We’re observing the National Day of Action For Trans Women Of Color with Atlanta’s very own Southerners On New Ground, GetEQUAL, Forward Together, and more.
Earlier this month, the campaign released a joint statement that set the tone for a truly intersectional movement:
So far in 2017, seven of our sisters have lost their lives to horrific acts of violence. These Black and native trans women’s lives were in jeopardy on multiple levels before November 8th and threats have only increased since. However, despite the hyper-visible outrage against anti-woman and anti-LGBT policies led and inspired by the Trump administration, the loss of Mesha Caldwell, Jaquarrius Holland, Chyna Doll Depree, JoJo Striker, Ciara McElveen, Jamie Lee Wounded Arrow, Tiara Richmond, and the calls for action from trans women in our community have been met with telling silence.
Today, we are making a collective call to action. Any resistance movement that is dynamic and powerful enough to overcome white supremacists and religious extremists who hold power in our government must also be bold enough to stand up and fight back against transphobic, racist, anti-woman, anti-femme forces in our ranks and in our neighborhoods. We must demand more of ourselves and of each other… We must rise with urgency and conviction to support the resistance led by those most on the margins and protect trans women and femmes of color by any means necessary.
The National Day Of Action provides a far-reaching platform to bring attention to the struggles and triumphs of trans women during Women’s History Month, an occasion that has steadily become one of the most visible public shows of solidarity within the feminist movement. Naturally, SPARK joined the call as part of our ongoing effort to centralize the experiences of queer and trans youth of color within any liberation movement.
The primary goal of the day of action is to protect trans futures. To that end, SPARK recommits our outreach efforts to seeking out trans-led organizations in our community and using our platform to highlight the work they do, starting with Southern Fried Queer Pride, an Atlanta-based organization that was founded by the multi-talented Taylor ALXNDR.
Southern Fried Queer Pride (SFQP) is an Atlanta-based queer and trans alternative Pride festival and collective celebrating the robust and vibrant community in the Southern United States. Cooked in the oils of our forequeers of the Compton Cafeteria Riots, the Stonewall Riots, ACT UP, and the many radical uprisings of years past, SFQP holds close to the political identity of being queer. SFQP is arts and politically based and serves to provide an intersectional, radically inclusive festival on the last week of June, along with events throughout the year.
SFQP is a community-driven organization and depends on grassroots contributions, both creatively and financially. They are currently accepting submissions for their very first gallery show, Digital Queerness, and have sponsorship packets for their annual festival, #SFQP2017, taking place this May, available by request.
Follow their social feeds on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to learn more about Southern Fried Queer Pride and how you can get involved with their work.
