Black Trans Lives

Laverne Cox // Image source: Glamour Magazine

Black Trans Lives Matter

Fatal violence, specifically gun violence, disproportionately affects Black trans women at the intersections of racism, anti-Blackness, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia. These intersections too often result in chronic adverse outcomes in housing, employment, healthcare, and other necessities; barriers that make Black trans women more vulnerable to violence and abuse. A 2016 study titled, Unerased: Counting Black Trans Lives, used data from the National Center for Health Statistics to determine that the homicide victimization rate for Black trans women was more than SEVEN TIMES higher than the general population.

Here is how you can learn more and help:

Marsha P. Johnson Institute (MJPI):"The (MPJI) protects and defends the human rights of Black transgender people. We do this by organizing, advocating, creating an intentional community to heal, developing transformative leadership, and promoting our collective power."

Human Rights Campaign (HRC): The Human Rights Campaign, the largest national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender advocacy organization, envisions an America where GLBT people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.

GLSEN (pronounced "glisten") is a the leading national education organization that works to transform K-12 schools into safe and affirming environments and ensure that LGBTQ students are able to learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and harassment.

Black Trans Femmes in the Arts: "The mission of the BTFA Collective is to connect the community of black trans women and non-binary femmes in the arts & to build power among ourselves."

Transgender Law Center is the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people. They are a multi-disciplinary organization that uses litigation, policy advocacy, education, movement building, and direct service to meet the needs of transgender communities.

The Okra Project:"The Okra Project is a collective that seeks to address the global crisis faced by Black Trans people by bringing home cooked, healthy, and culturally specific meals and resources to Black Trans People wherever we can reach them."

United We Dream: LGBTQ Justice Program: UWD’s LGBTQ Justice Program seeks to organize and empower Undocumented Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer immigrants and allies to address social and systemic barriers that affect themselves and the broader LGBTQ & immigrant community.

The Black Trans Travel Fund: "The Black Trans Travel Fund is a mutual-aid based organization committed to uplifting the narratives and supporting the livelihoods of Black trans women. Launched in June of 2019, BTTF was developed for the purpose of providing Black transgender women with the financial resources needed to be able to self-determine and access safer alternatives to travel, where women feel less likely to experience verbal harassment or physical harm.

The Pride Fund to End Gun Violence is a Political Action Committee (PAC) that supports candidates who will act on sensible gun policy reforms while championing LGBTQ safety and equality.

Black Visions Collective: "As an organization dedicated to Black liberation and to collective liberation, we need a radical and ongoing investment in our own healing. By claiming love for our own bodies, our own psyches, our own experiences, and by building the resources we need to integrate healing justice into all that we do, we are insisting on conditions that can carry us towards the next generation of work, and towards a deeper place of freedom for all of us."

Equality Federation is the movement builder and strategic partner to state- based organizations advocating for LGBTQ people. From Equality Florida to Freedom Oklahoma to Basic Rights Oregon, we amplify the power of the state- based LGBTQ movement.

Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society (G.L.I.T.S.): "Gays & Lesbians Living In A Transgender Society is a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community on a global scale."

The National Center for Transgender Equality is the nation’s leading social justice advocacy organization winning life-saving change for transgender people. They work at the local, state, and federal level to advance transgender equality.