Historically, Black transgender leaders have been at the forefront of equality and the fight for transgender rights. From Marsha P. Johnson to Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, Black LGBTQ+ Americans have made history by contributing to politics, art, and medicine. Unfortunately, many have not received the proper support they deserve while challenging these critical issues. 

With the help of Groundswell Fund, the Black Trans Fund and Grantmakers for Girls of Color are stepping in to help through the Holding a Sister Initiative, the first national fund exclusively dedicated to uplifting transgender girls and gender-expansive youth of color. 

President and CEO of Grantmakers for Girls of Color, Dr. Monique W. Morris, and Bré Rivera, program director of the Black Trans Fund, joined forces to bring awareness and support to organizations helping normalize concern and investment in the success of transgender girls of color. Furthermore, to create learning opportunities for cis and transgender girls of color to communicate deeper with one another. 

In its first year, the leadership will award $1 million in grants, with transgender girls and gender-expansive youth of color ultimately involved in the decision-making process for selecting grantees. 

"History has shown that trans girls of color are catalysts for health equity as well as racial and social justice," Dr. Morris said. "They deserve to be heard, to have joy, to be safe and free, and to grow up healthy and thrive without fear. It is our duty to love, support, and resource the youngest of those who are most overlooked and have the least support."

Studies in Detroit, South Florida, and New Orleans suggest that transgender women of color suffer at higher levels from hunger, homelessness, unemployment, incarceration, and discrimination. 

Most of this year's record-breaking anti-trans legislation targeted youth, including laws restricting transgender athletes from participating in school sports and the "Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act." Additionally, research has shown evident rises in suicide attempts among transgender youth during 2020 and 2021. 

"The reality is transgender and gender-expansive youth of color require more attention and resources to interrupt the staggering intersections of trauma and crises they experience," Rivera said. "The Holding a Sister Initiative will shine a light on a community that is often excluded in the national discourse of gender equity and create a container for important conversations between and among cis and trans girls and gender expansive youth of color about how to move in deeper solidarity with one another." 

The initiative combines present funding delegates who have been driving the work to support transgender communities and involve trans people in the direction and distribution of resources, including the Third Wave Fund, the Black Trans Travel Fund, and the Fund for Trans Generations. 

As funding partners, the Black Trans Fund and Grantmakers for Girls of Color intend to grow and transform philanthropy's investments in trans and gender-nonconforming youth. It will also drive resources to companies serving and led by trans girls and young women of color. 

The Holding a Sister Initiative will amplify narratives that elevate the humanity, dignity, and leadership of trans and gender-expansive youth of color and how their experiences and contributions have been ignored, lessened, and targeted by oppositional and systemic forces and other notable social justice campaigns.

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