Black Trans Travel Fund: A Lifeline
By Darius Spearman (africanelements)
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Black Trans Support
The Black Trans Travel Fund (BTTF) provides essential support to Black trans individuals, especially Black trans women (theguardian.com). This vital assistance covers safe travel, housing, and medical needs (theguardian.com). Such support is critical given the rise in anti-trans policies and violence (theguardian.com).
BTTF started as a ride program in New York and New Jersey (theguardian.com). It has since grown into a global funding source for various travel-related expenses (theguardian.com). These expenses include TSA Pre-check, flights, passports, and emergencies (theguardian.com). The fund emphasizes individual autonomy, allowing recipients to decide how to spend the money (theguardian.com). Safe transportation is crucial for the Black trans community (theguardian.com). This is due to increased risks of harassment and violence when using public transit or walking (theguardian.com). The organization now provides emergency support globally (theguardian.com). It offers $200 within days for urgent needs (theguardian.com). These needs include escaping abusive environments, covering funeral costs, or securing safe transportation to medical appointments (theguardian.com). BTTF also supports Black trans-led organizations and shelter spaces both domestically and internationally (theguardian.com). It provides grants for rent, food, transportation, and hygiene supplies (theguardian.com).
Political Climate and Operations
The political climate, particularly under the Trump administration, has greatly impacted the Black Trans Travel Fund’s operations (theguardian.com). It has also affected the safety of trans individuals (theguardian.com). Individual donations to BTTF have decreased (theguardian.com). This is due to fear surrounding Trump administration policies targeting trans people (theguardian.com). This decline has led to resource strain (theguardian.com).
After a Trump executive order recognized only two sexes, the US Department of State confiscated passports from several transgender individuals (theguardian.com). These individuals were attempting to renew them (theguardian.com). This action caused BTTF to temporarily pause passport and plane ticket sponsorships (theguardian.com). Concerns about safety and the need to relocate are common among transgender people (nonprofitquarterly.org). The term “trans refugee” has seen a surge in use (nonprofitquarterly.org). This is especially true after Trump’s election and anti-trans executive orders (nonprofitquarterly.org). Trump’s aggressive targeting of transgender rights through executive orders and federal policy changes endangers trans people (nonprofitquarterly.org). This includes those in “trans refugee” states (nonprofitquarterly.org).
BTTF Financial Support Overview
Financial Assistance and Support
The Black Trans Travel Fund has provided significant financial assistance and support (theguardian.com). This aid has reached Black trans individuals globally since its beginning (theguardian.com). Since its founding, BTTF has donated over $730,000 (theguardian.com). This money helps people worldwide with travel, housing, and medical costs (theguardian.com).
The organization used over $385,000 over five years for its bi-weekly ride sponsorship program (theguardian.com). This program allowed hundreds to pay for rides, train tickets, or gas (theguardian.com). BTTF recently launched a $500,000 fundraising campaign (theguardian.com). This campaign aims to increase mutual aid efforts and make travel more accessible for Black trans women (theguardian.com). The Black Trans Travel Fund also offers a book sponsorship program (blacktranstravelfund.com). This program provides free literature monthly to Black trans women (blacktranstravelfund.com). It emphasizes political education as part of the fight for Black and trans liberation (blacktranstravelfund.com).
Disproportionate Violence and Discrimination
Black trans women face a disproportionate amount of violence and discrimination (theguardian.com). This highlights the critical need for organizations like the Black Trans Travel Fund (theguardian.com). At least 32 trans and gender nonconforming people were killed in 2024 (theguardian.com). Of these, 56% were Black trans women (theguardian.com).
In May 2019, three Black trans women—Muhlaysia Booker, Claire Legato, and Tamika Washington—were fatally shot within a week (theguardian.com). This tragic event prompted the founding of BTTF (theguardian.com). The Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP) and Black Trans Circles (BTC) co-anchor FFS (transgenderlawcenter.org). This is a political education and leadership development program (transgenderlawcenter.org). It is by and for Black trans women and femmes (transgenderlawcenter.org). This program brings together community members for study and skill-building (transgenderlawcenter.org). It uses a Black trans-feminist lens (transgenderlawcenter.org). The Garifuna organizing work within BLMP focuses on building relationships and networks for safe housing (transgenderlawcenter.org). It also develops resources and organizes safety and self-defense training (transgenderlawcenter.org). This work aims to disrupt cycles of violence experienced by Garifuna trans women (transgenderlawcenter.org).
Key Terminology Explained
Laws, regulations, or practices that discriminate against or harm transgender individuals. Violence includes physical assault, harassment, and systemic discrimination.
A transgender individual forced to flee their home country due to persecution, violence, or discrimination based on gender identity, seeking asylum or refuge elsewhere.
Empowering individuals with knowledge about systemic oppression, historical struggles, and strategies for social change within the context of Black trans liberation.
A reciprocal system where community members share resources and assistance outside traditional charitable or governmental structures, fostering solidarity and collective well-being.
International Reach and Challenges
The Black Trans Travel Fund extends its support internationally (theguardian.com). This is particularly true for Black trans women in nations with severe anti-LGBTQ+ laws, such as Uganda (theguardian.com). Due to US cuts to foreign aid, BTTF has focused efforts on helping Black trans women in other nations, including Uganda, seek safety (theguardian.com).
In Uganda, an anti-LGBTQ+ law passed two years ago (theguardian.com). Trans people there face arrest, detention, extortion, harassment, and discrimination (theguardian.com). This makes it difficult to rent housing (theguardian.com). BTTF helped Ruthra Lubega, a Black trans man from Kampala, Uganda, escape to New York and seek asylum (theguardian.com). His life was at risk due to the anti-LGBTQ+ law (theguardian.com). BTTF supported the establishment of Devin’s House of Hope (theguardian.com). This shelter in Uganda has housed over 180 trans people from across Africa (theguardian.com). The fund also helped purchase a car and motorbike for distributing HIV medication and condoms (theguardian.com). Fundraisers have been organized to support trans rights activists from Uganda (gofundme.com). An example is Beyonce Karungi, who works to promote human rights and access to health services for transgender women and sex workers in Uganda (gofundme.com).
Violence Against Transgender Individuals (2024)
Addressing Funding and Global Navigation
While specific strategies for addressing funding decline are not detailed, organizations like the Black Trans Fund are developing five-year plans (groundswellfund.org). These plans include grantmaking, capacity building, and philanthropic organizing (groundswellfund.org). This ensures sustained support (groundswellfund.org). Black Trans Lives Thrive focuses on making monthly giving easy and consistent (blacktranslivesthrive.org). This amplifies impact as they grow, suggesting a strategy for stable funding (blacktranslivesthrive.org).
Information on how BTTF navigates international legal, logistical, or cultural challenges is not explicitly detailed. However, organizations working with Black trans migrants, such as BLMP, are involved in establishing networks and resources for those in different regions (transgenderlawcenter.org). The Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP) supports and grows regional hubs in California, Texas, and Minnesota (transgenderlawcenter.org). The goal is to expand into more regions (transgenderlawcenter.org). This indicates a focus on navigating diverse regional contexts (transgenderlawcenter.org).
Measuring Impact and Collaboration
While specific metrics for impact measurement are not detailed, the Black Trans Fund’s five-year plan aims to significantly shift the narrative (groundswellfund.org). This narrative shift is about Black trans communities towards more joy and resilience (groundswellfund.org). This implies a focus on broader, qualitative impacts on well-being (groundswellfund.org). The Black Trans Fund’s five-year plan aims to change culture through grantmaking, capacity building, and philanthropic organizing (groundswellfund.org). This contributes to shifting the narrative towards joy and resilience for Black trans communities (groundswellfund.org).
While the exact nature of collaborations with BTTF is not detailed, the Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP) co-anchors a political education and leadership development program with Black Trans Circles (BTC) (transgenderlawcenter.org). This indicates a collaborative approach to empowering Black trans women and femmes (transgenderlawcenter.org). The Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP) co-anchors FFS, a political education and leadership development program, with Black Trans Circles (BTC) (transgenderlawcenter.org).
Addressing Safety Risks and Programs
While specific examples or statistics are not provided, organizations like the Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP) offer safety, de-escalation, and self-defense training (transgenderlawcenter.org). This training aims to disrupt cycles of violence (transgenderlawcenter.org). This indicates an awareness of the inherent risks faced by Black trans individuals in various settings (transgenderlawcenter.org). The Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP) organizes safety, de-escalation, and self-defense training (transgenderlawcenter.org). This disrupts the cycles of violence Garifuna trans women experience (transgenderlawcenter.org).
The Black Trans Travel Fund’s book sponsorship program provides free literature to Black trans women monthly (blacktranstravelfund.com). Its goal is to invest in their lives and promote political education (blacktranstravelfund.com). This recognizes it as a necessary part of the fight for Black and trans liberation (blacktranstravelfund.com). The program is part of BTTF’s commitment to investing in the lives of Black trans women (blacktranstravelfund.com). It recognizes that community engagement in political education is crucial for Black and trans liberation (blacktranstravelfund.com).
Emergency Support and Terminology
The provided information does not detail the specific criteria or process for receiving emergency funds from the Black Trans Travel Fund. However, the organization’s overall mission is to provide resources to Black trans women for safe travel (blacktranstravelfund.com). This implies a focus on direct support for those in need (blacktranstravelfund.com). The Black Trans Travel Fund is committed to pouring resources into Black trans communities (blacktranstravelfund.com).
“Black trans femmes” and “trans femme/women” refer to Black individuals who identify as transgender women or femmes (transgenderlawcenter.org). This encompasses a broad spectrum of gender identities within the trans feminine experience (transgenderlawcenter.org). “Garifuna organizing work” refers to efforts led by the Garifuna people, an Afro-indigenous ethnic group (transgenderlawcenter.org). This is particularly in the context of supporting Black queer and trans Garifuna migrants (transgenderlawcenter.org). The Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP) focuses on Garifuna organizing work (transgenderlawcenter.org). This involves a committee of directly impacted Black queer and trans Garifuna migrants (transgenderlawcenter.org). The FFS program, co-anchored by BLMP, is by and for Black trans women and femmes (transgenderlawcenter.org). This indicates a specific focus on these identities (transgenderlawcenter.org).
Policy Impact and Asylum Support
While specific details on the impact of Trump administration policies on the daily lives of Black trans individuals or BTTF’s operational changes are not provided, the context suggests these policies created an environment of fear and uncertainty (groundswellfund.org). This led to a decline in individual donations (groundswellfund.org). The decline in individual donations is noted as being due to fear around Trump policies (groundswellfund.org).
While the legal processes and challenges of asylum seeking are not detailed, organizations like the Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP) are actively involved in supporting Black queer and trans Garifuna migrants (transgenderlawcenter.org). This includes establishing networks for safe housing and developing resources for those seeking refuge (transgenderlawcenter.org). The Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP) focuses on establishing relationships and networks (transgenderlawcenter.org). This includes connections to partners who can provide safe housing for migrants (transgenderlawcenter.org). A relocation guide for transgender individuals emphasizes that it is acceptable to leave if a current location compromises safety, healthcare, or the ability to live openly (bethetransformationalchange.org). This suggests the need for support during such transitions (bethetransformationalchange.org).
Healthcare Access and Barriers
While specific details on healthcare barriers in Uganda are not provided, the broader context of supporting Black trans individuals implies addressing their holistic needs. These needs often include access to affirming healthcare. Organizations like Inclusive Therapists and The National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network are mentioned as resources for finding affirming providers (bethetransformationalchange.org).
Therapy with affirming providers is highlighted as helpful for processing grief, fear, and hope during transitions (bethetransformationalchange.org). Inclusive Therapists and The National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network are suggested as resources for finding affirming mental health support (bethetransformationalchange.org).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.
