2023 Transgender Day of Rememberance
Tamika L Spellman, Policy and Community Engagement Manager for HIPS
Earline Budd, Re-Entry Program Manager for HIPS
Shareese Mone’, Development Coordinator/Fundraiser for HIPS
2023 has been brutal. With so much negative-anti trans legislation and hate filled rhetoric becoming the norm, we as Black trans identifying people find ourselves becoming a target that seems to be getting more and more negative attention that emboldens radical actions against us, often resulting in violent attacks and death. Just this year alone we experienced 3 local deaths of Black transgender women, in very violent ways. Jasmine “Star” Parker, Skylar Harrison and A’Nee Roberson were brutally murdered and taken from us all. We knew all of these three young ladies, so this is very personal to us and to the agency we work for as they were more than clients to us, they are a part of the HIPS family and our community of care and love. I know that 2 of these deaths were entirely preventable, that someone could have intervened and lives would have been saved. We have to care more about people before they die instead of coming to mourn with flowers after a senseless, violent death. Give us those flowers while we are alive.
These losses are heavy, piled upon grief and fatigue from the longest pandemic in modern history. The repeated loss of community members are only highlighted by these brutal murders. Our community needs healing, compassion and peace. We don’t need policy makers’ ‘harmful rhetoric’ and intrusive legislation being the call to action for radical extremists. We need proactive leadership who speak peace and tolerance into existence. Tyranny and hateful rhetoric has no place in positions of power.
Change we must or die we will. That applies to all of us, as we move into some of the most divisive and turbulent times we have had in many decades. We as a nation cannot be the example to live by if we are allowing our leaders to cause harm. It is time for all of DC to come together, speaking tolerance, inclusion and togetherness into existence. That means us having those hard conversations about live and let live with friends, family, coworkers and those who govern. We have to stand firm and hold the line on demanding change. Transgender lives matter too! Losing 25 trans lives nationally and 358 worldwide to violent deaths this year is way too many. These are our siblings and loved ones too. When one is lost the whole community mourns.
In closing, we admonish everyone to put forth a greater effort to end violence and the loss of life. We ask that we be proactive by getting involved because we do and always will. We put my life on the line routinely because we believe good will win in the end. We act because this too is our city, we live here and these are our people, and violence does not go unchecked in our presence. We grew up in front porch communities where neighbors looked out for neighbors and visitors to their neighborhood. It’s a village thing, because if I see something and I speak, my neighbor will back me up, and so will the others on my block. Communities can be safe without dialing 911. Communities are safe when people care and stand as one. DC is a bunch of communities that make up a village. We take care of our own, always have and now is the time to double down. Open your heart, doors and wallets to violence prevention. A simple Uber home, an offer of a few dollars or a safe haven (within your home or business) in the heat of the moment could save a life. Community safety is led and facilitated by community members. You are the community members. We’ve often taken people in, and provided assistance from our personal incomes to send Uber’s, food and cash to community members because that bit of assistance is creating safety.
Because Black women, trans, gender queer and non-binary folks are attacked and killed often, BYP100 ran a campaign (She safe, we safe) because if our women, femmes and queer folks aren’t safe, are any of us safe?
Be a part of what is safe with us, our lives depend on it.
*To be more involved you can reach out to the HIPS Advocacy Department here and the Re-Entry Management here and Development here/donations here*