It’s Trans Awareness Week, and more than ever we must honor, uplift, and defend the the rights and lived experiences of the TGNCIQ+ (transgender, gender non-conforming, intersex, and queer) community.

In the past year, at least 30 transgender and gender expansive people have been killed in the United States. As we mourn those lost to hate, we also recommit ourselves to continue fighting to protect everyone in the TGNCIQ+ community.

This week, our Trans Immigrant Project (TrIP) hosted a panel with trans elders who shared their struggles and stories of resilience in the fight for liberation of trans people. Our members also held a powerful vigil honoring those tragically lost.

We are also celebrating the accomplishments and resilience of trans and gender expansive people. Yesterday, the New York City Council honored our TrIP leaders with a proclamation for for their inspiring and fearless efforts to advance and defend the rights of the TGNCIQ+ community.

Trans people are the embodiment of liberation. They are a light in the paradigm of ownership that is a fundamental pillar in systems of oppression. Whether it’s Mayor Adams criminalizing trans women in Queens, or the incoming Trump administration’s proposed bans on gender-affirming care, we know that the fight ahead will be difficult, but we are prepared to fight. 

We recognize the interconnectedness of our struggles for racial, economic, and gender justice, and will continue to stand with the trans community.

Today, we ask you to read this powerful op-ed by our member Janitzia Lara who writes about the struggles and discrimination trans people face when searching for jobs.

The fight for trans rights is a fight for freedom, dignity, and the right to live without fear or restriction.

In solidarity, 

— Bianey Garcia and Mateo Guerrero, TGNCIQ+ Justice Organizers