• BACKGROUND

    “The American Medical Association has called the surge of Trans Women of Color murders an ‘epidemic.’ SOE is committed to addressing the social determinants that put Trans Women of Color at-risk.”

    ~Rev. Sonja Lee, SOE Executive Director

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    WHAT IS SOE?

    STATE OF EMERGENCY (SOE) is an online and in-person coalition of LGBTQIA & Allied citizens committed to improving the safety, quality of life and upward mobility of Black Transgender Women (BTW) in the Charlotte NC area through peer support, community capacity building and providing access to (or creating) psycho-social, medical, educational, financial, personal care and housing resources.

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    WHY DOES IT MATTER?

    Despite the notable progress of the Transgender movement in the last decade, resulting in greater public awareness and significant legal victories, Trans people continue to face blatant discrimination, high levels of violence, and poor health outcomes. Trans people of color (especially Trans Women of Color) endure dramatically worse health and economic outcomes as they navigate multiple systems of oppression.

  • Top 3 issues challenging the quality of life for Trans Women of Color

    Results from The National Center for Transgender Equality and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's recent study

    1

    HEALTH

    Health disparities due to systemic racism and transphobia. BTW face staggering rates of STD infection, lack of primary care and high rates of suicide. SOE seeks to increase opportunities for physical exams, purchase of medication and nutritious food, transportation to doctor visits.

    2

    ECONOMICS

    Trans Women of Color bear the economic consequences of discrimination - high rates of poverty and unemployment. BTW are likely to live in extreme poverty earning under $10,000 a year, with Latina Trans Women facing 7x and Black Trans Women facing 8x the poverty rate of the general U.S. population.

    3

    SOCIAL CAPITAL

    Trans Women of Color experience frightening levels of physical violence. This is particularly true among Trans Women of Color working in sex work and other informal economies. Brutal murders of these women occur with alarming regularity, often with little response from law enforcement. BTW led-strategies and social gatherings foster community relationships that serve as support systems for this marginalized community.

  • WHAT WE'RE DOING ABOUT IT

    HEALTH

    Racial Equity in the area of Health - SOE is in partnership with a comprehensive network of primary care, mental/emotional health and hormone therapy providers. SOE will create a state of the art, interactive website and accompanying glossy publication of healthcare resources for BTW The website will feature a quarterly updated resource list of primary care, mental/emotional health and hormone therapy resource listings especially tailored for BTW.

     

    By expanding access to quality health care resources, we will improve outcomes in the areas of health and wellness. BTW face staggering rates of STD infection, lack of primary care and high rates of suicide. SOE seeks to increase opportunities for physical exams, purchase of medication and nutritious food, transportation to doctor visits.

    ECONOMICS

    The SOE state of the art, user-friendly website will also feature a weekly updated NOW HIRING job listing of TWOC affirming and available employment opportunities in the Charlotte area.

     

    In addition, the portal will boast a monthly updated resource list of BTW affirming, local, state, faith-based and not for profit organizations that assist with food, personal care items, housing, transportation and emergency assistance funding.

     

    Moreover, the website will highlight The SOE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUND - an active portal where local BTW can request emergency assistance for food, healthcare/meds, personal care items, transportation and housing.

    SOCIAL CAPITAL

    Building community is a key part of SOE. While efforts are underway to strengthen hate crime legislation and bar the use of the so-called gay or trans panic defense for people charged with attacks, SOE aims to do our part locally. SOE understands safety doesn’t just relate to physical harm but secure social capital as well - there is safety in numbers - there is safety in a synergized community.

     

    The SOE website serves to build and strengthen social capital amongst TWOC. The SOE website will feature beautiful and affirming images of Charlotte area TWOC spokesmodels, Q&A/Networking portals, updated news topics related to TWOC, feature visual artists/music/poetry by TWOC and direct contact info of TWOC affirming organizations.

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