Q: Thriving Transmen of Color offers a wide variety of services to your community on a nationwide basis. How did you conclude that the need was there?
A: That’s what makes our organization so great because we’re nationwide and every black transmen community in every city has a different set of needs. We have chapters in Hampton Roads, but it just makes sense to open it up to the community. We have a chapter in Richmond. We have chapters in Baltimore and the DC area and each of those chapters have different needs. Our outreach led to an outpouring from trans men of color saying “hey, we need this here. And we grew so quickly for an organization that started in 2022. Now we have 2100 members, and they’re everywhere. I think that when you’re passionate about something, people find you.
Q: How does what TTMOC provides differ from your early experience as part of that community?
A: I’ve been a part of the community for 14 years and what I’ve seen with so many agencies is that there were no trans men of color that worked there. Or if they volunteered there they wouldn’t be seen there. Or even when I went to support groups, we weren’t there. There was really no support of any kind.
Q: So how does TTMOC fill that void?
A: Just to give trans men of color the opportunity to connect is the biggest one. But we also offer practical services such as helping them find comprehensive care that includes access to mental health support and physical wellness. We also provide shelter and housing support with access to food and care. Sometimes it can be as simple as doing an application for Medicaid because our members may not even know about the expansion of Medicaid. We have ambassadors in each of our chapter cities who help our members find those kinds of services.
Q: Let me ask you a question and part of this is out of my personal ignorance. I’m interested to get your take on the needs of trans men of color that are unique as opposed to white trans men or trans women of color?
A: It’s more so the lack of awareness and education. We see a lot of news about violence against trans women of color, but there are also trans men of color that have been killed that we don’t hear about. I’ve had the experience many times when folks thought I was a cisgender man, they respected me. But the moment they found out I am a trans man, they lost that respect.
Q: Final question: how are you feeling about the next four years?
A: To be honest I am worried. I don’t know what’s going to transpire, but I do have faith we’ll get through it.
This interview appears in the January 2025 edition of Outlife757 Magazine.