New York, NY – Following the collective uprising on International Women’s Day, J. Bob Alotta, Executive Director of the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice issued a statement drawing attention to the alarming violence taking place against transgender women of color. Within the first two months of 2017 seven transgender women of color have been murdered and yet there continues to be very little coverage or outrage over these killings:

“When a government implies that transgender people don’t deserve the same basic human rights and protections as everyone else, intensified violence is the outcome. The rollback of protections and healthcare are destroying the transgender community, who are already supremely vulnerable to violence. 2016 was the deadliest year for trans people in recorded history, and we are already surpassing those levels. This administration’s policies are serious negligence against the transgender community. Its blatant disregard and disrespect has sent a shockwave of hate and bigotry through our nation—we cannot stand by and watch this wave of violence sweep across our country.

“We must stand together in collective resistance against the federal government’s anti-LGBTQI agenda and defend the dignity, safety and survival of transgender and gender non-conforming people. These tragic events continue to underscore the importance of trans-led organizing and the need for philanthropic foundations like Astraea to resource this work. We must work together to ensure that all people are able to live free of discrimination, persecution and violence. Our transgender community needs to know that we see them, we respect them and we will protect them.”

About Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice

The Astraea Foundation just launched a new fund to help respond to the critical needs within the LGBTQI community in the United States, the Uprising of Love Fund. For 40 years, we have been the only philanthropic organization working exclusively to advance LGBTQI human rights around the globe. We support brilliant and brave grantee partners in the U.S. and internationally who challenge oppression and seed change. We work for racial, economic, social, and gender justice, because everyone deserves to live their lives freely, without fear, and with dignity.