Ashlee Marie Preston's Birthday Cake Honored Murdered Trans Women

Ashlee Marie Preston's Birthday Cake Was Decorated With Murdered Trans Women

The activist wants to bring attention to the dismal life expectancy rates for black trans women.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

June 20 2018 1:11 PM EST

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Transgender civil rights activist Ashlee Marie Preston is not afraid to discuss her age. In fact, she's proud of it.

Preston -- who some may know after she publicly confronted Caitlyn Jenner -- recently turned 34. Instead of throwing a regular party, she used her birthday to highlight how the average life expectancy of black trans women is in their 30s, with different reports indicating it may be as young as 31 or 32. African-American trans women are forced to persevere through racism, transphobia, and misogyny, and many are felled by violence.

To bring attention to the high murder rates of African-American trans women, Preston had a 17x26 cake made with the photos of 77 black trans women under 35 who were murdered; she also made a video explaining her birthday's mission. All of this is part of Preston's #ThriveOver35 initiative, which aims to amplify the struggles of black trans women.

Collin M. Eagen
Find out more about #ThriveOver35 on Preston's podcast, Shook with Ashlee Marie Preston, or follow her on Twitter @ashleempreston.