Fund Black Trans Organizing
“No Pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.” – Marsha P. Johnson
With Juneteenth and Pride, June is marked by celebrations of liberation and joy for Black and queer communities in this country. We thank fearless Black leaders like Stormé DeLaverie and Marsha P. Johnson, who took leading roles in the Stonewall Riots to fight for our rights.
Trans-led organizing initiated the modern-day LGBTQ movement when Black trans women and people of color fought back against police brutality. It is imperative that we center their organizing, voices, and leadership as we create a world where everybody is free.
Our Black Trans Fund trans-led grantee partners are doing critical work in the South by providing resources and shifting the narrative around Black trans lives. For example…
Transgender Advocates Knowledgable Empowering (TAKE) is leading work in Pennsylvania and Alabama to stop the anti-trans youth bills in both states through its civic engagement program. TAKE focuses on issues such as discrimination in the workplace, housing advocacy, support for sex workers, providing trans-friendly services, and working to alleviate the many other barriers that trans people of color face.
Rapid Response Fund and Black Trans Fund grantee, The Knights and Orchids Society in Alabama, are working with youth organizers to scale up base-building work to address the negative impact that anti-trans legislation will have on the health and well-being of Alabama’s transgender youth. The Knights and Orchids Society builds the power of transgender, lesbian, bisexual, and gay Black people across the south by providing a spectrum of health and wellness services.
The waves of anti-LGBTQ legislation–designed to be a political wedge issue–further endanger trans youth’s lives. And it is a reminder that our work is far from over. The Mahogany Project in Texas is providing gender-affirming health care to Black trans youth in response to anti-trans legislation in Texas. Founded in 2017, sparked by the death of Chyna Gibson, a Black woman of trans experience, The Mahogany Project aims to reduce social isolation, stigma, and acts of injustice in LGBTQ+ Communities of Color.
This month and every month, we continue their fight for Black trans and queer liberation and fund movement organizers who are paving the way.
The philanthropic community must deepen their investment in Black queer and trans-led organizations if we want us all to thrive. Join us!