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Why we wouldn't have Pride celebrations without trans women of color

Last summer was the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, and during Pride month many news outlets did a historical review of the events of June 28, 1969. While the fight for equality didn’t begin at Stonewall, the Stonewall Uprising did rouse people into action like never before, and has served as an important touchstone for activists to this day. What many stories failed to mention was that some of the key figures who fought back that night were trans women of color - and that for many years they were excluded from the movement they helped create.


In New York City, Vice squad police officers routinely raided bars like the Stonewall Inn under the guise of liquor license violations in order to harass and arrest members of the LGBTQ+ community. The patrons that night were undoubtedly used to having the police come in and disrupt things, but this time bottles and bricks began to fly and police barricaded themselves inside the bar. Trans women of color like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy were there that night and continued to fight for the rights of trans women from that moment on. Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), and later started a shelter to support sex workers and queer young people. Miss Major Griffin-Gracy has spent most of her life as an activist, working with HIV/AIDS organizations and with organizations that support transgender women who have been imprisoned. These womens’ stories are only now being told because as the movement that started at Stonewall progressed it became increasingly centered around gay white men, and trans women were excluded from participating in NYC marches starting in 1973.  


Although the movement for LGBTQ+ equality has made enormous progress, trans women of color have not seen all of the same benefits of the movement that some other parts of the community have experienced. According to the National Center for Transgender Equality “Transgender people face extraordinary levels of physical and sexual violence, whether on the streets, at school or work, at home, or at the hands of government officials. More than one in four trans people has faced a bias-driven assault, and rates are higher for trans women and trans people of color.” In 2019 at least 26 trans or gender-nonconforming people were murdered, and this year we’ve already seen 14 deaths by violent means (that we know of). The majority of these victims were Black trans women. Just a few weeks ago, the remains of Dominique Rem’mie Fells, a young Black trans woman, were found in Philadelphia.  


Most states still do not offer legal protection when people are discriminated against based on their gender expression or gender identity. This contributes to the lack of adequate medical care and unusually high rates of unemployment and homelessness that many transgender individuals face. In Delaware, gender identity and gender expression were added to the state’s anti-discrimination and hate crimes laws back in 2013. One area that still needs attention is recognition of a non-binary gender on state ID’s like driver’s licenses. Eighteen states already provide this option to their citizens. In a statement last year DELDOT’s director of community relations, C.R. McLeod said that they were looking into the possibility of adding a non-binary gender option.  


As we celebrate Pride month and continue to advocate for equality we have to keep intersectionality at the forefront of our thoughts. Trans women of color have to contend with racism, misogyny and transphobia, which directly influences the levels of violence they experience, and has slowed the progress in achieving justice for this community. 


If you support the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights, then you must also be vocal in your support for equality for people of color and women.




Taking action

  • Email DELDOT and ask for a non-binary gender option to be added to Delaware

        licenses and state IDs. dotpublic@delaware.gov


        petition in support of Aimee Stephens, who was fired at a funeral home solely
        because she is transgender.



Donate


  • The Okra Project - a group that provides free meals to Black trans people in need



Read about the history of Trans Women and Pride

 

TV / Films

  • Happy Birthday Martha! - “A film about iconic transgender artist and activist, Marsha "Pay it No Mind" Johnson, and her life in the hours before she ignited the 1969 Stonewall Riots in New York City.”

  • Miss Major - “explores the life and campaigns of Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a formerly incarcerated Black transgender elder and activist who has been fighting for the rights of trans women of color for over 40 years.” 

  • The Trans List - HBO film - “ the film profiles this diverse group of 11 transgender individuals, telling their stories in their own words, addressing identity, family, career, love, struggle and accomplishment.”

  • Episodes — We've Been Around -  “a series of short films celebrating the lives of just a few transgender pioneers throughout history.”

 

Books


Resources



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