I started coming out as trans when I was about 19. Back then, I believed in this very romantic myth of a cohesive LGBTQ community. You know, like all of our issues are the same? This story that is told about what it means to be LGBTQ doesn’t typically include the nuances of race, class, immigration status, etc. What I discovered was that the reality of being a trans person of color is often talked about within the LGBTQ community, but not actually addressed. LGBTQ organizations always mentioned us when it came time to talk about rates of homelessness within the community, or lack of access to healthcare or joblessness or the risk of anti-LGBTQ violence…There we were, trans people of color, and particularly trans women of color, making the top of all the lists. However, I found myself dealing with lots of white supremacy, racism and transphobia inside of mainstream LGBTQ communities that thought fondly of discussing social justice, but never actually trusted trans people of color in positions of leadership or funding projects that would make space for us.
J Mase III, in a submission to The New York Times’ collection “Transgender Today”. (via The New York Times)
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