Black Lives Matter - And That Includes Transgender Women
Content Warning: Discussion of Black trans deaths and violence against Black trans women and femmes.
While the Black Lives Matter movement has gained mainstream attention and support in recent months, Black trans women and femmes are continually being left out of the conversation and relegated to the margins of public concern.
What is happening?
2020 has witnessed a deeply concerning increase in violence against Black trans and gender non-conforming individuals. According to the Human Rights Campaign, twenty-six trans and gender non-conforming individuals were murdered in the year so far, with a disproportionate number of them being Black trans women.
At the end of Pride Month alone, six Black Trans women were found dead in the span of nine days. Bre Black. Shaki Peters. Draya McCarty. Brayala Stone. Merci Mack. Tatiana Hall. Say their names. Say them out loud.
If you skimmed over that last part, take a brief moment to read back through. It takes only a few minutes to respect and reflect on the lives that have been lost due to intolerance and bigotry. Since then, we have also mourned the losses of Dior H Ova, Queasha D Hardy, and Aja Raquell Rhone-Spears.
Why are Black trans women and femmes on the receiving end of such disproportionate violence? Viewing their lived experience through an intersectional lens can provide insight on the challenges they face.
What is intersectionality?
The term intersectionality, coined by Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989, describes the way different aspects of an individual’s identity (such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, etc.) “intersect,” shaping their relationships with existing social systems and structures of power.
Black trans women and femmes find themselves in a particularly difficult position, facing discrimination on the basis of race, gender and their transness. These overlapping aspects of identity limit their access to housing, employment, healthcare, strong interpersonal relationships and other necessities. Trans individuals are far more likely face poverty, homelessness, or engage in survival sex work.Transphobia, along with restricted opportunity and other risk factors compound to create a culture of violence that disenfranchises Black trans women and femmes on a systemic level.
What can we do to help?
Black trans women and femmes must be a more central part of the fight for Black liberation and justice. Indya Moore, a Black trans non-binary individual best known for their role in FX’s Pose, published a powerful poem called “Can I Come Too?” that highlighted violent attitudes towards trans individuals, particularly trans femmes, that are still prevalent within the cisgender Black community.
“I know I’m trans, but. I know I’m queer, but. Can my blackness be a part of the family photo? Can I be a part of your solutions?” said Moore.
Moore alluded to the shortcomings of the current movement for Black liberation, pointing out that while Black trans and gender non-conforming individuals have always fought at the forefront of liberation movements, they rarely receive the same level of support or acknowledgement from their cisgender counterparts.
Picking and choosing which Black Lives Matter is harmful and reductive. Centering Black Trans Lives does not detract from the movement, but rather uplifts those who are particularly vulnerable.
8 organizations that provide aid to Black trans women and femmes
Donations and mutual aid are powerful ways to uplift and support marginalized communities. Here are a few organizations you can donate to that specifically help Black trans women and femmes.
Black Trans Travel Fund: A mutual-aid project that provides safe transportation alternatives to Black trans women in New York and New Jersey.
For the Gworls: Assists with Black trans folks’ rent and affirmative surgeries.
LGBTQ+ Freedom Fund: Posts bail for LGBTQ+ individuals in jail and/or immigration detention.
Marsha P. Johnson Institute: “Protects and defends the humans rights of Black transgender people” by organizing, advocating, and creating an intentional community.
Princess Janae Place: Provides housing referrals for transgender/GNC individuals of color who are homeless or experiencing housing insecurity.
Sylvia Rivera Law Project: Providing legal assistance with name changes, IDs, immigration, and more for trans individuals.
The Heavenly Angel Fund: Supplies care packages and safe transportation to Black transgender women in NYC who want to get tested for COVID-19.
The Okra Project: Bringing home cooked, healthy, and culturally-specific meals and resources to Black Trans people.
And many mutual aid/individual GoFundMes.
It is not enough to simply mourn the deaths of our trans siblings. We must also honor them by educating ourselves and addressing transphobia in our daily lives, having difficult conversations with family and friends to create safer communities for trans and gender non-conforming people to exist.
Love and uplift Black trans women and femmes, whose “bodies have always been the foundation of liberation” - LaSaia Wade.
Written by Lisa Kwan
