The Transgender Emergency Fund of Massachusetts is holding a Transgender Resistance Vigil + March this Saturday, June 13, at 3 p.m., in Boston’s Franklin Park, meeting at the Franklin Park Playstead.
“We say No More as we come together this Saturday in solidarity for our community members taken away from us due to violent attacks,” states the organization’s press release for the event. “We are India Moore, Mesha Caldwell, Sean Hake, Vontaisha Bell, Ashanti Cameron, Muhlayshia Booker, Dustin Parker, Tony McDade and so many others taken away from us.”
States the release:
This day marks the 50th anniversary of Boston Pride but it is a somber moment for members of the transgender community. Pride was the outcome of the Stonewall Riots which were started and led by transgender women like Marsha P. Johnson, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, and Sylvia Rivera. Since it’s beginning, transgender visibility during Pride parades has been limited and we are rarely represented on boards of Pride committee.
Members of the Boston`s Transgender/Gender non-conforming communities are taking back our Pride. Since the 2016 election we have had an additional layer of barriers added to our daily lives. The Trump White House has perpetually and explicitly fueled hatred and harm towards our communities. The administration has given transphobic and racist individuals the permission to discriminate, abuse and kill us.
“It’s time for Black Trans excellence to lead for ourselves,” says organizer Athena Vaughn, Operations Director of the Massachusetts Trans Political Coalition and President of the New England Ball Collective. …
We gather in the face of oppression with the hopes of change. We hope our allies will rise alongside us to fight for our rights. We hope our family members stand with us. We hope the Black community will support and love black Transgender individuals. We hope that our voices will change laws across the United States giving us equal rights and protections. We hope that police brutality in America will be ended. These are the hopes that we, the Transgender community, will all get to live long, beautiful, sustainable lives.
Boston’s Transgender vigil will open the eyes of community-based organizations who claim they serve us to see & hear us. How can you serve us if you don’t know what we need? We need a seat at the table so we can be better served. This will be a peaceful event while encouraging our allies and family members to stand with us in our fight for social justice and an end to our oppression.
With love, peace & solidarity
Chastity Bowick & members of the Boston’s Transgender Resilience Vigil + March committee
Founded in 2008, by Jesse Pack later joined by Chastity Bowick, the Transgender Emergency Fund is the only organization dedicated to supporting low income and homeless Transgender individuals in Massachusetts. The Transgender Emergency Fund assists with homelessness prevention, shelter assistance, nutrition assistance, prescription co-pay assistance, transportation and escort to medical appointments, etc. All services are contingent on the availability of funds. Transgender Emergency Fund is operated solely on donations. All donations are tax deductible.
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