Black Trans* Women's Lives Matter

A Brooklyn man named James Dixon was arrested earlier today for the 2013 murder in Harlem of Islan Nettles, a 21 year-old Black woman of trans experience.   Dixon, 24, has been indicted for both manslaughter and felony assault, and pled not guilty during today’s arraignment. However, Dixon’s not guilty plea is in complete contrast to his *written* and *video*confession of the crime he gave nearly two years ago. On August 21, 2013, just days after the attack, Dixon voluntarily turned himself in to the authorities and gave his admission of guilt statements to officers of the 32nd Precinct. Shockingly, he was still  released from custody and has been at large up until today’s arrest. On August 17, 2013, Islan Nettles and her girlfriends were walking near Frederick Douglas Blvd and West 148th St in Harlem. A few men approached the women, including Dixon and his friend Paris Wilson, and soon began hurling transphobic and misogynistic words at Nett...

Following the tragic murder last week in New Orleans of a 21 year old Black trans woman named Penny Proud , noted NYC trans advocate Kristen Parker quickly responded with a moving video commentary which was so unedited and emotionally powerful that it quickly went viral in many trans and ally circles.   Kristen is 33, from the Bronx and is currently the Program Coordinator of MCCNY’s Trans in Action. Towards the beginning of Kristen’s near five minute long video she exclaims, “ We are human, we are here! There is nothing that you can do that is going to change the fact that I exist…There is nothing that you can do at this point that can stifle our voice. You can take one of us away and ten more will come! ” Throughout the video Kristen reiterated her disdain for the double standard often seen in some non-trans African American individuals (including some Black churches, many hip hop lyrics, online comments sections, Black national/local non-profits and some racia...