Black trans women want the media to show them living, not just dying
Summary
In April, coverage of 23-year-old trans woman Muhlaysia Booker, who was attacked by a mob after a minor traffic accident, spread across social media like wildfire. In five weeks, she went from a symbol of transgender resistance — catapulted into the national spotlight after a viral video showed her fighting back against a mob attack — to a martyr.” It’s not that there isn’t a staggering amount of violence against black trans women: One day after Booker’s shooting, Michelle Tamika Washington, 40, was fatally shot in Philadelphia. Our deaths are turned into moments for profit.” Every month of every year, I am reminded of my place in society when the media only pays attention to black trans girls like me if it involves violence. Last month, the Trump administration announced plans to gut protections for trans people in homeless shelters, legislation that could go into effect as early as September. Instead of just posting hashtags, we should be more intentional with challenging Trump’s attack on our access to health care and housing, issues that affect black trans people directly.
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