Author Archives: Marin

by | November 20, 2020 · 6:29 pm

Remembrance, Resilience, and Resistance

Artwork reading "Trans People Exist in the Future"

Artwork by Kah Yangni (@kahyangni on Instagram | www.kahyangni.com) and Forward Together (@fwdtogether)

November 20th is Trans Day of Remembrance & Resilience. It’s a day to honor the legacies of our trans and nonbinary people who were taken from the world due to violence, discrimination, and hate. As we remember and honor their lives by saying their names with love and respect, it is a reminder that we shall continue to find ways of giving love and standing for trans justice everywhere.

In the last year, more than 350 reported transgender and non-binary lives have been taken worldwide due to anti-trans violence, discrimination, and hate. 51 of these deaths were in the U.S., and of these, most of the reported deaths are Black trans women. And the actual numbers of lives we’ve lost are likely higher than reported because so many trans people are marginalized, misgendered, misidentified, or unaccounted for even in death.

The year 2020 has been especially tough as the world continues to grapple with a pandemic that impacts our trans and non-binary communities who already fight for access to healthcare. Though Trans Day of Remembrance specifically focuses on murders of trans people, we have lost many this year to the rapid spread of COVID-19, including irreplaceable community figures like Lorena Borjas. The neglectful response to the pandemic by our federal government; the broken institutions that demand workers choose between exposure to the virus or losing their income; the homelessness, hunger, isolation, and poverty that are rampant among trans people and those who are considered disposable–these, too, are violence. Just like individuals motivated by ignorance and hatred, these systems take lives every day.

The impacts of these deaths on the families, friends, communities, and loved ones left behind are immeasurable.

In these moments of honoring the lives of those taken from us too soon, we also invite you to celebrate the trans communities that continue to exist every single day. Express your gratitude towards trans and non-binary folx in your life. Be kind to yourself and to others every chance you get. Remind yourself that what we have is each other, and that no one is disposable.

Even in a world that tries to erase, eradicate, and diminish our light, our communities remain powerful. Within this resistance there is a brilliant resilience and legacy.

To keep this life-sustaining work going, we encourage everyone to donate within their capacity or volunteer with a local, trans-led group. We’ve compiled a list of all 261 of our 2020 grantees to help serve as a guide to where you can donate and share at.

To learn about how we can demand trans liberation, especially for our Black Trans Women and Black Trans Femmes, please check out Transgender Law Center’s website for the Trans Agenda For Liberation.

Our lives and communities are part of the legacy of trans justice that strengthens our resilience and fuels our resistance. Let us remember, celebrate, and uplift those we’ve lost and honor the ones who are still here. Together we build this legacy of trans justice where trans and nonbinary folks will not only survive, but will thrive, free to live and to love.

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by | November 19, 2020 · 4:21 pm

Happy Trans Awareness Week from TJFP!

Image: Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson

Happy Trans Awareness Week! Were you aware that…

– For every $100 awarded by U.S. foundations, only .04 cents supports transgender communities.

– In 2016, a survey of 455 trans justice groups across the globe found that only half of these groups had any paid staff at all–meaning that the rest are doing life-saving work with little to no compensation.

– Trans organizations often operate with very low budgets: three-quarters of our grantees in 2019 had annual budgets under $50,000, as did three-quarters of the groups worldwide from the survey above.

 

Are you also aware that…

– Trans community, trans activism, and trans leadership have persisted throughout time. Grassroots, BIPOC- and trans-led groups like STAR (co-founders Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson pictured above) have worked to feed, house, and care for our trans siblings for decades. Despite so many barriers to resources, we have fought with ferocity and love, and we will continue to do so!

– You can discover more about our amazing grantees through our website’s interactive map and lists of grantees from our 8 years of funding! No matter the political changes occurring on the national stage, the grassroots are where the effects will be felt–and where so much of the vital work will be done. Take a look at the work that’s happening in your area. We encourage you to donate, volunteer, or do what you can to support!

 

Sources:

Funders for LGBTQ Issues–2018 Tracking Report

American Jewish World Service, Astraea, and Global Action for Trans Equality–The State of Trans Organizing, 2nd Edition

Trans Justice Funding Project–2019 Annual Report

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by | June 22, 2020 · 5:08 pm

Announcing TJFP’s 2020 Grantees!

We are pleased to announce that our 2020 grantmaking team moved over ONE MILLION DOLLARS to 261 grassroots trans-led groups around the country!

TJFP is so grateful for this year’s team and for the time, energy, and heart that was poured into every part of this grantmaking process. Each year we feel overwhelmed by the support of our friends and amazing community who helped make this happen– from outreach, volunteering, coordinating food delivery, taking notes, and donating or sharing our fundraiser which helped us reach and exceed our 80k fundraising goal!

Each year our community grantmaking panel reads and reviews every application that is submitted, and together they are tasked with making some very tough funding decisions. The TJFP fellows do this work with heart, experience, and generosity, all while also tending to their own work and lives as trans justice activists and organizers. Each fellow reviews applications using an intersectional lens, paying close attention to where resources are being redistributed geographically, and doing this with no strings attached, truly trusting that TJFP grantees know what’s best for their own communities. 

It’s because of these brilliant community grantmaking Fellows, as well as our amazing TJFP coordinating team and facilitators, that we are able to get this done each year. And we absolutely  wouldn’t be able to move as much money to the hundreds of incredible grassroots trans justice groups without our amazing friends, family, donors, volunteers, applicants, and grantees! 

As always, we are inspired by each and every application that was submitted. Again, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for honoring the legacy and efforts of our trans justice movements.  Our grantmaking process is always a labor of love rooted in trusting and believing in trans leadership and it is forever an honor to do this with so many of you! 

We encourage you to check out TJFP’s 2020 grantees, share their work, or donate to them directly!

 

Alaska

Choosing Our Roots, Anchorage

 

Alabama

The Knights & Orchids Society, Selma

The TRANShue Project, Faunsdale

Visibly Trans*, Birmingham

 

American Samoa

IMPACT, Pago Pago

 

Arkansas

inTRANSitive, Little Rock

 

Arizona

Chukshon Healing Network, Tucson

Equality Arizona, Phoenix

The Outlaw Project, Phoenix

Peacework Medical, Phoenix

Southern Arizona Gender Alliance, Tucson

Transcend Arizona, Paradise Valley

 

California

#BlackGirlzRule Coordinating Committee, San Francisco

API Equality – Northern California (APIENC), San Francisco

API TransFusion, Oakland

Beyond Binary Legal, Long Beach

Deaf Queer Resource Center, San Francisco

Dem Bois Inc., San Pablo

Gender Justice LA, Los Angeles

Health Justice Commons, Richmond

Homobiles, SAN LEANDRO

Indigenous Pride LA, Los Angeles

Intersex & Genderqueer Recognition Project, Fremont

Kween Culture Initiative, Oakland

Los Angeles Spoonie Collective, North Hills

Mirror Memoirs, Los Angeles

National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network, Oakland

Northstate Trans*/GNC Project, Chico

Peacock Rebellion, Oakland

Quest House Community Healing, Pacifica

San Francisco Transgender Film Festival, San Francisco

Somos Familia Valle, Mission Hills

Trans and Queer Youth for Gender Justice, Oakland

The SisTrahood, La Mesa

T4T Caregiving, Pacifica

Trans and Nonbinary Housing Collective, Sacramento

TRANScend, San Francisco

TRANScending in Nature, Greenfield

Unique Woman’s Coalition, Los Angeles

Welcome, San Francisco

 

Washington DC 

AllowMe,

ARCOIRIS

Black & Indigenous Transgender Safehaus (B.I.T.S.)

Bois Modeling Transformative Justice (BMTJ)

Nelwat Ishkamewe

No Justice No Pride

Pawsitive Palz

Plantita Power

Starseed Earthroot

They them collective

Trans People of Color Coalition

Trans Terps DC

Trans United

Trans Women of Color Collective

 

Florida

Black Masc, Sunrise

Bridging the gap!, Fort Lauderdale

Florida Coalition for Trans Liberation, Tallahassee

The Halfway Point, Tallahassee

LIPS Tampa, Apopka

New Beginnings TLC, Inc., Winter Haven

Orlando Trans Collective, Orlando

QLatinx, Orlando

Rooted Resistance, Tallahassee

Social Film Projects LLC, North Miami Beach

TransInclusive Group, Pembroke Pines

TransSOCIAL, Inc., Miami

Unity Coalition|Coalicion Unida, Miami Beach

Unspoken Treasure Society, Brooker

 

Georgia

COMMUNITY ESTRELLA, Acworth

Community Roots, Decatur

Freedom Overground, Marietta

International Association of Trans Bodybuilders and Powerlifters, IATBP, Atlanta

Q&A, Sandy Springs

Queer Culture[s], Atlanta

Sexual Liberation Collective, Decatur

Southern Fried Queer Pride, Atlanta

TMBLM, Inc., Duluth

Trans Housing Atlanta Program, Atlanta

Trans-Individuals Living Their Truth, Decatur

Trans*Visible, Covington

Trans(forming), East Point

TRANScending Barriers Atlanta, Atlanta

Ubuntu Incorporated, Lithia Springs

 

Hawaii

Anuenue Alliance, Honolulu

HEARTS Maui, Wailuku

Kuaana Project, Honolulu

 

Illinois

Brave Space Alliance, Chicago

Masjid al-Rabia, Chicago

Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois, Chicago

Transilient, Chicago

Youth Empowerment Performance Project (YEPP), Chicago

 

Indiana

GenderNexus, Indianapolis

TREES, Inc., South Bend

 

Louisiana

CANScantSTAND, New Orleans

Deep South Wellness Project, New Orleans

Imagine Water Works, New Orleans

LOUD, New Orleans

New Legacy Media Ministries, New Orleans

 

Massachusetts

Black and Pink Boston Chapter, Dorchester

Rebel Cause Inc, Springfield

Sonrisas, Cheshire

Trans Asylum Seekers Support Network and Ministry Alliance, Amherst

 

Maryland

Baltimore Safe Haven, Baltimore

The Maryland Trans Resilience Conference, Baltimore

Sistas of the “t”, Baltimore

Trans Maryland, Gaithersburg

Trans-Latinx DMV, Baltimore

 

Maine

Maine Transgender Network INC., Portland

Portland Outright, Portland

 

Michigan

Grand Rapids Trans Foundation, Grand Rapids

Grassroots Activism Direct Emergency-GADES, Ferndale

Native Justice Coalition, Manistee

NUII WAAV BROTHERHOOD, Detroit

Salus Center UCC, Lansing

TGNC Emotional Wellness Providers’ Summit, Detroit

Trans Sistas of Color Project, Highland park

Transcend the Binary, Ferndale

 

Minnesota

20% Theatre Company, Minneapolis

For the Culture, Minneapolis

Open Flame Theatre, Minneapolis

Queer Science, Saint Paul

shOUT: Minnesota’s Trans & Gender Diverse Voices, Minneapolis

SPIRAL Collective, Minneapolis

 

Missouri

Feed the People Garden Project, St. Louis

Gabriella Rosé Justice Support System, Columbia

Kansas City Center for Inclusion, Kansas City

Lot’s Wife Trans and Queer Chaplaincy, St Louis

Metro Trans Umbrella Group, St. Louis

Mid Missouri Transgender Support, Jefferson City

Our Spot KC, Kansas City

St. Louis Anti-Violence Project, St. Louis

Trans Queer Flat STL, St. Louis

Transformations, Kansas City

Transfuturism by The Justice Fleet, St Louis

 

Mississippi

Bois of the Sippi, Corinth

 

North Carolina

Asheville Transformers, Asheville

House of Pentacles, Durham

NC Trans Leadership Network, Asheville

Name Change Project, Asheville

Pansy Collective, Asheville

QORDS, Durham

Radical Kindred, Boone

There’s Still Hope, Charlotte

WNC QTPOC Support Group, Asheville

 

Nebraska

Trans Collaborations Community Board, Kearney

 

New Jersey

Black Excellence Collective, Newark

New Jersey Red Umbrella Alliance, Long Branch

Tertium Quid, Jersey City

 

New Mexico

Albuquerque Queer Trans Community Yoga, Albuquerque

Decolonize Massage, Albuquerque

SW Two Spirit Society, Albuquerque

Trans Liberation Coalition, Albuquerque

 

Nevada

Gender Justice Nevada, Las Vegas

Las Vegas TransPride, Las Vegas

Trans Pride Foundation, Las Vegas

 

New York

Activation, Woodridge

Awakening Trans Art Coalition, Boiceville

Black Trans Blessing, Bronx

Black Trans Femmes in the Arts, Brooklyn

Black Trans Media, Brooklyn

Black Trans Travel Fund, Bronx

BlackCuse Pride, Syracuse

Caribbean Equality Project, Queens

Colectivo intercultural TRANSgrediendo / CITG, Jackson Heights

Community Kinship Life (Ck life), Bronx

Crystal LaBeija Organizing Fellowship, Brooklyn

Cuir Kitchen Brigade, Brooklyn

Dorian Corey Project WNY/Transgressions, Kenmore

F2L, New York

For The Gworls, Brooklyn

The G.H.O.S.T. Project, Brooklyn

Gays & Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society (GLITS), Queens

The Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center, New York

LEGION (League for Equity of Gender In Our Neighborhoods), Rochester

Lighthouse Mutual Aid, Saugerties

metaDEN, Brooklyn

Mirror Trans Beauty LLC, Brooklyn

Newburgh LGBTQ+ Center, Newburgh

NYC Trans Oral History Project, New York

The Okra Project, Brooklyn

Organización Latina Trans de New York, Brooklyn

Princess Janae Place Inc, Bronx

Radical Joy and Mental Health x Emulisfy, Brooklyn

Strategic Trans Alliance for Radical Reform (STARR), Schenechtady

T-FFED (Trans Folx Fighting Eating Disorders), Brooklyn

Trans Lab, New York

Trans Resistance Through Media, Bronx

TransGenerational Theatre Project, Long Island City

 

Ohio

Black Queer & Intersectional Collective, Columbus

META Center Inc., Akron

Margie’s Hope, Akron

TRANSlate, Cleveland

TransOhio, Columbus

 

Oklahoma

Transpire Oklahoma, Inc., Tulsa

 

Oregon

Beyond These Walls, Portland

Glitter Squadron, Portland

Point of Pride, Eugene

QTPoC Mental Health, Portland

Trans*Ponder, Eugene

 

Pennsylvania

Hearts on a Wire, Philadelphia

Interfaith Working Group dba Transfaith, Philadelphia

Lehigh Valley Transgender Renaissance, Orefield

T’DAS: Transgender Domestic Abuse Sanctuary, Philadelphia

Trans Minors Rights, Lititz

TransCamp, Philadelphia

TransFamily of NWPA, Erie

 

Puerto Rico

Arianna’s Center / Puerto Rico, San Juan

Editorial Casa Cuna, Hormigueros

EspicyNipples, Guayama

Fundación Boreales, Carolina

Pólvora Colectiva, San Juan

Semillas, San Juan

T.E.A. ( Transgenero En Accion ), Guaynabo

Trans Feria. San Juan, San Juan

 

Rhode Island

Triumphant 2Gether, Providence

 

South Carolina

Alpha Omega Kappa Fraternity, Inc., Lexington

Gender Benders, Piedmont

Pride Link, Greenville

T-Time Transgender Support, Myrtle Beach

Transgender Awareness Alliance: Greg Green, Lexington

We Are Family, North Charleston

 

South Dakota

Two Spirit Nation, Porcupine

 

Tennessee

Bold & Beautiful, Memphis

The Meadow Collective, Liberty

Trans Empowerment Project, Knoxville

WeCareTN, Memphis

 

Texas

Black and Brown Biennale, Houston

Black Trans MX, Carrollton

Black Transmen Inc, Carrollton

Black Transwomen Inc, Carrollton

Borderland Rainbow Center, El Paso

Cicada Collective, Lewisville

Coastal Bend Trans Alliance, Corpus Christi

Cons.T.ruct, Houston

GenTex, McAllen

Latinas Trans Austin, Houston

Latinas Trans Dallas, Houston

Organizacion Latina Trans in Texas, Houston

Revolution Foundation, Dallas

Trans Legal Aid Clinic Houston, Houston

Trans Pride Initiative, Dallas

 

Virginia

Charlottesville Trans Peer Group, Troy

Garden of Peace, Inc., Newport News

MINORITY TRANSGENDER UNITY, Norfolk

Power Safe Place Resource Center of Virginia, Front Royal

South eastern transgender Resource Center, Norfolk

Stand for Art Foundation, Alexandria

TEA of Greater Washington D.C., Burke

Transgender Assistance Program of Virginia – TAPVA, Virginia Beach

Transgender Veterans Support Group-Virginia, Richmond

Twin Oaks Queer Gathering, Louisa

 

Vermont

Out in the Open, Brattleboro

 

Washington

Beyond Bars and Binaries, Tacoma

The Black Trans Prayer Book, Seattle

Heartspark Press, Olympia

QTPOC Birthwerq Project, Seattle

Rad Care, Seattle

Solace, Spokane

Stonewall Youth, Olympia

Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network, Seattle

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by | June 2, 2020 · 7:41 pm

Young, Gifted, and Black: We Fight Back!

Artwork by Glori Tuitt, @glorifice_

Beloved Community, Family, and Friends, 

It would be impossible for us as grantmakers to ignore what’s happening in the United States right now. There is no way to overstate how vital Black trans lives have been to the Trans Justice Funding Project, to the grassroots trans organizers we serve, to the trans justice movement as a whole. Unequivocally, absolutely, Black Lives Matter!

TJFP is a Black, Brown, and Indigenous-led organization that has continuously prioritized moving resources across the country to support Black trans groups and organizations, while centering their experiences and leadership. It is an honor and a moral duty to do so.

It’s notable that over the past several days there have been endless conversations and messaging discrediting activists and protestors, which avoids addressing the real conversation at hand, state sanctioned anti-black violence carried out by police. This is a tactic to sway us away from focusing on accountability and it is unacceptable. The systems that are literally killing us must be dismantled. And they must be defunded.

At TJFP we believe there is no world in which trans liberation can occur without racial justice. There cannot be Pride for a few when there is violence, repression, and injustice for so many. Some of us owe our very existence to the visions, strategies, and radical courage of organizers of the past and today. 

We must honor this legacy and support Black trans leaders to lead, to organize, to envision, as they build a better tomorrow for us all. So many of the groups we fund are made up of trans people of color working within their local communities, providing direct services and resources to cover gaps or repair harms inflicted by state systems like the police. Trans justice looks like transformative justice, like gender justice, like prison abolition and anti-policing work, like disability justice, like economic justice, like solidarity with racial justice organizations, like Black trans leadership leading the way. 

We protect us. These systems were not designed with the intention of our freedom. And protection was never meant for us, not in a nation built on the oppression of Black people on stolen land. We see the need, year after year, read it in application after application, the impact of militarization, surveillance, and policing on Black bodies, on Black trans bodies, on trans bodies of color across the nation. Tony McDade. Nina Pop. Layleen Polanco Xtravaganza. And countless others, casualties of a system that values property and “business as usual” over justice, dignity, and human life.

To the Black leaders who are doing this work, thank you. Thank you for your time and your energy, your brilliance and your strength, your anger and your love. Thank you for being Black excellence in all the ways you may not even realize. Please survive this in any way you can.  To the rest of our TJFP family, we encourage you to find Black-led organizations in your area to consider funding them directly. Our interactive map and our lists of grantees can tell you more about trans-led organizations in your area to aid you in your research.

 

In love and solidarity, 

The staff at TJFP 

 

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by | May 15, 2020 · 2:30 pm

Introducing 2020 TJFP Community Grantmaking Fellow, Emmett Schelling!

We’re thrilled to introduce our sixth and final Community Grantmaking Fellow, Emmett Schelling!

Emmett is a South Korean trans immigrant by way of foreign adoption who leads the largest statewide trans led advocacy org in Texas. While his primary focus of work is on trans issues, his passion and understanding that individuals at their wholest and fullest are not impacted by single issues, but rather a myriad of issues that often manifest themselves in oppression and marginalization.

Before entering into movement/nonprofit work he came from corporate management after studying Business Management and Marketing in college. He felt compelled to invest deeper into the ongoing work towards collective liberation of trans folks after taking on various levels of community organizing and engagement combined with a series of eye opening events that pulled him into the work he currently does.

As well as currently serving as the Executive Director of Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT) Emmett serves on the Community Council for Transform Houston, is a board member of Deeds Not Words, is a Co-Director for the TransFORWARD, a statewide trans powered research collective in Texas.

We can’t wait to build with you Emmett!

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by | May 8, 2020 · 1:28 pm

Introducing 2020 TJFP Community Grantmaking Fellow, Nicole Fernandes!

We’re over the moon about the fifth of our six 2020 TJFP grantmaking fellows, Nicole Fernandes!

Nicole Fernandes is a South Asian Trans Woman new to the world of philanthropy. She comes from a more direct service and grassroots background, having worked at the LGBT Center of New York, and participating as a fellow at the Sylvia Rivera Law Project. Currently, she is the Finance and Administrative Associate at Funders for LGBTQ Issues where she is beginning her career in philanthropy. Nicole finds joy in binge watching shows with her sisters and making a mess with acrylic paints.

Thank you for bringing your wisdom and generosity to this years grantmaking process!

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by | May 4, 2020 · 12:42 pm

Introducing 2020 TJFP Community Grantmaking Fellow, nathaniel gonzalez!

We’re honored to have nathaniel gonzalez join the TJFP 2020 grantmaking panel!

nathaniel is a facilitator & organizational development consultant whose work focuses on supporting local and national progressive non-profits in growing their work.

Rooted in healing justice practices, nathaniel, specializes in facilitating intersectional: process consultation, strategic planning, leadership development, organizational culture change, program development, and decision-making strategies. He also has a deep familiarity with Board development, conflict mediation, and onboarding processes.

He observes silence most Mondays, spells his name lower case, is the founder of For the Culture, listens to music loudly, and giggles deep belly giggles at inappropriate moments. He questions capitalism but loves new sneakers. And truth be told, when he asks how your day is, he genuinely wants to know.

We’re grateful for your thoughtfulness and looking forward to your brilliance!

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by | April 27, 2020 · 12:14 pm

Introducing 2020 TJFP Community Grantmaking Fellow, Kayla Gore!

TJFP is so excited to introduce our third of six Community Grantmaking Fellows, Kayla Rena Gore!

Kayla Rena Gore works to help to coordinate homeless services, conduct direct outreach and advocate for the rights of TLGBQ people, especially  transgender women as the Co-Founder and Executive Director of My Sistah’s House. She studied Sociology at Southwest. Her organizing work has includes fighting for housing equity for all people who are chronically homeless and advocating for the just treatment of transgender people by law enforcement, prison abolition and anything tied white patriarchy or rooted in Anti-Blackness. Her work has and always will be intersectional in not only in theory but in action.

We’re honored that you joined us this year and we’re looking forward to learning from you!

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by | April 17, 2020 · 11:20 am

Introducing 2020 TJFP Community Grantmaking Fellow, Christopher Cuevas!

TJFP is so excited to introduce the second of our six Community Grantmaking Fellows, Christopher Cuevas!

Christopher Cuevas is the Executive Director of QLatinx and provides vision, energy, and leadership in the fulfillment of the mission and vision of the organization, working to advance the visibility of and empower LGBTQ+ Latinx communities and create spaces that foster growth and healing.

A lifelong peace practitioner, educator, and community organizer, Christopher leads their work for cultural transformation by centering the unapologetic and unwavering power of radical love. A child of undocumented immigrants and a queer person of color, Christopher interconnects their lived experience and drives the necessary heart work of building a culture of peace, compassion, and change through advocating for LGBTQ+, immigrant, and racial justice movements.

Through their work with state, national, and transnationally recognized initiatives and organizations, Christopher has led conversations and facilitated education campaigns specifically addressing structural racism, health equity, and LGBTQ+ issues.

Thank you for saying YES to joining TJFP’s community grantmaking team this year!

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by | April 10, 2020 · 11:56 am

Introducing 2020 TJFP Community Grantmaking Fellow, Isyss Honnen!

Isyss Honnen, 2020 TJFP Grantmaking Fellow (Photo by Mel Ponder)

TJFP is so excited to introduce the first of our six Community Grantmaking Fellows, Isyss Honnen!

Isyss Agaiotupu Honnen is an unapologetic fa’afafine and trans woman from Amerika Samoa. She is a fa’afafineist, descendant of celestial navigators, cat mama, and lover of all things Pasifika. Isyss works as the Director of TRANSform Washington, a program of Pride Foundation using public education, community organizing, and political advocacy to shift culture to keep trans communities safe by changing norms, hearts, and minds one story at a time. She is the Co-Chair for her political home, UTOPIA Seattle – United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance, a fa’afafine and trans womxn of color-led organization in Washington that serves the QTPI – Queer and Trans Pacific Islander – Community, and has been on the Board since 2012. She Co-Chairs for the first ever Washington State LGBTQ Commission and is honored to serve alongside Co-Chair and community icon, Marsha Botzer, and a truly brilliant group of Commissioners eager to put in the heart work. She is also the co-founder and core team member of the Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network in Washington which provides low to no-barrier funds to cover the basic needs of Two-Spirit, Black and brown trans women and femmes.

She uses her lived experience to fight like hell for trans and gender diverse sex workers in Washington affected by lack of access to healthcare, education, employment, housing, and more. Seeing trans people in love, starting families, and traveling the world brings her joy.

What absolute brilliance you are Isyss–we’re  looking forward to building with you!

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