As populations across the globe are celebrating Pride Month this June, violence disproportionately plagues people of color, especially those who identify as transgender. As the only Black transgender grant maker in the country, Sean Ebony Coleman has pledged nearly $1 million to Gilead Science’s TRANScend Community Impact Fund. The organization Coleman founded, Destination Tomorrow, with locations in Atlanta; and the Bronx, New York, provides financial literacy education and job training to help change how we view our sisters and brothers in the LGBT community.
Why was there a need for Destination Tomorrow to come to the Bronx?
I saw a need for a space that was unique for Black and Brown [LGBT] people in the Bronx because that did not exist at the time. We all understand how important visibility is, yet there weren’t many examples of organizations that provided services and were a part of the community. That is what makes Destination Tomorrow unique — we are a diverse group of providers with real-life experiences that mirror those of the folks that come in for services. It is because of this that we can connect with clients from all walks of life and offer support based on feedback from the community.
It is a fact that trans women of color have been killed at an alarming rate. What can we do to address this issue?
Allies need to show up when acts of violence are perpetrated against a trans woman. They need to use their voices and platforms to raise awareness of the violence against trans women that is so prevalent. They must understand that their silence is also violence and that they are in a perfect position to advocate for their trans sisters.
How can the African American community become more socially conscious in the face of rigid religious and moral beliefs when it comes to accepting the LGBT community?
By recognizing our humanity. By understanding that if my voice is silenced and my rights are taken away, it will only be a matter of time before others’ rights and voices are also taken away. My African American family must understand that we are one and the same. We all want the same things — we want safety for ourselves and families, to earn a living wage, to be healthy and to look forward to building a future that we can be proud of. We must see that those mutual goals are under attack and the only way to push back is to do it as a united front.
Racism and discrimination are still pervasive across the globe. What are a few suggestions you would like to pass along to combat these issues?
We must approach these issues with honesty and accountability. We’ll have to have some very difficult discussions to get on the other side of this. Any act of discrimination is equal; you don’t get to be angry when folks discriminate against you for your religious beliefs if you are discriminating against someone else based on their sexual orientation or gender presentation.
For more information about Destination Tomorrow: https://cdestinationtomorrow.org/
