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So, once I decided on writing an article regarding Black History Month, I had to decide if I would write about some historical African-American who was either transgender or blurred the gender stereotypes (like Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton's penchant for wearing men's clothing) or about someone who is very active in the transgender community (like Washington, D.C. activist Earline Budd of Transgender Health Empowerment). Instead, I'm choosing to talk about some of the issues transgender African-Americans have to face.

Every November the transgender community stops to remember those people who have been murdered because they do not seem to conform to gender stereotypes. Since 2002, when I first became involved, a large percentage of these murder victims have been black.