59 Feisty Photos of Trans Pride in Portland

Below, a statement from Greater Portland Trans Unity:

"Since the beginning of 2019 at least eight trans women of color have been murdered in the United States. In just the past month we have learned about the deaths of Chynal Lindsey and Muhlaysia Booker, two Black trans women murdered in Dallas; Johana Medina Leon, a migrant from El Salvador who died in immigration detention; and Layleen Polanco Xtravaganza, found dead last week in her jail cell at Rikers Island.

"Locally, many are grieving Tierrah/Titi Gulley, a Black trans/gender fluid person whose death over Memorial Day Weekend was ruled a suicide, with less than 24-hours investigation by the Portland Police Bureau.

"Black trans women and other trans women of color were fighting for their right to survive at Stonewall 50 years ago. Black trans women and other trans women of color are still fighting for the right to survive today. As trans and queer people, no matter how we identify personally, collectively this is the fight we must take up.

"The trans and queer liberation frontline today is not in the hard-fought spaces where we are able to be proudly visible-our bars, community spaces, marches and parades. Those spaces are important and worth fighting for. But for trans and queer people, black and brown people, poor and unhoused people, sick and disabled people--the frontline has never moved: It is and has always been the spaces and institutions where being visible means being vulnerable, and being vulnerable means being targeted and possibly killed.

"This year, on the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, we are called to celebrate, and we will do that. But we are also grieving. We are called to march, and we will do that. But we are also organizing. We hope you will join us in honoring our trans and queer legacy this way: by continuing the fight that has never ended, for the revolution we still desperately need-for now and for our future generations."

- Greater Portland Trans Unity and the 2019 Portland Trans Pride March Organizing Committee, June 2019

Thanks to Twin Muse for taking great photos and sharing them with us. You can more about them on their web site. (www.twin-muse.com)