By Joseph Coco
Put on by the House of Tulip, New Orleans’ Trans Day of Remembrance was a day of looking back at a year of extreme violence against the Trans community. Gathering near Bayou St. John, people sat on blankets eating food and enjoying the presence of their friends and chosen family. To paraphrase one of the leaders, “We will not be marching. We are here to acknowledge not only those who’ve been lost to us, but to celebrate our lives as well.”
The main part of the event was a panel consisting of Black Trans people of varying ages. Seeing Black trans elders able to tell their stories was critically important, since anti-Black transphobic violence often takes them away too soon. This was an intentional act on the part of leadership, one that many in the crowd appreciated.
The Black Trans community of New Orleans is one that is as powerful as it is still thriving. Being able to bear witness and experience joy and camaraderie in the face of a pandemic is just as important as doing political work. May we always be able to find a balance.