How to Fight Alongside the Black Trans Lives Matter Movement
At least 22 transgender or gender non-conforming people have been killed in 2020—two Black trans women, Dominique “Rem’mie” Fells and Riah Milton, were recently found dead within 24 hours of each other. Calls to end solitary confinement have surged after the death of 27-year-old trans woman Layleen Polanco. Trump repealed transgender health care protections during Pride month and on the anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting. The Housing and Urban Development department proposed a dangerous rule that would permit federally-funded homeless shelters to ignore someone's gender identity and judge them based on physical characteristics to determine if they belong in a particular shelter. And the Black community continues to fight for racial equality as the Black Lives Matter movement progresses.
Sadly, too often when we talk about Black Lives Matter, all Black lives are not centered. That’s especially true when it comes to Black trans people, who are killed and incarcerated at disproportionate rates and don’t feel totally included and represented by the BLM movement. But as so many scholars and activists have previously said in one form or another, if your activism isn’t intersectional and doesn’t include the most at-risk communities, then you’re not fighting for true equality.
Following the horrific news of this year, the LGBTQ+ community, Black Lives Matter protestors, and allies continue to flood streets across the nation to show that Black trans lives matter. Whether or not you've been protesting, there’s still so much more work to do, so here are some ways you can get involved and help.
Get Out and March
As we've seen the past couple of months, when people physically show up for the trans community, it’s nothing short of powerful. Thousands and thousands of people marched in demonstrations across the nation and proved that this movement will not peter out. If you do decide to protest, wear a face mask and protective gear to prevent the spread of coronavirus and in case the police escalate the situation with dangerous tactics, as we’ve seen during past protests.
Collect Supplies
If you can’t protest, you can still help your city by collecting snacks, water, fans, ice packs—literally whatever someone protesting in the summer heat might find useful—and passing them out wherever you feel comfortable near the demonstration. To help pay for all this, consider asking your friends and fam to Venmo you some extra cash so you can keep the supplies flowing as long as possible.
Open Your Purse
The GoFundMe for Tony McDade, a Black trans man who was shot and killed by a Tallahassee police officer, is still accepting donations to help cover the cost of funeral services, mental health and grief counseling, and legal fees for Tony’s family.
Dominique “Rem’mie” Fells’ and Riah Milton’s families both set up GoFundMes to help them cover funeral costs and have met their goal thanks to the public's support. Additional funds from the GoFundMe set up for Milton’s family will be donated to “various organizations focusing on supporting the arts, the supporting of foster care kids, and the supporting of Black transgender individuals.”
Also demand justice for Layleen Polanco, a 27-year-old trans woman who died of an epileptic seizure in solitary confinement after guards failed to check on her, waited 90 minutes to call for help, and were caught on camera laughing at her. (None of the officers are facing criminal charges and the New York Times reports a year after Polanco’s death that 17 Rikers guards will be “disciplined” after renewed public scrutiny.) March with No New Jails in Polanco’s honor and donate specifically to New York’s Emergency Release Fund, which launched after Polanco’s death and helps the release of people in the LGBTQ+ community specifically.
There are countless bail funds you can donate to for protestors who have been arrested, but if you want to give to a national organization that specifically aims to help the LGBTQ+ community, check out the LGBTQ Fund, Trans Justice Funding Project, Emergency Release Fund, The Okra Project, Marsha P. Johnson Institute, Black Trans Femmes in the Arts, G.L.I.T.S., and For the Gworls.
And if you post your donation on social media, consider asking your followers if they’ll match you. It’s such an easy way to double, triple, quadruple, etc. your donation and it only requires typing out, “Will somebody match me?”
Sign Petitions
The Black Lives Matter movement is laser-focused on police brutality. Unfortunately, the deaths of Black trans people often don’t get as much attention or outrage. Sign this petition to ensure Tony McDade receives justice. And this petition demands justice for Titi “Tete” Gulley, who was found hanging in a Portland, Oregon, park. Her death was originally ruled as suicide, but her family believes there was foul play.
To help defund the police, sign Black Lives Matter’s petition to voice your belief that government funds should be reallocated to organizations that build up the local community instead of being funneled into police departments.
Advocate for Trans-Inclusive Health Care
Trump’s move to erase transgender health care protections will be challenged by the Human Rights Campaign in a lawsuit. Support the HRC along with Planned Parenthood’s continued commitment to providing affordable gender-affirming health care. Organizations like Trans Buddy Pittsburgh and local LGBTQ+ Community Centers also work to help increase health care access for trans and nonbinary people. To learn more about flipping the Senate to better protect the LGBTQ+ community, check out Vote Save America.
Here are guides for how to demand justice right now, how to find mental health resources if you’re a Black woman, how to talk to your relatives about Black Lives Matter, how to spot a fake protest story, and how to protest safely.
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