llustration and text against a pale grey background. Text reads: “BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2023 BLACK TRANS RESISTANCE” At center is a drawing of a Black fist raised with bracelets in the trans flag colors: pink, white and blue. At center bottom dark text reads: “an AWN Network Infographic Series” In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a teal spoonie dragonfly and our website awnnetwork.org.

Celebrating Black Trans Resistance

February 24, 2023

For Black History Month, we’re celebrating Black Trans Resistance by releasing an infographic series on the experiences of Black trans people with discrimination, acceptance, and joy. Join us in amplifying issues crucial to Black trans communities and uplifting Black trans-led organizations by sharing these graphics and blog post! Image Descriptions for each are at the bottom of the blog post, and alt-text is included. Much of this data is from the 2015 US Trans Survey conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality, which surveyed over 27,000 trans people and 796 Black and African-American trans people specifically. You can view the report on Black respondents to the US Trans Survey here.

Illustration and text against a dark grey background At top center is a bright pink circle with a drawing of a grey and beige house. Dark grey text and a blue, pink and grey bar graph are at the center. 42% of Black trans people have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives. [Graph showing rates of homelessness: Black Trans People, Trans People Overall, People Overall (U.S.)] 22% of Black trans people experienced homelessness in the past year specifically because of their transgender identity. At bottom in dark grey reads: “Black History Month 2023 Black Trans Resistance An AWN Network infographic series. “ In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo
  1. Black trans people experience homelessness at disproportionate rates, with over 42% experiencing homelessness in their lives. Transgender women (51%) were most likely to have experienced homelessness in their lifetime. 22% of Black trans people experienced homelessness in the previous year specifically related to their gender identity. In addition to economic barriers to housing, Black trans people are often denied access to homeless shelters (25% of the respondents) and even rape crisis centers. Source: 2015 US Trans Survey Black Respondents Report.
llustration and text against a pale grey background At top center is drawing of a pink circle around a light brown house with a dark brown door in front. At center, text reads: “In 2022, the Okra Project raised and distributed over $400,000 to aid Black trans and gender non-conforming people in various US cities in accessing food security, housing, and professional development. The Okra Project is a grassroots mutual aid collective founded and run by Black trans people for Black trans people. For more info visit: http://www.theokraproject.com “ At the bottom in dark grey and bright pink text reads: “Black History Month 2023 Black Trans Resistance An AWN Network infographic series” In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo

2. Yet orgs like the @TheOkraProject, a community aid collective, are helping Black trans and gender non-conforming people access housing, food security, and professional development. They raised $400,000 in 2022 to aid the community. More info at www.theokraproject.com

Illustration and text against a dark grey background At top center is a bright pink circle with a stethoscope in it. Dark grey text reads: “Within the last year: 34% of Black trans people who saw a healthcare provider had a negative experience related to being transgender. 26% of Black trans people did not see a doctor when they needed to because they feared they'd experience discrimination. 40% of Black trans people did not see a doctor when they needed to because they could not afford to.” At bottom in dark grey reads: “Black History Month 2023 Black Trans Resistance An AWN Network infographic series. “ In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a teal spoonie dragonfly and our website awnnetwork.org.

3. Reported rates of family acceptance for Black trans people were higher than for any other racial group in the 2015 US Trans study, with 79% having at least one immediate family member actively supporting their transition in some way. And 59% reported their family as a whole was supportive.

4. Of those who currently belong to a faith community, 93% of Black Trans people report that the community has been explicitly welcoming and accepting. This includes the 30% of Black trans people belonging to a spiritual community within the past year. GLAAD has a video about the experiences of Black Christians seeking acceptance in faith communities [watch].

Illustration and text against a dark grey background At top center is a bright pink circle with a stethoscope in it. Dark grey text reads: “Within the last year: 34% of Black trans people who saw a healthcare provider had a negative experience related to being transgender. 26% of Black trans people did not see a doctor when they needed to because they feared they'd experience discrimination. 40% of Black trans people did not see a doctor when they needed to because they could not afford to.” At bottom in dark grey reads: “Black History Month 2023 Black Trans Resistance An AWN Network infographic series. “ In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a teal spoonie dragonfly and our website awnnetwork.org.

5. Black trans people regularly face discrimination at healthcare providers, and many avoid doctors for financial reasons and out of stigma and lack of provider education/acceptance of trans people, with 34% reporting negative experiences. This means 26% avoid a doctor because of fear of discrimination and 40% avoid doctors for financial reasons.

6. The poverty rate for Black trans people is nearly 3 times as high as the overall rate for the US population, at 38% in the US Trans Survey compared to 12% of the general population according to the Census, and 24% of Black people in the U.S. population. Black nonbinary people (46%) and transgender women (44%) were more likely to be living in poverty than transgender men (27%). Black disabled trans people with disabilities also experienced even higher poverty rates at 48%. This illustrates how the interconnectedness of race, gender identity, misogyny, and ableism all contribute to job discrimination and lack of employment opportunities.

Illustration and text against a pale grey background At top center is drawing of a pink circle around a red and grey stethoscope. Dark grey text reads: “As of their 3 year anniversary in July 2022, For the Gworls had raised and distributed over $2.5 million to Black trans people. This included: $2,375,814 for rent and gender affirmative surgery $163,467 for general medical/healthcare needs For the Gworls is a Black trans-led collective that raises funds to help Black trans people pay for their rent, gender-affirming surgeries, medical co-pays, and travel assistance. For more info visit: http://www.forthegworls.party/home “ At the bottom in dark grey and bright pink text reads: “Black History Month 2023 Black Trans Resistance An AWN Network infographic series” In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a teal spoonie dragonfly and our website awnnetwork.org.

7. For the Gworls is a Black trans-led collective that is working to help Black trans people afford medical care including gender-affirming surgeries, along with rent. In just over 3 years, @ForTheGworls raised over $2.5 million for the community.

Both For the Gworls and The Okra Project, in addition to many other grassroots Black trans organizations providing mutual aid like the Marsha P. Johnson Institute, illustrate the resilience of Black trans communities in taking care of their own even in tough times. We hope you’ll check out these organizations plus data from the 2015 US Trans Survey. Also, National Center for Transgender Equality just completed data collection for a 2022 US Trans Survey, which will be released in the near future with updated numbers.

IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS:

[Featured Image (top of page):

Illustration and text against a pale grey background.

Text reads:

“BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2023

BLACK TRANS RESISTANCE”

At center is a drawing of a Black fist raised with bracelets in the trans flag colors: pink, white and blue.

At center bottom dark text reads:
“an AWN Network Infographic Series”

In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a teal spoonie dragonfly and our website awnnetwork.org. ]

[Image 1:

Illustration and text against a dark grey background. At top center is a bright pink circle with a drawing of a grey and beige house. Dark grey text and a blue, pink and grey bar graph are at the center.

42% of Black trans people have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives. Graph showing rates of homelessness: Black Trans People, Trans People Overall, People Overall (U.S.). 22% of Black trans people experienced homelessness in the past year specifically because of their transgender identity.

At bottom in dark grey reads: “Black History Month 2023 Black Trans Resistance An AWN Network infographic series. In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a teal spoonie dragonfly and our website awnnetwork.org. ]

[Image 2:
Illustration and text against a pale grey background

At top center is drawing of a pink circle around a light brown house with a dark brown door in front.

At center, text reads:
“In 2022, the Okra Project raised and distributed over $400,000 to aid Black trans and gender non-conforming people in various US cities in accessing food security, housing, and professional development.

The Okra Project is a grassroots mutual aid collective founded and run by Black trans people for Black trans people.

For more info visit: http://www.theokraproject.com “

At the bottom in dark grey and bright pink text reads:
“Black History Month 2023

Black Trans Resistance

An AWN Network infographic series”

In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a teal spoonie dragonfly and our website awnnetwork.org.

End image description. ] 

[Image 3:

Illustration and text against a dark grey background

At top center is a bright pink circle with a Black hand holding up a peace sign. On the wrist of the hand is a pink, blue and white sweatband. 

Dark grey text reads:

“59% of Black trans people who are out to at least some people from their family of origin say their family is generally supportive.
More than three-quarters (79%) of Black trans people have at least one immediate family member who has actively supported their gender identity and/or transition in some way.

Reported rates of family acceptance for Black trans people were higher than for any other racial group in the study.

SOURCE: 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS) conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality”

At bottom in dark grey reads:

“Black History Month 2023

Black Trans Resistance

An AWN Network infographic series. “]

[Image 4:
Illustration and text against a pale grey background

At top center is drawing of a pink circle around a pair of Black hands clasped together. Circling the hands are four different symbols: a cross, the Star of David, a moon and star and a yin yang.

Dark grey text reads:

“More than 30% of Black Trans people have belonged to a religious or spiritual community within the past year.

Of those who currently belong to a faith community, 93% of Black Trans people report that the community has been explicitly welcoming and accepting of their transgender identity.”

At the bottom in black and bright pink text reads:
“Black History Month 2023

Black Trans Resistance

An AWN Network infographic series” In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a teal spoonie dragonfly and our website awnnetwork.org. ] 

[Image 5:

Image description 4:
Illustration and text against a dark grey background

At top center is a bright pink circle with a stethoscope in it.

Dark grey text reads:

“Within the last year:
34% of Black trans people who saw a healthcare provider had a negative experience related to being transgender.

26% of Black trans people did not see a doctor when they needed to  because they feared they’d experience discrimination.

40% of Black trans people did not see a doctor when they needed to because they could not afford to.”

At bottom in dark grey reads:

“Black History Month 2023

Black Trans Resistance

An AWN Network infographic series. “

In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a teal spoonie dragonfly and our website awnnetwork.org. ] 

[Image 6:

Illustration and text against a pale grey background

At top center is drawing of a pink circle around a stack of green money with a white band on it.

At center there is a bar graph showing poverty rates includes data for Black Trans People (women, nonbinary, men), Black People Overall, People Overall (U.S.). 38% of Black trans people in the US are living in poverty, compared to 24% of all Black people in the US.
The poverty rate for Black trans people is nearly 3 times as high as the overall rate for the US population.

At the bottom in dark grey and bright pink text reads:
“Black History Month 2023

Black Trans Resistance

An AWN Network infographic series”

In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a teal spoonie dragonfly and our website awnnetwork.org. ] 

[Image 7:

Illustration and text against a pale grey background

At top center is drawing of a pink circle around a red and grey stethoscope.

Dark grey text reads:

“As of their 3 year anniversary in July 2022, For the Gworls had
raised and distributed over $2.5 million to Black trans people.
This included:

$2,375,814 for rent and gender affirmative surgery

$163,467 for general medical/healthcare needs

For the Gworls is a Black trans-led collective that raises funds to help Black trans people pay for their rent, gender-affirming surgeries, medical co-pays, and travel assistance.

For more info visit: http://www.forthegworls.party/home “

At the bottom in dark grey and bright pink text reads:
“Black History Month 2023

Black Trans Resistance

An AWN Network infographic series”

In the lower right hand corner is the awn logo: a large pink “a” with a teal spoonie dragonfly and our website awnnetwork.org.  ]