Dr. Martin Luther King and President Lyndon B. Johnson
Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama one of the most segregated cities in the south before The Civil Rights Movement, Daroneshia was destined to become the leader and advocate that she has become today. Fighting for Trans Rights and uplifting her community for over 10 years, she has seen her share of success stories, and her share of tragedies. She encourages everyone to go after their dreams because she understands first hand how fragile this thing called life is.
According to Harvard Civil Rights Civil Liberties Law Review;
The inequities and prejudice Black trans women face don’t just take the form of outright violence. A study by the National LGBTQ Task Force indicates that Black trans people have a 26% unemployment rate. That’s twice as high as the unemployment rate for transgender people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, and four times as high as the unemployment rate in the general population. The study also found other shocking disparities; 41% of Black trans people have been homeless (more than five times the general population), 34% of Black trans people have household incomes less than $10,000 (more than eight times the general population), and nearly half of the Black trans population has attempted suicide. Although these statistics apply to the Black trans population in general and not to Black trans women specifically, based on how much more frequently Black trans women are killed, it’s reasonable to assume that they also experience these harms more frequently than other Black trans people.
Harvard Civil Rights Civil Liberties Review-by Annamarie Forestiere
Those statistics are very disturbing but not shocking to Daroneshia. She started a peer support group to help Trans Women of Color identify and overcome the many overwhelming barriers they face in her hometown. Because of Alabama’s recent anti-trans legislation, Ms. Boyd has become not only an advocate for trans rights but is now a whole activist out here.
According to hrc.org;
SB 184: This law makes it a felony — punishable by up to ten years in prison — to provide gender-affirming care. Arkansas passed the only other gender-affirming care ban into law last year and it was immediately challenged and blocked in court. SB 184 also forces educators to “out” children to their parents.
HB 322: This law bans K-12 students from using bathrooms and school facilities consistent with their gender identity. Additionally, the law bans conversations about sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms for grades K-5, similar to Florida’s recent “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bill.
Smh. We stand with Daroneshia as we know the road to change is to change isn’t easy, but it starts at home.
Monica Roberts was a proud Trans Woman of Color who lived an extraordinary life;
March 20, 2017
Photo Credit: Deborah Cannon
In 2006, Roberts won the IFGE Trinity Award for meritorious service to the transgender community; it was the transgender community’s highest meritorious service award, and she was the first African-American Texan and the third African-American openly trans person to be given the award.[6] In 2015, Roberts received the Virginia Prince Transgender Pioneer Award from Fantasia Fair, making her the first African-American openly trans person to be so honored.[5][14]
In 2016, Roberts received a Special Recognition Award from GLAAD,[15] and became the first openly trans person to receive Phillips Brooks House Association‘s Robert Coles “Call of Service” Award.[16][14] In 2017, Roberts received the HRC John Walzel Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign.[14]
In 2018, she was named one of “8 Houston Women to Watch on Social Media” by Houstonia.[17] and won Outstanding Blog at the GLAAD Media Awards.[18] In January 2020, Roberts received the Susan J Hyde Award for Longevity in the Movement from the National LGBTQ Task Force.[19] In June 2020, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first LGBTQ Pride parade, Queerty named her among the fifty heroes “leading the nation toward equality, acceptance, and dignity for all people”.[20][21]
In 2006, Roberts won the IFGE Trinity Award for meritorious service to the transgender community; it was the transgender community’s highest meritorious service award, and she was the first African-American Texan and the third African-American openly trans person to be given the award.[1] In 2015, Roberts received the Virginia Prince Transgender Pioneer Award from Fantasia Fair, making her the first African-American openly trans person to be so honored.[2][3]
In 2016, Roberts received a Special Recognition Award from GLAAD,[4] and became the first openly trans person to receive Phillips Brooks House Association‘s Robert Coles “Call of Service” Award.[5][3] In 2017, Roberts received the HRC John Walzel Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign.[3]
In 2018, she was named one of “8 Houston Women to Watch on Social Media” by Houstonia.[6] and won Outstanding Blog at the GLAAD Media Awards.[7] In January 2020, Roberts received the Susan J Hyde Award for Longevity in the Movement from the National LGBTQ Task Force.[8] In June 2020, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first LGBTQ Pride parade, Queerty named her among the fifty heroes “leading the nation toward equality, acceptance, and dignity for all people”.[9][10]
In April 2021, TransGriot won a GLAAD Media Award in the Outstanding Blog category
Wikipedia
Yes indeed. Monica was definitely was a force that pushed through many barriers and fought until the very end.
Ms. Boyd then started the Monica Roberts Freedom School in her memory.
“She is my mentor, the lady who has put me in so many positions to win. She helped me navigate the challenges of starting ETHC.”
Moriah Ferguson -Founder of Erase Trans Hate Carolinas
Daroneshia matches that energy by uplifting her peers while fighting on the front lines making it look effortless. Her peer support group for Trans women of color has evolved to much more than what Ms. Boyd thought it would be.
TAKE
TAKE, has saved and transformed many lives and has become a pillar in the community. Supporting trans men and women in every way possible, offering many programs that are essential to the specific needs of the trans community especially those who are in crisis.
We see Monica Roberts energy all over this. We are proud to have Ms. Boyd as a leading figure in this community. She truly is walking in her purpose and continuing the legacy that many before her has left behind. Her voice and influence extends beyond Birmingham as she has inspired other states to adapt trans specific programs that could help end discrimination and provide resources for their local trans communities.
Ms. Boyd gave MovetoEndViolence.org an in depth interview earlier this year. She goes into raw and uncut details of who she is who she serves and what keep her going even when the weight of the world is on her shoulders, its definitely a must read.
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