Dear Family,
Today, on Transgender Day of Remembrance, I write with both grief and determination. Each name we add to our list represents a complete life, a beloved person whose absence leaves an irreplaceable void. You are not statistics – you are our siblings, our friends, our leaders. You are the beating heart of our liberation movement.
We Remember
We speak their names. We remember not just how they died, but how they lived – their laughter, their dreams, their contributions. The majority of those stolen from us this year were Black and Brown trans women under 35. This isn’t a coincidence; it’s the deadly result of transmisogyny, racism, poverty, and systematic discrimination that we must confront head-on.
We Honor
To every BiPOC trans person reading this: Your survival is revolution. Your joy is resistance.
I see you navigating hostile healthcare systems and fighting for employment in unwelcoming workplaces and creating chosen families when biological ones fail you—showing up for the community even when you’re barely holding on. Your strength astounds me, even as I wish you didn’t have to be so strong.
We Act
Remembrance without action is hollow. Atlanta Black Pride commits to:
- Centering trans voices in our leadership and programming
- Providing dedicated resources for the BiPOC trans community members
- Fighting anti-trans legislation
- Creating spaces where trans joy can flourish
- Supporting trans-led organizations of color
True solidarity means more than posts and pride flags. It means showing up when your rights are threatened. It means calling out transphobia in our own communities. It means ensuring our spaces truly welcome and affirm you.
My Promise to You
There is no Black Pride without our trans family. Our liberation is bound together.
To our trans youth: You deserve to grow old and see your dreams realized.
To our trans elders: Your survival made ours possible. Thank you.
To those finding their way: You are valid at every stage of your journey.
To our allies: Move beyond awareness to action. Donate. Challenge transphobia. Use your privilege for change.
If you’re a BiPOC trans person who needs support, Atlanta Black Pride is here – not just today, but every day. You are not alone.
Let our grief transform into action. Let our remembrance fuel our resistance. The systems perpetuating violence against BiPOC trans people were built, which means we can dismantle them. Together.
Today, we mourn. Tomorrow, we organize. Always, we love.
In solidarity,
Terence Stewart
President and CEO
Atlanta Black Pride, Inc.