NAACP, We're Still Pissed About The LG(bt) Town Hall Snub

The 102nd NAACP convention ended yesterday in Los Angeles.  Don't assume the African American trans community has forgotten about the major dissing we received at the hands of that legacy organization no thanks to the trans-free LG(bt) Town Hall meeting no transperson was invited to sit at the table for.

I told you we Black transpeeps weren't going to take this caca lying down, and TPOCC penned a letter to NAACP President Ben Jealous that expresses much of what we're feeling in the aftermath of this.

We want to make sure that if they do another one at the 103rd NAACP Convention next year, we aren't  left out in the cold and they're scratching their heads dumbfounded at why we're pissed about the erasure.

Time to post the letter.  You can be agents of your own liberation by signing your own name to it and preferably snail mailing or faxing it to the NAACP, but if e-mail is the best you can do, we'll take that .

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July 29, 2011

Chairman Ben Jealous

NAACP

National Headquarters

4805 Mt. Hope Dr.

Baltimore, MD 21215

Re: 102^nd NAACP Annual Convention, Los Angeles, California

Dear Mr. Jealous:

I am extremely upset at the lack of inclusion by the NAACP at its First LGBT Forum during the 102^nd Annual Convention this past Monday, July 25, 2011.  One of the reasons the NAACP was founded was to tirelessly work to prevent lack of inclusion based on race for ALL Black people.  Black transgender people are included within this community but yet excluded by your organization that touts to be “the oldest and largest civil rights organization.” 

There is no excuse for discrimination or lack of inclusion.  Your ongoing historic mission “is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.” One would think that “the oldest and largest civil rights organization” would know better than to discriminate and then justify the discrimination by saying, “we’re not there on transgender issues.” The NAACP missed a golden opportunity on July 25 to start the education process in our community on transgender issues and should always strive to be the civil rights role model for others to follow. 

A recent survey conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality revealed Black transgender people live in extreme poverty with 34% reporting incomes of less than $10,000.  Black transgender people suffer severe economic distress because of unemployment related to discrimination based on the dual oppressions of race and gender.  Approximately 32% reported losing their job due to bias and 48% were not hired due to bias.  Sadly, this is just the tip of the iceberg for the issues encountered by Black transgender people.

The NAACP must educate itself and its members on these issues and stand up for All Black people. It cannot pick and choose.

Sincerely,

[PLACE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS HERE]

** It gives your letter more validity if you put your name and sign the letter at a minimum.  It is recommended that you mail your letter if possible.