Black Trans Liberation (BTL) hosts ‘Family Trans-giving,’ a Thanksgiving meal organized by the BTL Kitchen group, at Judson Memorial Church in New York, 27 November 2024.

BTL leader, activist Qween Jean, said ‘Trans-giving’ is a way to bring together the transgender community during the holiday season.

BTL aims to end homelessness within the transgender population by providing meals and mutual aid. “By keeping trans people off the street, we can dismantle the current 35 year life expectancy of Black Trans people and prevent systemic oppression,” according to their website.

“It is not by accident that the powers that be, the Trumps of the world, they have used transphobia as a cornerstone in their campaign, and it just might have worked, or so they think because you will not disregard our struggles. Trans humans are human,” Qween said in a speech before dinner was served. “We will not bow to the same demonstrative ways and the strategies that people in power try to control us. We have enough love here to generate something truly truly transformative, and it’s already happened.”