Fatal Violence Against TGI People
This is a time to expand our understanding of safety and justice beyond the traditional methods of policing, courts, and cages. TGI people are facing a constant assault on our bodies and lives, and it is up to all of us to ensure our safety and liberation. The public expression & legitimization of racism, sexism, transphobia, and homophobia by those in political office and the general public must be challenged.
It is not enough to recognize and condemn microaggressions or outright transphobia in our communities, workplaces, classrooms, or homes. We need to have continuing uncomfortable conversations and encourage our loved ones to engage in political education that allows space to interrogate gender-based and transphobic violence against TGI people, especially Black, Black/Brown people, and Black Trans women. It is crucial that we understand the systems of oppression that exist within our society, and that we work to dismantle them.
We must invest in solutions and the people who developed them based on a historical and current context that influences TGI people’s material position. Join efforts like TGIJP, SRLP, and Critical Resistance in challenging what safety looks like for marginalized people and recognize that solutions are not found in police or prisons, institutions that have decimated the TGI community for far too long. As a society, we are all responsible for each other’s safety. This may require leveraging our access to privileges and resources and providing support to prevent further subjugation.
This work is ongoing. Ask yourselves how committed we are to the lives, safety, and liberation of TGI people, and what we can do to support their leadership and livelihoods. It is imperative that we resist being reactive in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy. We must commit ourselves to long-term, sustained efforts.
