San
Francisco, CA – On Saturday, February 25, “Come Together,” a town hall
discussing the importance of building coalitions within the transgender
community, will take place at City of Refuge – United Church of
Christ, 1025 Howard Street, San Francisco, Calif., 11 AM – 4 PM PST.
The event is free and open to the public.
Studies
show that transgender people face injustices in housing, health care,
employment, and many other areas. Transgender and gender non-conforming
people of color are hit the hardest. They are also more susceptible
to anti-transgender violence than other racial and ethnic groups.
“This is
the first ever national focus on transgender people of color,” explains
Kylar Broadus, founder of the Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC), a
national organization dedicated to challenging racism and
transphobia, and the main sponsor of the event. “It is critical that we
empower people to advocate for themselves as we build this movement.”
The town hall is the third in a series of national town halls to discuss
issues affecting and impacting trans people of color.
The first of its
kind was held last year in Charlotte, N.C. where then city council
candidate, LaWana Mayfield, now the newly elected
and the first openly gay city council member in Charlotte, spoke about
claiming our authenticity to break down barriers and build
relationships.
“We’re honored to be hosting this event for our trans brothers and
sisters,” says City of Refuge United Church of Christ’s Minister
BobbieJean Baker. “It’s an opportunity to collaborate, strategize and
celebrate the Creator's diversity.”
The town hall will be led and moderated by Broadus, who founded TPOCC in
2010. “We want to give transgender people of color a sense of self and
community,” he adds. “There are many of us that don't feel that we're
being heard or connected to any movement. There
is no one that can tell our story better than us; we live it daily and
we have a voice.”
“Come Together” is sponsored in part by the National Center for Lesbian
Rights and the National Trans Ministry: TransSaints of the Fellowship of
Affirming Ministries, an online network connecting transgender faith
community leaders together for empowerment.
To learn more about the Trans People of Color Coalition, visit
www.transpoc.org.
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