Today was the planned march by TransJustice, a project of the Audre Lorde Project, to demand an end to discrimination and violence based upon gender identity and expression. Across this nation there are hundreds of unsolved murders involving those who do not conform to the binary gender or sex categories that are pushed by the mainstream of society. Many perpetrators get off scot free, or get a slap on the wrist if they rape, assault, or murder a member of the QTI part of the broader community.

Making matters worse, many of the victims who are ignored by the police are racial minorities as well as being sexual and gender minorities.

According to the press release:

TransJustice has also listed their Points of Unity at: http://alp.org/8th-annual-nyc-trans-day-action-social-and-economic-justice

TransJustice, is one of the first organizing groups created by and for Trans and Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC) People of Color in New York City. Since its inception eight years ago, TransJustice has organized to build power within Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color communities. As stated in their points of unity, the group demands an end to the profiling, harassment, arrest, brutality at the hands of the NYPD. TransJustice also calls for access to housing, health care, employment, education, and safe public transportation.

TransJustice demands an end to the violence and harassment faced by women and Trans and Gender Non Conforming communities in New York City’s public transit system; that Trans and Gender Non Conforming people have access to respectful and safe living spaces; the full legalization of all immigrants; and justice for the many Trans and Gender Non Conforming people who have been beaten, assaulted, raped, and murdered.

According to Lolan Buhain Sevilla of the Audre Lorde Project “The discrimination and violence facing Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color is a concern for all communities in New York, but injustices against this community are silenced. Hundreds of Trans and Gender Non-Conforming advocates and allies will gather today to demand safer communities and access to services free from transphobic discrimination in New York City.”

Lorenzo Van Ness of TransJustice stated “The discriminatory policing practices including stop and frisk, profiling, harassment, and arrest of Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color in New York are not acceptable and have to stop,” says Lorenzo Van Ness of TransJustice, “Today, as people of color, immigrants, youth and elders, people with disabilities, women and trans and gender nonconforming people, and poor people, we are coming together to demand an end to the injustice against Trans and Gender Non-Conforming People of Color, so that we can be who we are with dignity and respect.”