This Pride month, Purpose team members are sharing organizations that support Black and Brown LGBTQIA+ communities and fight against racism, queerphobia, and transmisogyny. The list includes those that work locally and globally, that provide assistance to or create community spaces for LGBTQIA+ people, and that have resources for folks to educate themselves on issues of racism and queerphobia.
Learn more about each below and consider supporting them in their fight for Black and Brown LBGTQIA+ communities.
Solutions Not Punishment Collaborative
Black trans futurist framework. The Solutions Not Punishment Collaborative builds power through this lens, fighting against the prison industrial complex that systematically criminalizes Black trans women, trans/queer people and the larger Black community. Based in Atlanta, the collaborative works to take “concrete, practical steps on the local level to divest from cops, courts, and corrections and re-invest in the resources and services our communities need to thrive.” They build leadership from their own, nourishing and strengthening their community members to take the lead, organizing and mobilizing on all levels of intervention. They make sure their voices are heard loud and clear, and we must help support their leadership. To learn more and donate, please visit https://www.snap4freedom.org/
— Omar Hakim
Follow SNAP on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Black Visions Collective
“QTBIPOC are worthy and deserve to be honored.” That’s it. That’s the tweet. For those unfamiliar with this acronym, it stands for: Queer & Trans Black Indigenous People of Color. I emphasize this as a reflection of the gay rights movement and how it began. QTBIPOC have always been at the forefront of the movement, pioneering the way for non-Black and non-POC folks to live a life that is free and just, and still fight this every day when they should not have to. As a society, we have failed – queer and trans Black people are being killed every.single.day. We must fight to not only protect these lives but honor them by educating ourselves and a world where these lives are seen as disposable. Additionally, we must celebrate the people out there doing the work. I choose to highlight the Black Visions Collective, a Black-led, Queer and Trans centering organization whose mission is to “organize powerful, connected Black communities and dismantle systems of violence.” Thank you for your work, @blackvisionscollective! We are immensely grateful.
Follow Black Visions Collective on Instagram and Twitter.
Sylvia Rivera Law Project
Named after the Latina transgender activist, Sylvia Rivera, the Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP) is best known for providing legal services for transgender, gender non-conforming, and/or intersex (TGNCI) people. SRLP also provides training sessions for legal service providers and social institutions, has published a long list of resources for individuals to educate themselves on the intersections of systemic racism, transphobia, and poverty, and have launched several campaigns aimed at drawing attention to and dismantling discriminatory practices that harm TGNCI people. This Pride month — and beyond — consider donating, becoming a member, and/or checking out and sharing their educational resources at https://srlp.org/.
Follow Sylvia Rivera Law Project on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Girls for Gender Equity
What happens when you put girls of color at the center of your work? We see a growing economy, excellent strategies are lifted up, leadership is developed, and healing happens. Girls for Gender Equity (GGE) is an intergenerational organization committed to the physical, psychological, social and economic development of girls and women, particularly cisgender and transgender girls and gender non-conforming/non-binary (GNC/NB) youth of color. Through direct service, policy & organizing, and culture change, GGE encourages communities to remove systemic barriers and create opportunities for girls and women to live self-determined lives. Based in Brooklyn, GGE has recently focused on decriminalizing schools, creating safe learning and community environments, and supporting the free expression of gender and sexuality. Follow @ggenyc for the most up-to-date news, learn about programs, and make a donation today.
— Anne Keenan
Follow Girls for Gender Equity on Instagram and Twitter.
Exist Loudly
For the past 6 years, Queer Black Christmas has been a joyous event in London, where Queer Black Young People can be together in a safe space, be looked after, and have some much-needed fun. With the current global pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, the founder of this event Tanya Compas decided now more than ever the young Queer Black community of London need a place they can turn to, and thus Exist Loudly was created. The intention of this foundation is to explore how to support young Black and POC people outside of London Digitally as well as in our immediate community. The GoFundMe page is currently at £90,686 which means not only can Exist Loudly become a CIC but also £6,600 will be given each to Colours Youth Network, Gendered Intelligence, Rainbow Noir, Unmuted Brum and Kamp Kiki: all of which are amazing already existing foundations. You can continue to support all 6 foundations HERE.
— Danielle Watt
For the Gworls
Black trans folks are the reason queer people have liberation. Period. As a white, queer, GNC person, the fluidity I am able to express through queerness and gender identity is only a reality because Black trans women put their bodies on the line at Stonewall, and their bodies are still on the line every damn day. Pride is about honoring Black trans folks, moving them to the front, and amplifying their voices. For the Gworls is a beautiful example of what it looks like when iconic Black trans humans, unconditional community love, and unapologetic chaos meet — and we are lucky we are here to see it. FTG is a party collective that charges a small entry fee that goes towards a Black trans’ persons rent or gender affirming surgery. Due to COVID-19 they have transitioned to virtual events and crowdfunding, but will definitely be back. The org is run by NYC activist Asanni Armon (aka Miss. Think. Aka The Baddest Don Diva., according to Twitter) and she runs the entire operation herself. It all started because she wanted to help a friend out with their rent and the rest is history. FTG lets people go wild while spreading the love and honestly that’s what the people need. It’s not okay that the main narrative around Black trans folks is death. Although that cannot and should not be ignored, Black trans folks are point blank fucking powerful and we need to fall back, listen to their words, put them in leadership, and watch greatness unfold.
Follow FTG on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter
Donate: Medical Fund, Rent and Gender Affirming Surgery Fund
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