it felt like Portland,” she said, noting the marked shift in the city after 15 months of pandemic hibernation.
And there is another Portland celebration she looks forward to: Pride Month. She said that Pride is not just the pageantry. It’s about taking a close inward look at herself.
“I’m a 40-year-old trans female, and I’m happy that way,” she said. “It’s almost a trepidatious feeling to me — how comfortable I am with myself. I spent most of my life being uncomfortable, and it’s an amazing feeling to be my authentic self.
“During Pride Month, it’s a chance to be introspective. It’s about taking a look at myself and understanding who I am. It’s also a chance to give back to others who gave to me. That’s my biggest goal,” she said.
“I wish I could have been this way in high school. That I could have had this opportunity to just be me. I wish people better understood that gender identity and sexual identity are not the same. I’ve always been all about the women. That doesn’t change. I’m a trans lesbian now.”
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Tru credits the strength of a few women in her life for helping her see her life differently.
“There are three women who have profoundly affected me,” she said, reluctant to name them specifically. “Their effect on my life has been otherworldly and they challenged me to grow up. I appreciate them, and I’m here today because of what I saw. It was hard work at the time, but I honor them now through how I live my life.”
She also credits Street Roots.
“I had been homeless for a few years and saw there was a better atmosphere at Street Roots,” she said. “Street Roots has been educational and worthwhile. It’s the family I choose.”
Tru is an artist and musician and sees herself as a tattoo artist someday.
“One year from now, I see myself in school at PNCA (Pacific Northwest College of Art), in an apartment and making my first album. I also will have tattooed at least four people by then,” Tru said.
She also has big ambitions for Portland. Like most Portland Trail Blazers fans, she has experienced a fair amount of heartbreak on the team’s ups and downs over the decades. This year was no exception.
When asked about her hopes for Portland in the next year, she was quick to answer. “The Blazers will have won the NBA finals, and all of Portland, including its suburbs, (is) harmonious — a return to community. Everybody needs everybody.”
Tru draws on the growth she experienced during the pandemic. “I’ve learned to be a lot more patient and communicate more effectively. I use my voice to stand up for my beliefs,” she said.
Tru can be found selling Street Roots at the Stadium Fred Meyer and at the Safeway in the Pearl District.
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