Another election season has come and gone, confirming our worst fears: Our rights, safety, and dignity remain at the mercy of shifting political tides, once again left unprotected and vulnerable.
This election cycle, we witnessed a surge of narratives defining who we are without our input. Our lives became a polarizing topic; we were reduced to pawns to stoke fear, anger, and division — at best, we were tokenized as an abstract cause for others to claim credit in “saving.” We became a topic of debate in dining rooms across America, without ever being offered a seat at the table to speak for ourselves.
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Throughout this campaign, our bodies, our lives, and our existence were shamelessly politicized. Trans people were presented as “concepts” in campaign ads, national debates, and living room conversations, all without ever having a trans person present. But what I as a Black trans woman living in the South see in my own community is a different story altogether.
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My Black trans sisters, brothers, and nonbinary family embody strength, resilience, love, and acceptance. We are anchored in a determination that far outweighs the neverending waves of oppressive forces we confront. We do not need a lifeboat from others to keep us afloat. We are here to stay, and no election, no law, no hateful rhetoric can strip us of our worth. No political cycle can overshadow our truth: We are powerful, resilient, and deserving of full humanity.
It has become increasingly clear that true solutions for our community come from within. As Ian L. Haddock, founder of The Normal Anomaly Initiative, reminded us on the ground in Texas where we met for solidarity after this election, “They are not coming to save us.”
We must save ourselves. This is why grassroots programs that center and uplift trans people are more important than ever. In Houston, I am fortunate to be part of the Trans Ally Collective Scholars in Action for Gender Expansive Services (TAC: SAGES), a one-of-a-kind cohort of Black trans women leading research for our own communities. In partnership with the SUSTAIN Center at the University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work, we are spearheading groundbreaking research that allows us to identify our own needs and create our own solutions, placing power in the capable hands of Black trans women.
The women at its helm showcase not only the remarkable tenacity but the unstoppable drive that defines us. Together, they transform adversity into progress, expanding spaces where our voices, stories, and truths can resonate louder than ever. It is not just a program; it’s a testament to the unbreakable spirit of Black trans women who refuse to be erased or silenced.
We recently held a press conference announcing the launch of this research in Houston while standing under a billboard showing a photo of myself and six of my fellow trans sisters. Seeing our faces in public, proudly displayed for all to see, was a powerful reminder: While they may try to strip us of our narrative, twist our stories, or label us for their own gain, we aren’t going anywhere. Now those who try to create narratives for us can drive down the street and be reminded we have our own stories and dreams they can never take away. Trans women in Texas and beyond are here to stay, with our smiles, stories, and dreams firmly planted where they cannot be ignored.
Amid ongoing threats to our safety, protections, and rights, it’s all too easy to feel discouraged, worn down by another cycle of legislation targeting our freedom. But in the face of such relentless assaults, we do not shrink. The Black trans community, as it has done since the beginning of time, stands resolute, fueled by a resilient fire that has carried us through countless battles before. Although politics may attempt to bend or silence us, we will not break. Our histories will not be erased — even if they rewrite the textbooks. Trans women have always been here, and we always will be. We are not just surviving; we are thriving, and we are writing our own future.
For most of my life, I have been someone who felt more comfortable working and operating in the background due to fears surrounding safety and the stereotypes imposed on my community. As a Black trans woman who has been in transition for over ten years, I have experienced how society mischaracterizes us, suggesting that trans women hide our true selves to take advantage of men and encroach on the spaces of cisgender women. These portrayals are far from the truth. We simply seek the promise of what the United States is meant to stand for: freedom — the freedom to live in a way that brings peace to the deepest part of my soul.
As time has passed, the trans community has become more comfortable embracing our identities. However, I have noticed how the goalposts have shifted regarding how we are perceived by society. Our narratives have often been co-opted and used to cast us in a negative light, preventing us from speaking for ourselves.
I want to leave a message for my trans community and trans youth: now more than ever, it is vital for us to use our voices. We must stand together as a community to combat the rhetoric that has been directed at us. Even if you fear speaking up, it is necessary for those of us today and for future generations of trans folks.
To our allies, we need you to support us in the same way we have supported the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, Black individuals, women, and everyone’s right to live freely. TAC- SAGES gives fuel to the voice I feared to use for so long but no longer. My voice is here and here to stay.
My aWesley is a 32 year old trans woman born and raised in Houston, Texas. She is the oldest out of six siblings. She is a professionally trained dancer and performer. She has a 10+ year drag entertaining career, where she takes the mood of a song and brings it to life through the art form of dance. She has a career in public health as a program champion with Houston, local nonprofit organizations, and The T.R.U.T.H. Project.
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