As queer identities more frequently enter mainstream conversations, their complexities are often reduced to the images of singular figures or icons. When it comes to Black trans lives, that heavy work often rests on the shoulders of Marsha P. Johnson. 

While Johnson’s life indelibly changed the struggle for LGBTQ+ liberation, it’s up to advocates and activists to resist one-moment depictions of Black trans actions. Black trans people have always helmed the fight against sexual violence and the struggle for equity; CAASE’s work wouldn’t be possible without their presence on the frontlines. With this in mind, we’re spending Black History Month examining how Chicago allies can support Black trans lives in the struggle against sexual harm. 

While all queer people face varying degrees of violence, the stakes are often most brutal for Black trans communities. According to the Human Rights Campaign, 91 percent of the transgender or gender-nonconforming people who were fatally shot in 2019 were Black women. The double-bind of this violence surfaced on a national scale in 2020. Amid the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, and the federal government’s continued disparagement of trans rights, the necessity of Black trans liberation has never been more visible. 

Sexual harm and exploitation are tightly tied up in these issues; you cannot separate broken policies and weak economic support or bad policing practices from the harms of the sex trade. Selling sex is often one of a few bad options in a society that keeps Black and/or trans people out of the workforce, discriminated against through laws and other practices. “Black trans folks are among the most marginalized in our communities—and with respect to the sex trade, they are disproportionately harmed,” says Policy Manager Madeliene Behr. CAASE’s own advocacy works to confront these systems.

Conscious of how the unjust criminalization of people who sell sex impacts Black trans and gender non-conforming people, we led efforts to change laws. In Illinois, we successfully eliminated felony charges for prostitution, enabled victims of sex trafficking to clear their records of prostitution convictions, and created funding streams for specialized services to assist people with lived experiences in the sex trade. Addressing sexual exploitation also means supportng policy that expands economic justice and opportunities and removing stigma and discrimination against Black, brown, and LGBTQ+ people. In short, we know that to have the greatest impact, the anti-gender violence movement needs to center Black trans lives. We hope you’ll join us.

Activists and allies in Chicago can look for leadership from Black trans activists in an array of organizations throughout all of Chicago’s 50 wards. Whether their priorities lie in economic justice, environmental causes, or health care, Black trans voices are the ones carving space for themselves. LaSaia Wade, Executive Director of Brave Space Alliance, felt called to activism when she was fired from a major corporation for being trans in 2010. She says that Black trans women in the city are leading the way for others “by demanding a place at the table or even creating their own tables—both are amazing.”

The tables are indeed expanding. You can also look to the Black Drag Council, Molasses, and Affinity Community Services as multifaceted organizations that hoist up Black trans lives and allow for a multiplicity of experiences. 

Wade says that the most palpable way for allies to support Black trans communities is through financial giving. “They can donate to BSA’s Trans Relief Fund,” she says. “They can also give to Black Lives Matter Chicago. When I say this, I say it with sternness.” Wade believes it is important to recognize that while giving to BLM organizations is critical, it cannot be a mask for other insidious forms of white supremacy. 

As we continue on into 2021, it’s critical for cisfolks—especially those from white families—to continue amplifying their Black trans neighbors and supporting their actions.

This piece was authored by KT Hawbaker and edited by Hayley Forrestal. Learn more about our staff here. This post was updated on 2/17/21.