TPOCC: Advocating for Trans People of Color During Black History Month and All Year Long
Tuesday, February 19, 2013 - 11:00am by Mari Haywood, Trans Issues Intern at GLAAD
http://www.glaad.org/blog/tpocc-advocating-trans-people-color-during-black-history-month-and-all-year-longThe Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC) is a 3 year old non for profit organization founded by attorney, professor and activist Kylar Broadus. TPOCC is the only national social justice organization that promotes the interest of trans people of color. GLAAD during the month of February sat down with Kylar to discuss the current and future projects of TPOCC and how the organization has made an impact in the fight against defamation and discrimination against trans people of color.
Mari Haywood : What prompted you to establish such an organization for transgender individuals?
Kylar Broadus: I've had the concept for years; working within the LGBTQI community began to notice our movement runs parallel to the inherent racism and classism what happens in greater society. There is systemic and institutionalized racism and classism, so we must be aware of it at all times and work hard to counter act it. Race is a subject people don't like to discuss but it impacts us all particularly, people of color. Having worked in the private sector, I found the nonprofit world wasn't any different. The issues of race and class permeate the greater LGBTQI movement that has just in the last decade, begun to talk about racial and economic justice. In my eyes, this created a need for Trans* and gender nonconforming people of color to be self-empowered by telling our own stories and advocating for our needs best because we have lived our story. So, who can tell it better?
