My People. My Pride. Meet my BFF—Monique Fontaine—Fabulous and Fully Female
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For myriad reasons, ranging from corporate sponsored virtue signaling to an increasingly fraught solidarity among the Ls, Bs, Gs, Ts (and to a lesser extent our gender nonconforming, non-binary, and asexual allies), pride has meant less and less to me. As well as making me question what it is exactly that we’re proud of? Is it the depressingly dispiriting HIV transmission among the mSm population between the ages of 10 to 24 accounting for more than half of all in 2021? The complete collapse of mental health services during the pandemic that devastated LGBT youth?
I finally realized that I can change the narrative—pride can also mean family, as in a pride of lions—so I decided that rather than one month over the next year I will profile one dear friend IRL (not social media) to show how disparate we are and also for GayNRD’s readers to get glimpse into my private pride.
First up, meet my bFF Monique Fontaine.
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Monique and I met in 2011 when I was Chief Media Strategist for Connected Health Solutions (CHS). We did really great work at CHS that changed the way I look at the world and made me a better editor to be honest—that work informs everything I do now.
CHS was a progressive new-media public health company that produced social marketing campaigns for the LGBT community, at- risk and minority teens, and other vulnerable populations.
Specializing in addressing systems that informed marginalized communities, HIV incidence, trans discrimination, HIV med-adherence, cyber-bullying, and many more social and public health strategies: we worked to amplify and disseminate the PSAs to the largest audience possible. It was while he was there that I worked in tandem with both CHS and Public Health Solutions writing, producing, and executing the media strategy for a series of PSAs for Gilead Sciences drug Truvada. The resulting 2015 campaign was a highly successful and helped rocket awareness for the then largely unknown HIV prophylactic drug Truvada aka PrEP.
Monique helped me recruit a rag tag team of rebels who helped us make a series of short films and PSAs advocating for the use of PrEP in the trans community. There’s more to that story but that’s a separate tale for another time.
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I interviewed Monique to see how things have changed in her dynamic life since then.
Tell me about how your life is different from when I first met you to now. My life is different now from when you first me as it has turned a 180. Im a mature grown woman. I have my dream career, I have an incredible partner, I have accomplished so many of my dreams and I’m not “timid” young girl anymore.
What’s something you dreamt as a kid that you have had the opportunity to do? I have rebranded myself, and have inhaled a humble new outlook in life. I am most happiest with the life I created for myself. There has been countless blood, sweat and tears that went into the woman i am today. Pure Happiness! I have finally found pure happiness within myself. My career has changed cause I’M FINALLY A MAKE UP ARTIST, compared to working at Best Buy when you first met me. I love my new career, this is one of my biggest dreams that have come to life.
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What do you say to trans women and people in general who are critical of the cosmetic changes you underwent? When people are critical about my cosmetic changes, I simply reply with the famous lyrics of Shirley Bassey This is my life And I don’t give a damn for lost emotions I’ve such a lot of love I’ve got to give Let me live Let me live As a kid, I dreamt of living my life unapologetically, I wanted to make a difference in the world, and I have had several opportunities to be in the public eye sharing my story as a proud Black trans woman. I believe that my story some way some how has helped at least one person to find and live their truth.
What’s in San Antonio? I am making my way to San Antonio in September 2022 to conquer my wildest dreams as a pro makeup artist. San Antonio is a whole different beast that I want to conquer. I hope to one day be the CEO of my own company, a future wife that continues to evolve and progress. I plan on taking the Texas scene by storm, like I did New York. All with the loving, encouraging help of Big Daddy.
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If you could give your 12 year-old self one piece of advice what would it be? If I could give my 12 year old self advice, it would be LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE AND DREAM! Don’t doubt yourself, and don’t let anyone dim that light that glows within… Make sure you save all your coins, cause its gonna be one expensive ride, LOL!
Do you think that the LGBT…. has gotten ridiculous? why or why not? No I don’t think the LGBT community has gotten ridiculous, I believe it has opened new gateways to happier inner being with your true identity that each one can relate to.
What’s an example of you having an “a-ha” moment. Where you learned something about the world or yourself that changed the way you saw the world? My A-Ha moment was when I stepped into my female form fully. Over the years I’ve learned as a black woman of trans experience that I have to work twice as hard as my cis counterpart to see my name in lights. Like Rhianna said… Shine Bright Like A Diamond! And BABY I’M ONE IN A MILLION!
Truth or Dare? Hahah Truth. Cause I live in mine everyday, I have nothing to hide and wanna share my story with the world! ASK AWAY!
What’s one thing you’d like to say in honor of Pride? The one thing I want the world to know in honor of Pride is… BLACK TRANS LIVES MATTER!
