Transforming Legal Work for Black Trans & Gender Diverse Communities
I became a criminal law attorney because, as a trans masculine, indigenous, Latinx person and a formerly homeless trans teen, I have seen trans BIPOC communities constantly be overpoliced, incarcerated, and discriminated against across the country. Many lawyers, policy makers, and organizations called on to address violence and discrimination against BIPOC trans and gender diverse communities do not have authentic connections with our communities and often cause more harm than good to our communities.
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TAKING BACK THE NARRATIVE AROUND REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS: A joint call from Lavender Rights Project and QLaw Foundation
On May 2, 2022, an unfinished brief from The U.S. Supreme Court leaked revealing that Roe v. Wade was likely to be overturned in the near future. Today, on June 24, 2022—right on the heels of our community’s Pride celebrations—it became a disturbing reality.
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Why Jails are not a Safe Space for Trans People
On March 20th, 2022, Damien Ortaga, a 25 year old trans person was found unresponsive at King County Jail located in downtown Seattle. Damien Ortaga’s death is the third death of four at the King County Jail in the last 2 months, and will be added to the ever-growing list of transgender people of color who have been lost to violence or otherwise preventable deaths in 2022. Before Damien was tragically incarcerated, Damien made numerous attempts to access resources for survival and mental health. After Damien was found unresponsive in a cell at King County jail, Damien was transported to Harborview Medical Center. While at Harborview, the Court ordered Damien’s release and a day later, Damien passed.
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2021 Executive Summary: The protection of Black trans life is important now more than ever
“Towards the end of 2021 we saw the onslaught of a malicious, yet effective, campaign using the lives of trans youth and Black trans girls to win elections. We have seen this strategy before in the U.S. South: targeting of children in hopes of undermining movements towards civil rights and freedom. These aggressors have no regard for life. Let us be clear: they are coming for all trans people, all Black trans femmes, and ultimately all women of color.”
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Welcoming Angel: A Californian in Washington
My name is Angel Patterson and I am a trans non-binary person who uses they/them pronouns that grew up in Southern California. After too many hot summers and not enough greenery or rain, I have decided to head north! Some may say that my sarcastic love of the Twilight books/films led me here. And although they are right, ever since my first visit, Seattle has had my heart.
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