12/18/2019
*** Beyoncé Black St James has been scapegoated, had her life threatened, harassed, and has had her image used by conservative media to fit their own racist, transphobic political agendas.
At the end of the day we know a few things, that trans women particularly trans women of color endure homelessness at rates much higher than that of cis folks. We know that for many trans folks drag performance is a way to survive, but also a way to empower ourselves, express ourselves, love and share with our community.
Don’t allow the media the opportunity to cheapen our art, silence our voices and experiences, drag our black trans femme performers through the mud, and make money off the images of black trans women. Because that is exactly what Christopher Rufo is doing- he is making money exploiting Beyoncé St James images.
Please don’t believe the bs you hear and certainly if you stand by Beyoncé Black St James use the hashtag as you share this press release. ***
For official press release contact Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network
Contact Information
Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network
[email protected]
For Immediate Release
December 17, 2019
Performer Beyonce Black St. James vilified by media, subjected to threats after performance at homelessness conference
- Performer Beyonce Black St. James has been subjected to threats and harassment after speaking and performing at the All Home Homelessness System Conference
- Vilification of Ms. St. James, as well as considerable invasion of privacy, from numerous media outlets have put Ms. St. James at risk
- Community organizations are calling for community to support Ms. St. James and to use the hashtag
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - 12/17/19: Beyonce Black St. James, a performer and Black transgender woman, has been inundated with forms of sexual harassment, doxxing (a targeted form of cyber bullying that releases an individual’s private information to the public), and threats from white nationalists due to vilification in media coverage regarding her performance at the All Home Homelessness System Conference in Seattle, WA on Monday, December 9, 2019.
Ms. St. James was recruited to speak at the conference to bring awareness to the struggles faced by transgender women of color, who face incredibly high rates of homelessness, discrimination, and violence. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2018’s hate crimes data found that there has been a 34% increase in hate-based attacks on transgender persons between 2017 and 2018.
Prior to her drag performance, Ms. St. James volunteered her time with a cultural presentation as a featured speaker; additionally, she took the precaution of getting her performance approved by conference organizers and providing numerous announcements about her performance to conference attendees.
“Drag is an art of resistance and survival for the q***r and trans community,” explained United Territories of Pacific Islander Alliance (U.T.O.P.I.A.) in the organization’s open letter to King County Leaders. “It highlights our resilience and celebrates our bodies amidst the hate and violence we face. For so many of us who face employment and housing discrimination, this art is often connected to our livelihood. We use this art to celebrate our bodies that are often seen as immoral by those who continue to police our expressions. This art allows [us] to control our q***r and trans narratives and reclaim our power.”
However, media outlets have criticized Ms. St. James’ performance at the conference while publicly “outing” her — sharing her gender identity without confirmation or permission — and putting her at considerable risk. The media, as well as those harassing Ms. St. James online, have intentionally focused on her gender identity and race rather than her achievements and her powerful story of overcoming struggles in the face of unyielding oppression. Unfortunately, this is a common tactic rooted in “transmisogynoir,” or the intersections of transphobia, anti-Blackness, and sexism, uniquely faced by Black transgender women.
This salacious media coverage further perpetrates the harm and reflects the racist trope that Black bodies are harmful and dangerous to white communities. This year alone more Black and Brown trans women have been murdered than ever reported before, with Out Magazine’s 2019 Obituary Project reporting 22 Trans Women of Color as victims of murder this year alone.
The Protecting Black Transfemmes Task Force, Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network, UTOPIA, Lavender Rights Project, Ingersoll Gender Center, QLaw, and many others who are supporting Ms. St. James are outraged at the continued attack of a member of our community — and, specifically, a Black transgender woman who has committed her life to fighting for the rights of others. We will not sit idly by while our beloved community member is being attacked.
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