For Media Contact or interview requests
Uchechukwu Onwa – uchechukwu@qdep.org
Written by: Joaris Hernandez
For Immediate Release
New York City, NY | March 21st, 2022
Two great vanguards of the LGBTQ movement who are always with us: Marsha P Johnson, a Black Transgender woman, along with her transgender activist comrade Silvia Rivera of Puerto Rican and Venezuelan descent. Both became inspiring leaders after the riot at Stonewall Inn in New York on June 28, 1969, when the LGBTQ community confronted the police, rebelling against the political system that harassed and discriminated against them. They also joined the call for respect for sexual diversity, the freedom to decide about their own bodies and the right to an identity and protection, the recognition of all families, and for all the rights that ensure citizen inclusion.
The confrontation at Stonewall was the first step on the road towards the recognition of the rights of LGBTQ+ people and the first public demonstration of vindication. It is because of this acton, and many others lead by transgender activists, that we have the freedom to be ourselves today, have political leaders supporting the LGBTQ community, more representation in politics, arts, and in medicine, see models that look like us, and have more opportunities for employment. But still, the fight continues.
We demand a world where Black and Trans communities of color can continue to thrive and lead solutions for social, economic, and political change. While these forces of marginalization greatly impact the transgender community, we must address Black Trans women because there is an urgent need to end the epidemic of anti-Black violence. When Black Trans women are free to live and lead, Black and Transgender communities of color will be free. Our gender identities must be acknowledged: Transgender women, Non-binary Trans femmes, Intersex Trans women, and Intersex femmes. Black Trans women and Trans women of color must be trusted to lead our movements the way we live our lives: fiercely.
We demand an end to the horrific, multifaceted, and disproportionately deadly violence against Black Trans women and Trans women of color. We recognize that change will only come when our allies and supporters come together for our collective liberation. Collective liberation requires not just political and legal change, but changing hearts and attitudes about the value of Trans-Black lives. To change the culture, we must do intra-community work with cisgender allies in Black communities.
Although the violence may appear as hate speech, discrimination, and intimacy/dating abuse, it is not just limited to physical and interpersonal experiences. To understand the complex experiences of Black Trans women and Black Trans femmes, we must include the violence caused by government institutions, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the police, and the Department of Justice (DOJ), which are the dominant systems of punishment.
Every year on March 31st, the International Day of Trans Visibility is celebrated around the world. The International Day of Trans Visibility was created to highlight the value of Trans lives in an open and celebratory way, without any prejudice, and the powerful fight that Trans people have led and advanced.
Trans is many things to many different people. Commonly, someone who is trans has a gender identity that is different to the gender they were assigned at birth. Some people transition from one gender to another, or to multiple/shifting genders. Gender can be thought of as a culturally learned performance. Typically gender is thought of as ideas and behaviors that produce a category of women and men. Some may say, you are not born male or female, you learn to be. Gender identity is the personal and internal conviction of how each person perceives themselves. Any person can adapt their gender to any place on the masculine or feminine spectrum, or not. In order to recognize a Trans reality, we must understand that there are stereotypes built from a patriarchal system about what is masculine and feminine and not all people identify with the gender construction that was assigned to them at birth. This does not necessarily imply that this person will assume the identity of the “other” gender of the masculine/feminine binary, but rather that each person constructs their gender themselves.
It is important to understand that being trans is one more manifestation of the diversity of human nature. Trans people form an essential part of communities and cultures. However, today many trans people suffer from hostility, discrimination, and endless violations of their human rights. Living a life openly and sharing one’s identity is something that most people take for granted. But for trans people it can be very dangerous, since many communities in our society are not informed on trans issues, or they intentionally violate the rights of and harm trans people. We want trans people to live freely and safely, in joy, good health, and with the support we deserve.
JUSTICE FOR THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY
NO MORE TORTURE
NO MORE DEATH
MY TRUTH MY FREEDOM
