Hi there, my name is Mahkyra Gaines (They/Them or No Pronouns). In December of 2021, I began work as Lavender Rights Projects Gender-Based Violence Community Engagement Manager. In June of 2021, I graduated from The Evergreen State College (Go Geoducks!) with my B.A. in Cultural Studies and Political Eco. I was so excited to be brought on to the LRP team and interweave my previous experiences, advocacy, and education towards the liberation of Black Trans Women.
Read MoreAs our Trans community reels from another wave of COVID, increasing barriers to accessing community, the very recent passing of HB25 among other extremely transphobic bills passed slyly under the chaos of the pandemic and the racial justice movement, and the recent murders of our Black Trans sisters….
Read MoreWhen I was asked to write a blog about Trans Awareness Week I assumed I knew what I wanted to write about, but for many hours I sat staring at a blank page. There were so many questions that came up for me, such as what is the role of rest this week for trans people? This year has been one of the deadliest for trans people and several state legislators have specifically made it their mission to introduce laws to attempt to stifle and harm trans people out of existence. Our community has been combatting not only the effects of COVID-19, but the systematic oppressions perpetuated by conservative Law Makers and celebrity terfs alike. Should this week center our right to rest from the wars we have been battling? Is it not possible to have rest and reflection live in the same house? What does it mean for this week to be a week of community, and care rather than a week tailored to address the curiosities of cis people.
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