Mississippians celebrate trans and queer people of color

by

kobee vance

• Published on March 21, 2022 • Comments

All members of the Jackson community were invited to attend the event, which is held once a month. Donations were also taken to help others who are in need.
Kobee Vance, MPB News.

Members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community are honoring transgender and queer people of color in Mississippi. Organizers say they want to support members of their community who are often victims of discrimination.

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A diverse group of Mississippians is gathered in Jackson for an early celebration of the Trans Day of Visibility. They have food, a swap-meet booth, free gardening supplies, and an arts and crafts table.

Jackson resident J Vybez says this gathering is a way to celebrate their black and two-spirited identity with others who share their experience.

Vybez says “So many of our events be mostly white-led and very small places even in our own capital which is predominately Black. And we are kind of tired of that point. We deserve spaces just as much as everyone else does. So if nobody’s creating it, then we’re going to create it for ourselves.”

Advocates for the rights of gender non-conforming peoples say they are concerned about the rise of anti-trans legislation. Jackson resident Natt Offiah says they recently lost a member of the local trans community due to discrimination. And they say events like this often face protests from those who oppose trans-rights.

Offiah says “Nationally there’s definitely an anti-trans anti-LGBT sentiment that is starting to increase more and more, but we are able to find pockets of community and pockets of safety and we want to continue to grow that.”

The Transgender Day of Visibility will be held on March 31st.