Post submitted by Dr. Denise Donnell, HRC Arkansas Faith Organizer
Earlier this month, HRC Arkansas participated in the Community Talks Conference: Building Safe Spaces for the Transgender Community hosted by The McElroy House. Located in Dardanelle, Arkansas, the McElroy House is a grassroots organization that provides garden space and a roof where people can reach across racial, economic and religious divides and other boundaries to stand in solidarity with others through the inter-relatedness of our lived experiences. Living Room Conversations–the umbrella term for this event–seeks to bring community members together for dialogue and to gather resources for fighting discrimination.
The conference design included two formats: 1) a panel discussion, and 2) breakout sessions. During the conference, members of the transgender community and their allies discussed the barriers that directly impact the quality of life for people who are transgender and ways to obliterate them.
One such barrier is anti-transgender violence. In partnership with Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC), HRC released a report that reveals the realities that conspire to put people who are transgender at risk and challenges policymakers, advocates and both public and private sector leaders to pursue identified solutions.
In 2015, 21 transgender women were killed, the majority of whom were women of color. In the first eight months of 2016, already 17 people who are transgender have been killed with most of the victims being people of color.
The conference allowed HRC Arkansas to share more broadly its concern for the transgender community and HRC’s willingness to stand in solidarity and fight trans antagonism.
More information about how HRC’s work with TPOCC, access Addressing Anti-Transgender Violence: Exploring Realities, Challenges and Solutions.
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