8 Black Trans Women That Have Changed the World
Originally published on November 11, 2018
This week is formally recognized as Transgender Awareness Week. From the 12th through the 19th people around the world to increase the visibility of trans people and bring to light the issues faced by the transgender community.
2018 is set to be the most violent year in history for Transgender Americans. This violence disproportionately affects Black trans women. Black trans women have a one in 2,600 chance of being murdered compared to one in 19,000 for the general population.
In honor of Transgender Awareness Week here are 8 Black transgender women fighting for the rights of other LGBTQ+ folk.
May we know their names. May we aid them in their causes. May we carry on the fight.
1. Marsha P. Johnson
It wouldn't be impossible for this list to exist if it were not for Marsha P. Johnson. She was among the first to fight police in the legendary Stonewall Riots of 1969-– a turning point in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. In the 1970s Johnson and fellow activist Silvia Rivera founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) house to provide food, shelter and closing to transgender youth in New York City.
2. Janet Mock
Janet Mock made history in 2014 when she released her book Redefining Realness which was the first biography written from the perspective as a young trans woman. The book quickly became a New York Times' Bestseller and advocated for rights of trans people. Mock has since skyrocketed as an activist for young trans people. You may have seen her "I Am My Sister's Keeper" speech at 2017's Women's March on Washington. Or perhaps you saw her when she was interviewed by Oprah back in 2015 among her many other projects.
3. Sharron Cooks
Sharron Cooks was the only transgender woman of color to participate as a delegate in the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Cooks is also the first transgender person to transgender person to chair a Philadelphia city commission. She has worked on a number of projects from legislation to enforcing the protection for Philadelphia's LGBTQ+ community.
4. Raquel Willis
Raquel Willis is a Black queer transgender activist and writer who works to "inspire and elevate marginalized individuals, particularly transgender women of color." Currently she is a National Organizer for the Transgender Law Center - "the largest national trans-led organization advocating for all people." Willis has also led a Trans Liberation Tuesday mobilizing effort in conjunction with the Black Lives Matter movement. Check out more about Raquel Willis on her website.
5. Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox is a QUEEN (but you already knew that). Though her career skyrocketed through her role as Sophia Burset on Netflix's Orange Is the New Black, Laverne Cox has long been an advocate for transgender rights. She has made history time and time again–– first with her GLAAD media nominated VH1 show TRANSorm Me the first Black trans person to produce and star in her own television show.She is the first out transgender person to have a wax figure o herself at Madame Tussauds. She was the first out trans person to appear on the covers of Time Magazine and Cosmopolitan. See how you can follow Laverne and get involved with Laverne Cox's #TransIsBeautiful campaign.
6. Angelica Ross
You might recognize Angelica Ross as Candy from FX's hit show Pose. Ms. Ross is also the CEO and founder of TransTech Social Enterprises– a company that connects transgender people with jobs. She was invited to speak at the White House's 2015 LGBTQ Tech and Innovation Summit. In 2016 she started acting in Her Story, an Emmy nominated web series following the life of Transgender women in Los Angeles. See what Angelica Ross has coming up here.
7. Kat Blaque
Kat Blaque has developed an incredible platform through her vlogs (video-blogs) about her life as a black transgender women. She creates a range of content from personal experiences to educational videos on what it means to be transgender. Be sure to check her out on all social media platforms. Trust us, it's worth it.
8. Cece McDonald
Cece Mcdonald has used her experiences of being a Black trans woman to fight for the dismantling of corrupt prison systems.. In June 2011 Cece McDonald, an out transgender woman, was attacked by a group of racist transphobic men at a bar. This fight led to the death of one of the men. After, McDonald was convicted for the man's death and sent to a men's prison, despite her being a woman. This violation of McDonald's identity brought to light the unfair treatment of transgender people in prison systems. Since her release in 2014 McDonald has been an advocate for transgender rights.
