CIVIL RIGHTS
Vibrant Trans Liberation March Follows Speeches
Spotlight on Black transgender lives in Washington Square rally, procession downtown
BY MATT TRACY
Against the backdrop of
the towering arch in
Washington Square
Park on July 24, organizers
Qween Jean and Hennessy
Garcia kicked off a series of moving
speeches followed by a march
focused on Black trans lives with
a simple message about transphobia,
racism, and other forms of bigotry.
“We are here to dismantle that
shit today,” Qween Jean exclaimed,
drawing roaring cheers from the
crowd.
A diverse audience continued to
fi le into the park on a humid summer
evening as speakers, both
transgender activists and cisgender
allies, took turns delivering
powerful remarks about trans
liberation and racial justice in the
wake of persistent deadly violence
targeting the community nationwide.
Several cardboard signs in
the crowd paid tribute to Black
trans women who have died, while
many folks also donned white Tshirts
that read “Black Trans Lives
Matter.”
“We are here because we deserve
change,” Qween Jean said during
an impassioned speech. “We are
here to demand justice for the heinous
acts of violence that trans
people have been exposed to, because
that violence is traumatic…
We are here to speak up because
we can no longer tolerate or accept
trans people being killed. We are
here to tell people Black Lives Matter.
Black trans lives are beautiful.
Black and brown trans lives are
worthy.”
Qween Jean added, “Our liberation
is not a magical destiny. It is
not a location or a destination. It is
a state of mind.”
Garcia, expressing raw emotion
as she stood in awe at the size of
the crowd, took the time to read
the names of transgender individuals
who have died this year, along
with the location of their deaths.
Other speakers, like Tahtianna
Fermin, told personal stories of
their own experiences and those
of their loved ones. Fermin said
a friend in Yonkers has a transgender
child and allows them to
express themselves freely in their
gender identity at home, but is too
afraid to let them be an out trans
person in public.
“We need to normalize society,
we need to embrace our Black and
brown queer family,” Fermin said.
She also issued an urgent plea
to white allies in the audience who
were there to support Black trans
lives.
“Protect us,” she said. “Embrace
us. Hire us.”
Another speaker, Gia Love,
pointed out that many individuals
who attend demonstrations do not
know Black transgender women
personally. She encouraged folks to
get involved in spaces that include
Black transgender women and fi nd
ways to carry out important work
for the community.
“This is a community effort,”
Love said. “It takes the effort of everyone
in this world to eradicate
transphobia and patriarchy.”
Love also underscored the impact
of white supremacy on Black
trans lives and further highlighted
the importance of recognizing the
lived experiences of trans individuals
while they are still alive, not
just when deaths occur.
“There is disparity across the
board,” Love explained. “When we
talk about centering Black trans
women, we’re not just saying it
because we want to be at the forefront,
because honestly I want to
live my life. I don’t want to be at
the forefront, but the reason why
we need to be at the forefront is
because there are disparities in
terms of homelessness, medical
care, economic possibility, respectability.”
Among other speakers were
Somalia Rose, Joel Rivera, and
Jaime Cepero. Rivera, an out gay
man, remembered a Black trans
sister who had a profound impact
on him but ultimately succumbed
to police violence. He went on get
personal in his remarks, speaking
DONNA ACETO
Qween Jean kicked off the evening’s slate of speakers before spearheading the march through Manhattan.
DONNA ACETO
Gia Love encouraged folks to get involved in spaces that include Black transgender women and fi nd
ways to contribute.
➤ TRANS LIBERATION MARCH, continued on p.7
MATT TRACY
The large crowd of marchers grew as the evening progressed.
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