6 NOVEMBER 19, 2020 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
First housing building devoted to Black
trans community opens in Woodhaven
BY ANGÉLICA ACEVEDO
AACEVEDO@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Queens is now the home of the fi rst
ever multiple dwelling housing
complex dedicated to the Black
transgender community.
G.L.I.T.S. Inc., a grassroots organization
dedicated to supporting the
LGBTQIA community internationally,
hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate
the new home in Woodhaven on Friday,
Nov. 13. The celebration coincides
with the start of this year’s national
Transgender Awareness Week.
The dwelling, named Glits One
South, is not only the fi rst complex
dedicated to the trans community,
who have historically faced discrimination
in the housing market due to
bias against their gender identity,
but was also purchased by the trans
community.
“The opening was the beginning
of creating Black trans equity and
designing the home of our future.
Without the volunteers, staff , and my
vision, this dream would have never
come true,” said Ceyenne Doroshow,
founder of G.L.I.T.S. (which stands
for “Gays and Lesbians Living in a
Transgender Society”).
More than 70 people attended the
celebration to witness this historic
milestone, including Queens Borough
President-elect and Councilman
Donovan Richards and State
Assemblywoman-elect Jennifer
Rajkumar as well as several transgender
community advocates such
as Vanessa Wari, Qween Jean, Ciora
Thomas, Joaquin Remora and Janetta
Johnson.
The program included a
performance by the legendary Jas
Van Wales and ended with prayer and
a song selection by Pamela Lewis.
G.L.I.T.S. approaches health and
rights crises faced by transgender
sex workers holistically using harm
reduction, human rights principles,
economic and social justice, along
with a commitment to empowerment
and pride in fi nding solutions from
their own community. For more
information, visit www.glitsinc.org.
Photos courtesy of G.L.I.T.S.
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/www.glitsinc.org
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/www.glitsinc.org
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