BTWI and TENT Condemn Transphobic Buzbee Campaign Mailer

For Immediate Release

December 13, 2019

Contact: Monica Roberts, BTWI Media Chair, Emmett Schelling, Executive Director, TENT

Phone: 855-255-8636 ext 69
Email: info@transtexas.org or mroberts@blacktranswomen.org

BTWI and TENT CONDEMN TRANSPHOBIC BUZBEE CAMPAIGN MAILER 

There is a runoff in the Houston municipal election tomorrow that features incumbent Mayor Sylvester Turner and challenger Tony Buzbee. Both BTWI and TENT were disappointed to see and hear about this transphobic and homophobic mailer being deployed on the eve of the runoff election by the Buzbee campaign.

“This mailer is additionally disturbing in light of the fact that Texas has unfortunately led the nation in anti-trans homicides. Two of the four trans Texans we lost in 2019 were from Houston. To see trans women being vilified and misrepresented by a candidate running for mayor in the most diverse and fourth largest city in this country to score political points is a shameful day in Houston’s history.” said Diamond Collier, interim Executive Director of Black Transwomen Inc.

Buzbee claimed in an August 2 Pride candidate forum on the Texas Southern University campus that he would be a mayor for all Houstonians. Based on the mailer, along with his subsequent actions garnering the endorsement of longtime Houston-area anti-LGBTQ activist Steven Hotze, it has become clear that was not the truth.

“As a native Houstonian, it is irritating and disgusting to once again see a political candidate attempt to deploy transphobia and homophobia for their personal electoral gain in a municipal election. Spreading this ugly rhetoric has real-world consequences that the Black trans community will have to deal with long after Election Day has passed,” said BTWI President Dee Dee Watters. 

Emmett Schelling, Executive Director of Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT) stated, “LGBTQ Houstonians are part of this diverse city that we are all exceedingly proud of, and we urge all Houstonians to reject the false message that the Buzbee campaign is trying to send.”

BTWI Statement Concerning The SCOTUS Cases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2019
Contact Monica Roberts
BTWI Media Chair 346-310-0824
Dee Dee Watters  BTWI President
855-255-8636
media@blacktranswomen.org

BTAC and BTWI along with the entire Black trans community's eyes are turned toward Washington DC on this historic day as a trans rights case is being argued for the first time in our country's history

The question before the SCOTUS is a fundamental one.   Is it legal to fire someone for being transgender?  We At BTAC and BTWI believe the quite obvious answer to that question is an emphatic no and being trans is not a fireable offense..

But where we find ourselves on this historic October 8 day is our humanity and human rights as transgender Americans being under persistent attack by the Trump administration and its reprehensible accomplices. .   

The Harris Funeral Homes vs EEOC case being brought by Aimee Stephens is a case that will not only impact the human rights of the trans community, but one that will negatively impact all Americans if this case is decided incorrectly.

If that happens, it will also disproportionately affect the Black trans community that we proudly serve.   Now that the case has been argued before the SCOTUS, we at BTWI  and BTAC will continue to fight for the humanity and human rights of our community no matter what happens in this case.

Trans rights are undeniably human rights, and we urge the SCOTUS to be on the right side of history and say no to discrimination.  If they don't, then the Roberts Court will forever set in stone the undeniable impression that it is a partisan, unjust body when it comes to the civil rights of Americans.

Ready For Our ABC Nightline Closeup

Dee Dee, Diamond Stylz and I recently taped on July 22 an ABC Nightline episode in which we talked about the violence affecting Black trans women in Texas and around the country.

The initial part of it was taped while we were in Dallas for our recent BTAC Leadership Institute, and the rest was done when we returned back to Houston.

We were also doing so in the wake of the loss of Denali Stuckey at the time we taped it.  We're now up to 20 trans women lost to anti trans violence with three months left in this year.

As y'all know, anti-trans violence aimed at the Black trans community is a serious issue.   It's past time that we were blessed to have an in-depth discussion about it with the people that it negatively affects on national television.   

It was also nice to be having that discussion with my H-town homegirls and fellow BTWI board members.

Was alerted that the show will finally air tonight.   Looking forward to seeing how this segment turned out    As for when  ABC News Nightline airs, it comes on at 11:35 PM CDT.

Hope that when you watch it, it will be an informative show and that those of you who see it will get something out of it.  .

BTAC Press Release Concerning Muhlaysia Booker Hate Attack

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April  14, 2019
Contact: Monica Roberts BTWI Media Chair 346-310-0824
Dee Dee Watters  BTWI President
855-255-8636  Ext 11 
media@blacktranswomen.org


Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (BTAC) and Black Transwomen Inc (BTWI) as a Dallas based organization is dismayed and angered to hear about the despicable hate attack that happened to our sibling Muhlaysia Booker on Friday.morning.

Booker was involved in a minor traffic accident at the Royal Crest Apartments located at 3558 Wilhurt Ave at 11:25 AM CDT.   Booker then found herself being assaulted by several people in an incident that has been videotaped and circulated on social media.

We condemn in the strongest possible terms our disgust at what happened to Ms Booker.  We call upon the Dallas Police Department to swiftly arrest the perpetrators of this attack and charge them with a hate crime.

In addition, we at BTAC and BTWI would love to extend an invitation to Ms Booker to attend our upcoming Black Trans Advocacy Conference scheduled to take place at the Wyndham Dallas Suites Park Hotel April 23-28.  

While we at BTAC and BTWI agree with Mayor Rawlings that the perpetrators of this hate attack do not reflect the feelings that many Dallasites have about our TBLGQ community, we are still angry that it happened to Ms Booker. 

We are beyond sick and tired of some misguided people in the Black community believing they have a green light to assault and kill Black trans people. 

Black trans people are Black people, and we are an intertwined part of the Black community here in Dallas, the state of Texas, the nation and across the African Diaspora.  This malignant hatred toward Black trans people, and particularly Black trans women needs to end today..

Our Black trans lives matter as much as yours do.  It's past time that the Black community, our community and political leaders, and our legacy organizations recognize that reality.

BTWI Statement On The Trans Murders In Dallas and Atlanta

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2018
Contact: Monica Roberts BTWI Media Chair
Carmarion Anderson  BTWI Founding National DirectorDee Dee Watters BTWI Board Chair 
855-255-8636 Ext 11media@blacktranswomen.org

We at Black Transwomen, Inc are dismayed and saddened about the murders of our trans siblings occuring in our headquarters city of Dallas, TX and in Atlanta, GA where we have a BTMI chapter.

Our condolences and warm thoughts go out to the friends and families of Carla Patrica Flores-Pavon, the still unidentified Black trans sister whose body was pulled out of White Rock Creek on May 12, and Nino Fortson.

The Dallas County Medical Examiner's Office is still working to ascertain the cause of death for our unidentified sibling, and once that is determined we will pass that information along as quickly as we receive it.

We also mourn the untimely passing of our Latinx sister Carla Pavon, and thank Ana Andrea Molina and the Organizacion Latina de Trans en Texas (OLTT) for the opportunity to be present at the vigil organized by OLTT for Ms Pavon at the Cathedral of Hope on May 13.

Ms. Pavon was the ninth trans person we have lost to anti-trans violence in the US, and we join OLTT in expressing our desire for the swift capture, prosecution, and punishment of the person who killed Carla so that justice can be served for her family and all who loved her.   

BTWI leadership has been working in close cooperation with the Dallas Police Department to help get accurate information out as expeditiously as possible in these cases.  We are diligently working to ensure that we identify our sister so that the investigation into her death can commence and the perpetrator can be brought to justice. 

In Nino Fortson's case, there are many members of our Atlanta BTMI-BTWI family who knew Nino  personally and are devastated after hearing the news of his tragic May 13 murder.

Fortson was unfortunately the tenth trans person and first trans masculine person killed in 2018, and we mourn his loss as well.   Our transmen also face anti-trans violence aimed at them, and his murder is an unfortunate reinforcement of that reality. 

We at BTWI along with our BTMI brothers in Atlanta and beyond are hoping that the perpetrator of our fallen brother's May 13 murder is swiftly captured and punished for his crime.

BTWI Statement Concerning The Barrin Murder

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 27, 2017
Contact Monica Roberts BTWI Media Chair
Carmarion D. Anderson  BTWI  Founding Executive Director
855-255-8636 Ext 11
media@blacktranswomen.org

Black Transwomen, Inc. is saddened that we must comment on the death of another trans woman of color in Ava Le'Ray Barrin.
 
What saddens and infuriates us as an organization that seeks to represent and empower Black trans women is that Ava was just 17 years old and hadn't even had a chance to follow her dreams yet.

And as usual, the Atlanta and Athens, GA media outlets reporting on the story once again played into the infuriating pattern of disrespectfully misgendering a Black trans woman in death.  

On Sunday June 25 Athens-Clarke County police responded to an 11:45 AM EDT call concerning an argument taking place in the Rivercrest Apartments on 1020 College Ave.   When they arrived they found Barrin lying in the parking lot of the complex suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest.

She was taken to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead at 12:45 PM EDT.

Ava has become not only the 14th trans woman murdered in the US in 2017, she unfortunately is now the youngest one killed this year.   She is also the 12th African American trans person killed this year.

All 14 of the murdered US trans women are women of color, with two of them being Native American and Latina.    What also is distressing to us is that eleven of the 14 people we have lost this year are under age 40.

21 year old Jalen Brown is in custody in the Athens Clark County Jail without bail, and has been charged with murder and aggravated assault in this case.

A candlelight memorial service was held for Barrin Monday night, and funeral arrangements are pending at this time.  BTWI's Dee Dee Watters will be doing a Facebook Live moment of silence in Ava's honor starting at 9 PM CDT.

BTWI, our brother organization Black Transmen, Inc, the BTMI Atlanta Chapter, the Black Trans International Pageantry System, and Black Trans Advocacy joins your family and all who loved you in expressing our condolences for your far too soon death.

Rest in power and peace, Ava.

***

Black Transwomen,  Inc  is a national not for profit organization based in Dallas TX  that is part of the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition,  a social justice alliance of the Black Transmen Inc, Black Transwomen Inc & Black Trans International Pageantry System organizations. BTA is committed to the advancement of black and trans people and the liberation of all disenfranchised people by working collaboratively to help end race and gender inequalities  

BTWI Statement Concerning The Kenne McFadden Murder

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 13, 2017
Contact  Monica Roberts BTWI Media Chair
Carmarion D. Anderson  BTWI Founding National Director
855-255-8636 Ext 11
media@blacktranswomen.org

For the 12th time this year, we at Black Transwomen, Inc must release a statement regarding the murder of another African-American trans woman.

We are also saddened to note that the latest murder has happened in Texas.

As a Texas based organization, Black Transwomen, Inc is and continues to be adamantly opposed to the transphobic SB 6 and HB 2899 bills proposed by the Republican controlled Texas Legislature, and were deeply concerned about the anti-trans rhetoric and outright lies being uttered by Texas conservatives in order to pass this unjust legislation.

We wondered when the anti-trans animus being fomented in our state would result in one of our Texas trans people being murdered.

The answer to that question was April 9, when the body of 27 year old Kenne McFadden was found floating in the San Antonio River near its world famous Riverwalk as many of us were up in Austin fighting those transphobic bills.

But because Kenne was misgendered by the San Antonio media, we are just now finding out about our lost sister two months after the fact..  

We at Black Transwomen, Inc. our brother organization Black Transmen, Inc, the Black Trans International Pageantry System and Black Trans Advocacy express our deepest condolences to Kenne's family and everyone who loved her.

We are also beyond tired of this ongoing pattern of media misgendering of trans murder victims that happens far too often to trans women of color.

Kenne is the 12th trans woman we have lost to anti-trans violence in 2017, and 11 of the twelve US murder victims have been African American.   Native American Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow of South Dakota is the only (so far) non Black trans person killed.

What also continues to sadden us at Black Transwomen, Inc is that nine of the dozen souls we have lost to anti-trans hate are under age 40.

Kenne's case has been reclassified as a homicide by the San Antonio Police Department and we are pleased to note there is a person of interest already incarcerated on other charges who is a suspect in this case.

We pray that if this currently incarcerated person is indeed the perpetrator of the crime, that justice will be expeditiously served.

Rest in power and peace, Kenne.

BTWI Statement Concerning The Bostick Murder

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2017
Contact  Monica Roberts BTWI Media Chair
Carmarion D. Anderson  BTWI Founding National Director
855-255-8636 Ext 11
media@blacktranswomen.org

Black Transwomen, Inc is saddened to once again having to discuss losing another Black trans woman to anti trans violence in 2017.

The latest murder happened in New York, and her name is Brenda Bostick.

This 58 year old Bostick is the ninth Black trans woman who has been murdered in the last first five months of 2017, the tenth trans women in the US, and sadly the eldest person we have lost.

All ten trans women who have been murdered in the United States this year have been trans women of color.  Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow in South Dakota, the lone non-Black trans woman killed in 2017 so far was Native American  

Ms. Bostick was found unconscious and severely beaten outside of a Five Guys restaurant on Seventh Ave at 10:30 PM EDT on April 25..  She was taken to Bellevue Hospital Center when she succumbed to her injuries on May 4..   It is not known at this time if she regained consciousness while in the hospital, and an autopsy to discover the cause of death will be performed by the medical examiner soon.

The NYPD is investigating this case as a homicide, so if you have any information that will lead to the capture, prosecution and incarceration of the killers of Ms. Bostick, you are urged to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) .  

BTWI Statement Concerning The Death Of Chayvis 'Chay' Reed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 22, 2017
Contact: Monica Roberts BTWI Media Chair
Carmarion Anderson  BTWI Founding National Director
855-255-8636 Ext 11
media@blacktranswomen.org

Black Transwomen, Inc is saddened and angered to hear about the loss of another precious life to anti-trans violence in the person of 28 year old Chayvis Darice 'Chay' Reed of Miami. FL.

We at Black Transwomen, Inc express our deepest condolences to Ms. Reed's family and all the people in her all too brief life who loved her.

According to a witness a group of people were walking up a sidewalk in the West Little River neighborhood near the intersections of Northwest 27th and Northwest 93rd Streets when one of them ran across Northwest 27th Street at approximately 5 AM EDT.   Six or seven shots subsequently rang out according to the witness and that person fell to the ground.

The shooter fled the scene and is being sought by Miami-Dade police.  The incident was captured by the home surveillance cameras of the witness, and the video is being reviewed by Miami-Dade police detectives.

We at BTWI are also upset and angered to note that once again, a deceased Black trans woman has been misgendered and disrespected in the local media.  

Reed is the ninth trans woman of color murdered in the US in 2017, and the eight African-American trans person killed  this year.   Out of those eight Black trans women we have lost this year, seven of them are under age 40.

If you have any information that will bring Chay's killer to justice, you are urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305- 471-TIPS (8477)

Rest in power and peace, Chay.   Know that all who love you will not rest until justice is served in this case.
   

Upcoming BTAC 2017 Press Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April  18, 2017
Contact: Monica Roberts BTWI Media Chair
Carmarion Anderson  BTWI Founding President
855-255-8636  Ext 11
media@blacktranswomen.org

Black Trans Advocacy is pleased to announce our upcoming Black Trans Advocacy conference in Dallas that will be held from April 24-30 at the Dallas Addison Marriott Quorum by the Galleria.

This is the sixth annual BTAC conference with attendees from all over the United States gathering to discuss issues of importance to the Black trans community.

Black Trans Advocacy is also pleased and proud to be at this upcoming BTAC conference celebrating the fifth anniversary of the founding of Black Transwomen, Inc.

As a Texas headquartered organization, we are not only concerned about SB 6 and HB 2899 and vehemently oppose both pieces of unjust legislation, but also lament the loss of seven African American trans women this year to anti-trans violence,   We are also concerned about the disrespectful media coverage they have gotten when the media reports their deaths and the lack of funding that goes to Black trans led organizations. .

We will also be discussing at this April 28 press conference BTA's thoughts about the current state of Black trans America, our Black Trans Advocacy conference, and other issues of importance to our community.  .

We are inviting members of the media to attend a press conference that will take place at the conference hotel starting at 12:30 PM CDT on Friday, April 28 at our conference host hotel, the Dallas Addison Marriott Quorum by the Galleria.

The hotel is located at 14901 Dallas Parkway, Dallas, TX 75204 and we at BTA look forward to seeing you there.    
  
***

Black Transwomen,  Inc  is a national not for profit organization based in Dallas TX  that is part of the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition,  a social justice alliance of the Black Transmen Inc, Black Transwomen Inc & Black Trans International Pageantry System organizations. BTA is committed to the advancement of black and trans people and the liberation of all disenfranchised people by working collaboratively to help end race and gender inequalities   

BTWI Statement Concerning The Murder Of Alphonza Watson

TransGriot Note: BTWI  Statement concerning the death of Alphonza Watson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 25, 2017
Contact: Monica Roberts BTWI Media Chair
Carmarion Anderson  BTWI Founding President
855-255-8636  Ext 11
media@blacktranswomen.org

Black Transwomen, Inc is once again dismayed and saddened to note the death of another of one of our trans sisters in 38 year old Alphonza Watson of Baltimore, MD.

She was found shot in the stomach in the 2400 block of Guilford Ave and later died from her gunshot wound at Johns Hopkins Hospital.  Two males were seen leaving the scene in a dark colored vehicle

She is the eighth trans woman., and the seventh Black transwoman to die in 2017.

If you have information that will bring her killers to justice, you are urged to call the Baltimore Police Department at 410-396-2100, text a tip at 443-902-4824 or call Metro Crime Stoppers at 866-7LOCKUP  (866-756 -2587).

Rest in power and peace ,sister.  We won't rest until the persons who killed you are brought to justice

BTWI Statement Concerning SB 6 Senate Committee Passage

TransGriot Note:  BTWI statement concerning SB 6 passage out of the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 9, 2017
Contact: Monica Roberts BTWI Media Chair
Carmarion Anderson  BTWI Founding President
855-255-8636  Ext 11
media@blacktranswomen.org

BTWI is saddened but not surprised as a Texas based organization.to note that the unjust SB 6 bill attacking the humanity and human rights of Texas transgender people cleared the Republican dominated Senate State Affairs Committee on a 7-1 vote in the early morning hours of March 8.

The bill now goes to the Texas senate floor despite 13 hours of testimony of Texas overwhelmingly opposed to it.  Black Transwomen, Inc proudly adds its name to the long list of organizations that are vehemently opposed to the passage of SB 6

BTWI thanks Senator Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) for standing up for the human rights of transgender Texans with her State Affairs committee NO vote.  We also thank Senators Sylvia Garcia (D-Houston), Jose Rodriguez (D-El Paso) and Borris Miles (D-Houston)  for also standing with our community against this unjust bill.  

We at BTWI hope that others in the Texas Senate and Texas House will join them in publicly opposing this misguided bill that fuels the hellfire flames of transphobic bigotry against trans Texas.

Thanks to the BTWI, BTMI and BTIPS members, our founding BTWI president Carmarion Anderson, and Black Trans Advocacy leadership team members who journeyed to Austin to take part in Trans Texas Lobby Day on March 6.

Thanks also to our BTWI board member Monica Roberts who participated in the March 6 Lobby Day and testified at the March 7 marathon State Affairs committee meeting along with other concerned Texans.

As BTWI has noted, six of the seven trans women we have lost in 2017 are Black trans women. SB 6 if passed will only raise the level of anti-trans hatred in the Lone Star State and elsewhere that feeds into the anti-trans discrimination and violence we face,  

Black Transwomen, Inc will fight to ensure that the Texas Legislature is aware Black trans Texans exist, and know that our voices matter in this SB 6 conversation.

The transphobic commentary from a Black San Antonio minister makes us painfully aware at BTWI just how much ongoing work we must do in order to eradicate transphobia from our Black community ranks.

SB 6 is not yet Texas law.  We at BTWI/along with our coalition partners will fight this unjust bill every step of the way throughout the legislative process until it is defeated.

 BTWI will also continue to fight until every Texan gets the message that trans rights are human rights.

BTWI Statement Concerning The Murder of Ciara McElveen

TransGriot Note: The Black Transwomen, Inc Statement concerning the death of Ciara McElveen

***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2017
Contact: Monica Roberts BTWI Media Chair
Carmarion Anderson  BTWI Founding President
855-255-8636  Ext 11
media@blacktranswomen.org

Black Transwomen, Inc like the community, is just becoming aware of the tragic death of our fallen sister Chyna Gibson, and we awoke on Monday morning like members of our community to hear the unbelievable news that another trans women was killed in New Orleans' 7th Ward.

Ciara McElveen was stabbed seven times in the 1700 block of Columbus Street and left for dead when the NOPD found her after responding to a call at 9 AM CST.   She was taken to a nearby hospital where she died from her wounds.

BTWI would like to express our deepest sympathy to her family and all who loved Ciara for her loss. We hope and pray that the person responsible for her murder is caught, prosecuted and is convicted of this heinous crime.  If you have information that will lead to that happening, please call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or 1-877-903-STOP (7867).  

This makes her the second trans woman killed in New Orleans in the span of 48 hours, the third this week, the fourth in the month of February and the sixth nationally in 2017.

And the infuriating point to us at Black Transwomen Inc is that all four of the trans women killed in the month of February are African-American transpeople.

We at BTWI are just as fed up with this pattern of anti-trans violence aimed at our sisters as those of you who care about our Black trans feminine community.

Our motto at BTWI is Every Voice Matters.   When a trans person's voice is stilled, we are going to ensure that their voice and the voices of all Black trans women are heard in this and other cases when it comes to our lost sisters until justice is served.  

Rest in power and peace, Ciara

***

Black Transwomen,  Inc  is a national not for profit organization based in Dallas TX  that is part of the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition,  a social justice alliance of the Black Transmen Inc, Black Transwomen Inc & Black Trans International Pageantry System organizations. BTA is committed to the advancement of black and trans people and the liberation of all disenfranchised people by working collaboratively to help end race and gender inequalities   

BTWI Statement Concerning The Gibson Murder

TransGriot Note:  The Black Transwomen, Inc statement concerning the murder of Chyna Gibson

***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2017
Contact: Monica Roberts BTWI Media Chair
Carmarion Anderson  BTWI Founding President
855-255-8636  Ext 11
media@blacktranswomen.org

BTWI is horrified to learn that mere days after we have communicated our dismay, shock and anger over the killing of Keke Collier. that we must now discuss the murder of another trans woman

Chyna Gibson had gone home to New Orleans to like thousands of other people, celebrate Mardi Gras and be with her family during that festive time.  

Instead, she was brutally murdered.  Shot ten times and left to die in the parking lot of a New Orleans strip mall.

BTWI would like to express our condolences to Chyna's family, friends and all who loved her.  She was well known in the pageant and ballroom community as Chyna Doll Dupree, and she will be missed.

Rest in power and peace, Chyna

We are also asking that if you have information that will expeditiously solve this murder and lead to the arrest, conviction and incarceration of the person who committed this heinous crime, to please call NOPD Homicide Detective Robert Barrere at 504-658-1111.  You can also call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or 1-877-903-STOP (7867)

Chyna's trans life that was tragically cut short matters, as did the lives of Keke Collier, Jo Jo Striker, Mesha Caldwell and Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow.   We at BTWI 'are tired of the anti-trans violence and hatred aimed at us and now at our trans kids by the Trump Administration.

We exist.  Our trans lives matter to ourselves and all who love us. BTWI will do our part to fight for the humanity and human rights of Black trans women and our Black trans kids to ensure they live quality lives.

***

Black Transwomen,  Inc  is a national not for profit organization based in Dallas TX  that is part of the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition,  a social justice alliance of the Black Transmen Inc, Black Transwomen Inc & Black Trans International Pageantry System organizations. BTA is committed to the advancement of black and trans people and the liberation of all disenfranchised people by working collaboratively to help end race and gender inequalities  

BTWI Statement About The Collier Murder

TransGriot Note:  The Black Transwomen, Inc (BTWI) statement about the Collier killing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2017
Contact: Monica Roberts BTWI Media Chair
Carmarion Anderson  BTWI Founding President
855-255-8636  Ext 11
media@blacktranswomen.org

***

Black Transwomen, Inc is saddened to hear the news that we have lost another sister to anti-trans violence.  On Tuesday morning 24 year old Keke Collier was found lying in the street in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood suffering from three gunshot wounds she would subsequently succumb from.

BTWI expresses our condolences to Collier's family and all who loved her for her untimely death

Collier is unfortunately the fourth trans person we have lost to anti trans violence in the United States, and the second this month.    Collier becomes the third African American trans person after 41 year old Mesha Caldwell in Canton, Mississippi and 23 year old Jo Jo Striker in Toledo, Ohio to die this year.

The fourth person we have lost in 2017 to anti-trans violence was 28 year old Native American Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow or Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

BTWI laments the loss of all these women, and are particularly upset and angered about the three women under the age of 30. These women were taken from us before they had a chance to explore the full potential of their lives.

BTWI Board Chair Dee Dee Watters is asking that we have a national moment of silence starting at 9:00 PM CST for five minutes for Keke and all the trans women we have lost in 2017.

BTWI's motto is that Every Voice Matters, and these women's voices were stilled before they had the opportunity to find their voices in society.  We're here to ensure that trans women survive, thrive and become the best persons they can be.  BTWI also exists to send the unmistakable message that our Black Trans Lives Matter.  

BTWI hopes and prays that the perpetrator of this crime is swiftly caught and justice is served in this case.  We urge those of you who may have information that could possibly help expeditiously solve the Collier case to call the Chicago Police Department.


***

Black Transwomen,  Inc  is a national not for profit organization based in Dallas TX  that is part of the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition,  a social justice alliance of the Black Transmen Inc, Black Transwomen Inc & Black Trans International Pageantry System organizations. BTA is committed to the advancement of black and trans people and the liberation of all disenfranchised people by working collaboratively to help end race and gender inequalities
   

Black Transwomen, Inc AYOMBI Online Trans Feminine Support Group MeetingTonight

One of the things that was discussed during the recently concluded BTAC 2016 conference was ramped up programming for the Black Transmen, Inc (BTMI) sister organization Black Transwomen, Inc (BTWI).

We had a Grand AYOMBI during the conference moderated by Dee Dee Watters, and tonight, BTWI will begin holding on the second Thursday of every month online AYOMBI Sister Circle meetings.

They start at 7 PM CDT and if you wish to participate in AYOMBI, you need to register at this link to receive your invitation.

The May AYOMBI meeting will be facilitated by Jade Lenore, and the topic is "Self Love..What Do I Feel I Deserve In Love And Life?'   The meeting will open at 6:45 PM with the meeting beginning at 7 PM for all guests who have registered to attend.

So what's AYOMBI?  It's a BTWI sponsored monthly gathering of  sisters withing a safe, respectful and confidential environment opened to all trans women at all stages of their transitions.  BTWI understands that at times, there's a need to ask questions, express feelings, and express transitioning concerns.

In this AYOMBI space the goal is to on a monthly basis explore relevant topics of the transition journey.  

AYOMBI is a free service that is offered and presented by the women of Black Transwomen, Inc.  If you require further information or have questions about it, you can call BTWI at 1-855-255-8636

BTAC 2014-Day 4

Moni's FINALLY in the Black Trans Advocacy Convention house to handle her BTAC business, see her peeps, and do a little reporting about what's happening at this third annual convention. 

We start off Day 4 with more seminars running from 9:15 AM -2:30 PM    I not only get to do mine with Espy Brown from 1:15-2:30, after the break I head into the Tiq Milan moderated  Black Trans Community Summit in which I'm one of the participants along with Louis Mitchell, Kim Watson, Carmarion Anderson, Jonathan Thunderword, Justice William Millhouse, and Dee Dee Watters.

Then after the conclusion of the Summit, we move into the Black Trans Advocacy Awards gala in which KOKUMO is scheduled to be performing.

 

BTAC 2014-Day 3

Day 3 of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference at the Doubletree Campbell Center dawns with more workshops on the schedule starting once again at 9:15 AM and running until 2:30 PM 

And if you're asking Where's Moni?', assuming no complications, I'll be in the BTAC house later tonight.  

Today will also feature the highly anticipated keynote addresses of Dr. Kortney Ryan Ziegler, Arianna Lint and Ignacio Rivera that are set to start at 2:45 PM

Once those keynotes have been completed, starting at 7 PM will be the Mr and Miss Black Trans International pageant to close out BTAC's third day.

BTAC 2014- Day 2

It's Day 2 of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference in Dallas, and on the schedule for today is the first day of  workshops that commence at 9:15 AM. and run with breaks until 4 PM

The first full day of the conference is one packed full of interesting and informative seminar topics that will be capped off by the Imagine One Humanity - Interfaith spiritual revival service.

The people conducting that interfaith service will be Pastor Deneen Robinson, Min. Carmarion Anderson, Rev. Alex Byrd, Min Kaleb Elijah and Auset O'Neal.

And yeah people, I'll be on your end of I-45 tomorrow night.  

BTAC 2014-Day One

I'll be heading up I-45 to it on Thursday, but today was also the first day of the Black Trans Advocacy Conference in Dallas running through May 4.   That means I'll actually get to do something on my birthday weekend besides sitting at the house

And it's still not too late for you peeps in easy driving range of Dallas to come join us at the Doubletree Campbell Center.

Yep, I'll be hangin' with my transpeeps starting late Thursday night.   But while I'm handling some business and tying up loose ends here in Houston so I can take off for the weekend,  the Grand Akanni led by BTAC founding co-chairs chairs Carter and Espy Brown will happen followed by the BTAC Family Social.

Darn, I hate I'm missing that. 


I'm also missing Day 2 and the first day of workshops that commence at 9:15 AM tomorrow.  

The April 30 day's events will be capped off by the Imagine One Humanity - Interfaith spiritual revival service led by Pastor Deneen Robinson, Min. Carmarian Anderson, Rev. Alex Byrd, Min Kaleb Elijah and Auset O'Neal    

Day 3 will bring us into May and more thought provoking seminars.  It will also feature the keynote speeches of Dr. Kortney Ryan Ziegler, Arianna Lint, and Ignacio Rivera.   That evening's event will be the Mr. and Miss Black Trans International Pageant.

Day 4 on May 2 is why I'll be there in full effect.   I have a Black Sisterhood panel I'm doing with Espy Brown and the Black Trans Community Summit before we move into the Black Trans Advocacy Awards Gala. 


Day 5 (May 3) is Family Health and Fun Day featuring the first annual Kye Allums 3 on 3 basketball tournament and BTMI Club Harlem.   

BTAC 2014 closes on my Cuatro de Mayo birthday with an interfaith service and closing ceremony and a luncheon before we all head back to our lives.  

I'll just be a year older than when I arrived in Dallas.