Black Transmen Inc

Black Transmen, Inc. (BTMI) takes great pride in its role as the first national nonprofit organization with a direct focus on an often voiceless, underserved, and extremely marginalized population segment: black transgender men and women.

Black Transmen, Inc. (BTMI) takes great pride in its role as the first national nonprofit organization with a direct focus on an often voiceless, underserved, and extremely marginalized population segment: black transgender men and women. Since its founding in March 2011, BTMI has focused on the empowerment of transgender communities around the country via local chapters and through the provisions of specialized peer-based programs and services rooted in a platform of social justice, advocacy, and self-reliance. BTMI offers resources for connecting people who both need and provide reliable opportunities for support. BTMI is proud of its most recent affiliation with the Anti-Violence Project (AVP), a New York based organization that works to end all forms of violence through organizing and education, and supports survivors through counseling and advocacy.

This organization is supported through the Funding Queerly Giving Circle, which is housed at Astraea.

Deborah S. Esquenazi

Deb has created the documentary film Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four. In 1997 and 1998 four young, Latina lesbians from San Antonio, Texas were wrongfully convicted and sentenced to prison. All were alleged to have gang-raped two girls. An investigator speculated they were involved in “Satanic-related sexual abuse,” and their sexuality was used against them during the trial. They have been released from prison. This project documents their story.

Deborah S. Esquenazi is a Texas-based documentary film and radio producer, instructor, and video artist committed to using media to reveal social inequities, rally support for important causes, and create probing, powerful documentary work.

Southwest of Salem has received international attention for its investigation into this controversial criminal case, and been mentioned in Forbes Magazine, New York Times, Texas Observer, among others. This film was supported by the Sundance Institute for Documentary Film Program, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Initiative, Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation, and Chicken & Egg Pictures.

Deb is also curating a retrospective exhibition on the multi-media of Bruce Jackson, the renowned folklorist, photographer and filmmaker who photographed the bygone era of slave plantation turned prison farm circa 1960’s. She is also collaborating with the renowned Fusebox Festival ThinkEAST project, supported by Artplace America, on an experimental series of teen-led short films that explore issues of Latino identity, criminality, and cultural equity.

Krudas Cubensi

Krudas’ repertoire includes Hip Hop Cubensi, Dancehall, old-school rhythms and new rhythms of the entire world.

Odaymara Cuesta and Olivia Prendes were born and raised in Cuba, artivistas, rappers and hip-hop artists, independent musicians, poets, theaters and designers representing women, immigrants and non-white queer people of color as a central part of global change. Formed in Havana in 1999 as a trio, Krudas has become a duo since 2004 and has brought their raw point of view to the world. In 2006 they migrated to Austin, Texas in the United States and have been acclaimed internationally for their representations, recordings, speeches and tours in Europe, North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean to this day. Krudas’ repertoire includes Hip Hop Cubensi, Dancehall, old-school rhythms and new rhythms of the entire world intertwined with their extraordinary and rebellious hard feminist and Afro-Cuban lyrics and their indomitable voices, sounds, dances and energies to empower communities. They are internationally recognized and have been presented throughout Latin America and the United States. In Cuba, raw (kruda) means uncooked, unprocessed, unrefined, natural, real. Cubensi is a word related to native species of Caribbean areas. Krudas Cubensi: Krudas of the Caribbean.

*** En Español***

Odaymara Cuesta y Olivia Prendes son nacidas y criadas en Cuba, artivistas, raperas y hiphoperas, músicos independientes, poetas, teatreras y diseñadoras en representación de mujeres, inmigrantes y personas queer no blancas (o de color, como se dice comúnmente en Estados Unidos) como parte central del cambio mundial. Formadas en la Habana en 1999 como un trío, Krudas se ha convertido en un dúo desde 2004 y le ha traído su punto de vista crudo al mundo. En 2006 migraron a Austin, Texas en Estados Unidos y han sido aclamadas internacionalmente por sus representaciones, grabaciones, discursos y giras en Norteamérica, Centroamérica, Suramérica y el Caribe hasta el día de hoy. El repertorio de las Krudas incluye Hip Hop Cubensi, Dancehall, ritmos viejos y nuevos del mundo entero entrelazados con sus extraordinarias y rebeldes líricas duras feministas y afrocubanas y sus indomables voces, sonidos, bailes y energías para empoderar comunidades. Son reconocidas internacionalmente y se han presentado por toda Latinoamérica y Estados Unidos. En Cuba, cruda (kruda) significa no cocida, no procesada, no refinada, natural, real. Cubensi es una palabra relacionada con especies nativas de áreas caribeñas. Krudas Cubensi: las crudas del Caribe.

Creating Change

Join Astraea at the 26th National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change in Houston, Texas, January 29-–February 2, 2014. Run by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Creating Change is the only premier annual organizing and skills-building event for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and their allies.

Creating Change

26th National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change

January 29-February 2, 2014
Hilton of the Americas | 1600 Lamar St, Houston, Texas 77010
Click here to Register

Join us for a special session!
Meet me at Crossroads: Exploring LGBTQ identities, geographies and experiences
January 31, 2014 | 6:30pm-7:30pm

Join Southerners on New Ground (SONG) and FIERCE in an interactive panel discussion about issues confronting invisibilized LGBTQ communities in the Rural South and LGBTQ youth of color from across the country. Panelists will discuss highlights from new national and regional research projects that paint a different picture from what dominant media and mainstream movements portray. Panelists: Suzanne Pharr, SONG, Ana Conner, FIERCE, and J. Bob. Alotta, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice.

Join the conversation on twitter! This panel will use the hastags #cc14 & #moveupfightback

Houston, TX House Party

Come one, come all!  Join host Tracy Gary and Astraea Executive Director, Katherine Acey for a sunset cocktail house party to celebrate the vision of the Astraea Foundation.

The Astraea Foundation is the world’s only foundation solely dedicated to funding lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex organizations in both the United States and internationally.  For more than 30 years, we have ignited donors to fuel the hard work of grantees.  Last year, Astraea connected 2.2 million dollars with 219 organizations and individuals in 47 countries.

Make the connection.  Join with us on May 5.

Tuesday, May 5
6:30 – 8:30 PM

At the home of Tracy Gary
Houston, TX (RSVP for Address)

Space is limited.  It’s not too late to RSVP!

Please RSVP

Dallas, TX House Party

Kick off your work week on a high note!  Join hosts Pam Gerber and Suzanne Slonim and Astraea Executive Director, Katherine Acey for a sunset cocktail house party to celebrate the vision of the Astraea Foundation.

The Astraea Foundation is the world’s only foundation solely dedicated to funding lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex organizations in both the United States and internationally.  For more than 30 years, we have ignited donors to fuel the hard work of grantees.  Last year, Astraea connected 2.2 million dollars with 219 organizations and individuals in 47 countries.

Make the connection.  Join with us on May 4.

Monday, May 4
6:30 – 8:30 PM

At the Oak Lawn home of Pam and Suzanne
Dallas, TX (RSVP for Address)

Space is limited. It’s not too late to RSVP!

Please click here to RSVP

 

Lesbian News: Astraea Holds International Retreat

Astraea is the world’’s only lesbian-led, feminist foundation focused on both U.S. and international LGBTI human rights.

Women will come from all over the world to meet in Dallas, Texas November 2nd through the 5th, 2006 at the Omni Mandalay Hotel and share ideas and strategies for funding social causes and programs. Astraea is the world’’s only lesbian-led, feminist foundation focused on both U.S. and international LGBTI human rights.