• Equality
  • Community
    • Health
    • Youth
    • Seniors
  • Voices
    • From the CEO
    • Take Five
    • Why I Give
  • About the Center
  • Galleries
  • Calendar
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Slice, Slice Baby!
  • LGBTQ+ Youth, Seniors, and ‘Drag Race’ Queens Celebrate Chosen Family at Inaugural Intergenerational Thanksgiving Dinner
  • Dispensing Culturally Competent Care: The Center’s Patient-Centric Pharmacy Does Much More Than Fill Prescriptions
  • Get to Know the Center’s New Leadership Team
  • The Center Looks Back on 25 Years of Senior Services
  • Center CEO Joe Hollendoner: “Our Work Is Never Done”
  • Trixie Mattel Inspires LGBTQ+ Youth to Be Their Best Selves at Models of Pride: “You Are All the Main Character”
  • From Poetry to Tap Dance, Seniors Flaunt Their Talents at Fall Showcase 
Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube
LGBT News Now
Learn about career opportunities at the Center
  • Equality
  • Community
    • Health
    • Youth
    • Seniors
  • Voices
    • From the CEO
    • Take Five
    • Why I Give
  • About the Center
  • Galleries
  • Calendar
LGBT News Now
You are at:Home»Equality»Trans Leaders Issue Call to Action: “Our people are dying”

Trans Leaders Issue Call to Action: “Our people are dying”

0
By on October 26, 2020 Equality

By Greg Hernandez

Mariana Marroquin knows “hate is real.”

“I’m a survivor. Hate has been close to me, telling me: ‘You should not be here, you should not exist,’” Marroquin, program manager of the Trans Wellness Center (TWC), shared during Unidas Against Hate, a critical virtual conversation featuring providers of trans-related services throughout Southern California held on Facebook Live on Friday, Oct. 16.

The event was organized in response to the recent anti-trans violence in L.A. The 33 homicides of trans and gender nonconforming people reported in the United States so far in 2020 makes it already the deadliest year on record.

For every transgender homicide, countless other trans people face violent attacks and discrimination every day in the U.S. Earlier this month in Los Angeles, there was a brutal attack on Daniela Hernandez, a trans women of color, in MacArthur Park. She was confronted by a group of men before being stabbed and having her throat cut.

Hernandez, who is recovering from her wounds, is a volunteer at [email protected] Coalition, where she serves hot meals to those in need.

“We cannot be the only ones at the forefront fighting for just the right to survive,” said Maria Roman of [email protected] Coalition.

Roman, the organization’s vice president and chief operations officer, wants to know where the outrage is.

“Imagine if across the country there were over 30 or 40 gay men being murdered,” she said. “What would the reaction be from the community? Would people be on the streets? Would people be using their social media? Would people be doing everything in their power to try to get out and highlight the atrocities?”

People Need to Step Up

“This is really a call to action,” Roman proclaimed. “Our people are dying. What is it going to take for people to get involved? For people to get angry? What is going to take for them to go to the street? We need support. We need people to be side-by-side with us in getting this point across.”

How can people help?

Roman (pictured, left) suggests raising funds for local trans-led organizations, galvanizing your friends, giving of your time, sharing your resources and contacts, and using your voice to let people know about what is happening.

“We need your commitment, we need you to get angry with us and we need you be right there by us to be able to create real change,” she said. “Share our stories. There are horrible things happening to trans people but there are trans people doing amazing things also.”

The activist called on people outside the trans community to use their phones and social media to make their online followers aware of the anti-trans violence that continues to occur unabated.

“I’ve been doing this kind of work for over 20 years and every year there has been at least 20 or 30 murders of trans people – especially black and brown trans people,” Roman pointed out. “Make the people understand that this is happening in this country to trans people.”



“We Are People Who Deserve to Have a Better Life”

Moderator Marroquin said that despite the constant threat, there is help out there for the trans community in Los Angeles to work towards the life they want and deserve.

“We are under attack and we are people who deserve to have a better life and to live free—to go to school, to have jobs, to be able to provide for our families,” she said. “We cannot let hate get between our goals. That’s why we are united and here together to learn about the services that are available for the trans community in Los Angeles. There are so many organizations that can help you and the place that you need to go and seek services is the one you feel comfortable with.”

That include Trans Wellness Center which is a community-based partnership between local organizations: APAIT (Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team, Bienstar, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA), Friends Community Center,  [email protected] Coalition, and the Los Angeles LGBT Center which is the lead agency coordinating management and operations.

Also taking part in the Facebook Live event and detailing various services available were representatives from The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Anti-Violence Program, St. John’s Well Child and Family Center, The LGBT Center Long Beach, and the Office of Los Angeles City Attorney Michael N. Feuer.

“Remember you are not alone and should never be ashamed of who you are,” Marroquin said. “You need to be proud of who you are and feel and celebrate who you are. There are some days that are hard, that are difficult but together we can get through this.”

If you have experienced hate violence and need assistance, please contact the Center’s Anti-Violence Project at 323-993-7673.

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Related Posts

Vote in the 2022 Midterm Elections!

Los Angeles LGBT Center Congratulates the Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson for Making History as the First Black Woman to Be Confirmed to the United States Supreme Court

Celebrating VAWA Reauthorization Act: “It Feels Incredible to be a Part of Such a Historic Achievement”

Comments are closed.

Upcoming Events

Feb 4
5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

The Future is Black 2023: Renaissance

Feb 9
February 9 - March 4

Cock

Mar 16
March 16 - April 16

Menstruation: A Period Piece

Apr 29
April 29 - June 24

A New Brain

May 13
May 13 - June 12

The Bottoming Process

View Calendar
About Us

LGBT News Now

LGBT News Now is a publication of the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, the Center is the largest LGBT organization in the world, dedicated to building a world where LGBT thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society. Learn more at lalgbtcenter.org.

Follow Us on Instagram

lalgbtcenter

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is building a world where LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society.

Los Angeles LGBT Center
This is not a drill: There are active legislative This is not a drill: There are active legislative threats against our freedoms going up for vote across the country. We know most of these fights are not happening in California—but that’s precisely why our Center community can be of help. Join the Resistance Squad today by texting ‘RESIST’ to 33339 to help win this fight, and swipe through the slides to understand what’s happening. —>
Did you know that the Center hosts a Senior Prom f Did you know that the Center hosts a Senior Prom for our #LGBTQ+ #elders each year? A few years ago, we were visited by filmmakers who wanted to document the event in all its glory—and now their film is airing tonight on @PBS at 10PM PT. Please tune in to celebrate the amazing work of our Senior Services team and our real heroes, our incredible clients! And stay tuned later this year for more from our next installment of the Prom.
Our community at the Los Angeles LGBT Center exten Our community at the Los Angeles LGBT Center extends our deepest condolences to the loved ones of those we lost in the tragic mass shooting in #MontereyPark, and our well wishes to the survivors who are recovering. We remain committed to our hope for a peaceful and prosperous Los Angeles—without guns and hate.
We’re honored to join the @academymuseum as a Co We’re honored to join the @academymuseum as a Community Partner for the upcoming screening of Pat Rocco's Signs of Queer Life on January 26 at 7:30pm.

The trailblazing LA-based filmmaker and gay rights advocate, #PatRocco, captured seminal moments of LGBTQ history, joy and upsets. Check out a preview of his film #WeWereThere. Use discount code LGBTQ+ to get $2 off tickets to the screening! Link in our bio. 
 
#AcademyMuseum #LGBTQstories
The Center is proud to announce our inaugural thea The Center is proud to announce our inaugural theatre season! This year, we are partnering with local theatre companies to present nearly 100 showings of four remarkable plays to lift the depth and diversity of LGBTQ+ narratives. The line-up includes world premieres, an award-winning comedy, and a radically reimagined musical. Performances begin Feb. 9—Get your tickets now at lalgbtcenter.org/theatre, or at the link in our bio! 🎭 🎟️
SHE DID NOT COME TO PLAY! The one and only @bigfre SHE DID NOT COME TO PLAY! The one and only @bigfreedia, Queen of Bounce, is coming to the Los Angeles LGBT Center for #TheFutureIsBlack — our #BlackHistoryMonth event — and tickets are FREE to the public at the #linkinbio. Hear from Freedia and a dynamic roster of other Black talent, then dance the night away in our Renaissance-themed afterparty. Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 4th and get on that list at the link in bio before it closes.
Today we commemorate one of our nation’s most pr Today we commemorate one of our nation’s most preeminent civil rights leaders— the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.— who left us a transformative legacy rooted in service and community. His noble actions blueprinted monuments of unity across the country, and especially, here at home in Los Angeles. On this #MLKDayofService, we are reminded of our ability to champion equity and justice for all.
 
#DrKing #MLKDay
We at the Los Angeles LGBT Center are deeply distu We at the Los Angeles LGBT Center are deeply disturbed by the videos depicting the tragic deaths of three Angelenos, and join the Mayor in calling for urgent police reform and accountability. Swipe through for our full statement.

#TakarSmith #KeenanAnderson #OscarSanchez
Get ready, LA! Join us in community as we ring in Get ready, LA! Join us in community as we ring in Center South’s 3rd Anniversary Celebration on January 21st from 12-4PM! The joyous afternoon event will offer self-guided tours, dynamic performances, food, prizes, health services, and more. Register for free at lalgbtcenter.org/centersouth3year or with the link in bio! We can’t wait to see you there 🏳️‍🌈☀️
 
PS: Did you know Center South is located in the heart of #SouthLosAngeles, just steps away from historic #LeimertPark? The site offers free (or low cost) year-round health services and STI testing for all #Angelenos. 

#LosAngeles #LGBTQ
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Stay Connected
Subscribe
Copyright © 2022 Los Angeles LGBT Center
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy
  • Contact Us

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.