Please protect our trans people! Especially our BLACK trans people! Black transgender people have an extremely high unemployment rate at 26 percent, two times the rate of the overall transgender sample and four times the rate of the general population. A startling 41 percent of Black respondents said they had experienced homelessness at some point in their lives, more than five times the rate of the general U.S. population. Black transgender people lived in extreme poverty with 34 percent reporting a household income of less than $10,000 per year. This is more than twice the rate for transgender people of all races (15 percent), four times the general Black population rate (9 percent), and eight times the general U.S. population rate (4 percent). Black transgender people were affected by HIV in devastating numbers. More than one-fifth of respondents were living with HIV (20.23 percent), compared to a rate of 2.64 percent for transgender respondents of all races, 2.4 percent for the general Black population, and 0.60 percent of the general U.S. population.
From education to employment and housing discrimination, from police brutality to health care disparities, Black transgender people are suffering at extremely high rates due to bigotry and transphobia. Nearly half of all Black transgender respondents report being harassed at work and at school. Twenty-six percent are unemployed and 34 percent report annual incomes of less than $10,000 per year. These numbers are appalling and these living conditions are unacceptable for any human being — gender conforming or not.
The black community particularly has a tendency to turn a blind eye to the hate that trans people get. We as a community are being discriminated against daily, and yet we can be the main ones who discriminate our OWN people sometimes. If Black lives matter, then ALL BLACK LIVES should matter. Yes, that includes all the QUEER and non-conforming lives as well.
Here are some links that can help with information on trans lives and advocacy:
National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) (advocacy)
Transgender Law Center (TLC) (legal services and advocacy)
Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP) (legal services)
Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF) (legal services)
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) (advocacy)
Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC) (advocacy)
Trans Women of Color Collective (TWOCC) (advocacy)
Black Trans Advocacy (advocacy)
Trans Latina Coalition (advocacy)
Gender Spectrum (support for families, trans youth, and educators)
Gender Diversity (support for families, trans youth, and educators)
Trans Youth Equality Federation (support for families and trans youth)
Trans Youth Family Allies (TYFA) (support for families and trans youth)
TransTech Social Enterprises (economic empowerment)
SPART*A (advocacy for trans military service members)
Transgender American Veterans Association (advocacy for trans veterans)
TransAthlete.com (info about trans athletes)
I hope these links help! Use your voice and stand up for what’s right! Far too many black trans people have died at the hands of bigotry and violence and police brutality. We need a CHANGE and we need it NOW.
romaincrisis
yousharknotpass
baratheonpilled
theartofmadeline
origamiaround
