This weekend, thousands participated in protests and rallies across the United States to support black trans lives. The demonstrations took place amid ongoing Black Lives Matter protests and the Trump administration’s decision to revoke vital transgender health care protections (as announced on the four-year anniversary of the deadly Pulse nightclub shooting).
Protesters also turned out to condemn the murder of two black trans women this week, Riah Milton and Dominique “Rem’mie” Fells. According to the Human Rights Campaign, Fells and Milton are among at least 14 transgender or gender non-conforming people who have been violently murdered in the US this year. Advocates warn that the numbers may be even higher as these killings are often un- or misreported.
Huge crowds turned out to address the crisis. Police scanners estimated that 15,000 people dressed in white and demonstrated in Brooklyn, while thousands more “All Black Lives Matter” demonstrators gathered on Hollywood Boulevard on Sunday.
The weekend also marked the midpoint of Pride Month, a movement that owes its existence to trans women of color. However, sixty years on from the Stonewall Riots, trans people are still disproportionately at risk of police brutality, murder, and broad discrimination — trans people of color, more so. That’s why the fundraising and organization being done at the grass-roots level is so important.
The situation is critical, but there are many ways you can show up for trans people in your family, workplaces, and communities. We’ve compiled a list of resources to help you get informed and demand justice for trans lives.
Protect trans lives
According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, transgender people are seven times more likely to experience physical violence when interacting with the police than non-trans people. But there are organizations dedicated to protecting trans people during their interactions with authorities. This helpful spreadsheet includes places to donate such as the Homeless Black Trans women fund and The Okra Project, which provide life-saving services to trans people. Most recently, these grass-roots organizations have contributed to emergency shelter, food, and medical support during the coronavirus pandemic.
Gays & Lesbians Living In A Transgender Society (GLITS Inc.,) has been temporarily housing Black trans people recently released from Rikers Island. They need your help to raise a total of $1,000,000 by June 30th to buy two buildings to create a permanent place to house and support Black trans people in New York City. Check out the fundraiser page here.
You can also donate to Trans Lifeline, a peer support and crisis hotline for trans people, that provides life-changing small grants for name change fees. And if you want to support elderly trans people, give to SAGE Advocacy and Services for LGBTQ+ Elders which provides housing and healthcare for elderly queer people.
There are countless petitions, fundraising campaigns, and community-led organizations that are well worth your time and support. Now, Twitter users are using their trolling expertise (and Harry Potter knowledge) to bring increased visibility to these causes. Check out the deceptively informative threads below.
Promote trans rights
Trans people are disproportionately targetted by police in the US, and misgendering and mistreatment of trans people within the prison system contribute to the high incidence of death and suicide. Trans people also face a dramatically elevated risk of harm or death in pre-trial detention.
The Emergency Release Fund works to ensure that no trans person at risk in New York City jails remains in detention before trial. In Washington, the Lavendar Task Force protects the rights of trans folks and you can donate to its WA Black Trans Task Force here.
You can also donate to The Sylvia Rivera Law Project, which “provides direct representation for low-income transgender people and transgender people of color.”
Learn about the modern transgender rights movement
There are a host of documentaries to check out and learn about trans history and its heroes, including Transgender History by Susan Stryker, We’ve Been Around and This is Me.
Transgender Lives: Your Stories is an interactive campaign created by The New York Times to allow transgender people to tell their own stories in their own words.
Consume trans-inclusive content
In light of Harry Potter author, J.K Rowling‘s latest transphobic comments, fantasy fans are looking for more trans-inclusive fantasy franchises. Luckily, there are lots of titles and series to choose from, including An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon, Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey, and Pet by Akwaeke Emezi. There’s an even more detailed list on the NBC news website.
Learn more
GLAAD has a list of tips for allies of transgender people, which includes supporting all-gender public restrooms and avoiding making assumptions about a transgender person’s sexual orientation. Check out all the tips here.
This article originally appeared in Highsnobiety on June 13, 2020.
