LRP: A Beacon of Intersectional Advocacy in Seattle
Statement Release For Immediate Release
Media/Press Contact: Mataoe Nevils (they/them)
Email: Mataoe@lavrights.org
LRP: A Beacon of Intersectional Advocacy in Seattle
Statement from Executive Director Jaelynn Scott
Seattle has long been a city that aspires to lead in justice and equality, and as the home of Lavender Rights Project (LRP), it has a profound opportunity to live up to that reputation. Founded in 2016 in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, LRP has grown to become one of the largest—if not the largest—Black Trans-led organizations in the country. Our work focuses on policy advocacy, housing services, and impact litigation, ensuring that the Black community, especially gender-diverse individuals, receive the justice and support they deserve. We believe the solutions we propose are good for all people’s civil rights.
Currently, we are at the table with 12 national roundtables, working closely with trans and LGBTQ+ organizations across the country—particularly with our sister organizations in the South. Our fight is not just for Black trans people, but for the entirety of the Black community. That in itself speaks volumes about the role Seattle can play as a beacon of justice in these critical times—no pun intended.
We are grateful for this opportunity to speak before the city council, as it is rare for Black trans-led organizations to be given this platform. We must recognize that trans people are not single-issue people. Audre Lorde wisely stated, "There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives." The communities being impacted most by legislative attacks across the South and spanning across the country, but more locally in Seattle, are overwhelmingly Black, Latiné, undocumented, unhoused, and criminalized. The current wave of anti-trans legislation targets them disproportionately. As trans people seek care and refuge, Seattle must be prepared to provide real, comprehensive support.
Intersectionality is not simply a synonym for diversity—it is a legal theory that examines how multiple identity factors combine to create unique experiences of oppression. Historically, misogynoir and anti-Blackness have undermined civil rights for all, and when transphobia is added to the equation, the resulting discrimination takes on a distinct and uniquely terrifying form. The reality is that the legal system often fails to account for the compounded impact of these identities. In the U.S., there is no case law addressing these complex intersections, unlike in Canada, which provides a crucial foundation for our legal strategy.
When examining executive orders such as the ban on TRICARE for trans youth, the military ban, the criminalization of support organizations, and the prohibition of gender-affirming care for the unhoused, we must ask ourselves: Who will be impacted first? The answer is clear—it will be Black and brown trans people. It will be those who are already criminalized, those who are most vulnerable to profiling, policing, and incarceration.
While Seattle has made significant strides, including the passage of the shield law, the Gender Affirming Care (GAC) bill, and the I-2081 fix, we must push further. We are dying—literally—for a more comprehensive and intersectional approach. These victories, while necessary, must not be superficial or performative. Shield laws often protect the wealthy over the poor. The GAC bill does not address the fact that 50% of transgender people—68% of transgender people of color—experience mistreatment, denial of care, or abuse by healthcare providers. Access to care is already abysmal, and it is getting worse. Securing pronoun use through I-2081 is important, but what about protections for racial identity?
Youth Mental Health Crisis: The Consequences of Neglect
The statistics are staggering:
In 2022, 67% of transgender and nonbinary youth reported symptoms of depression.
71% of Black transgender and nonbinary youth reported symptoms of major depressive disorder in the past two weeks.
In 2024, 46% of transgender and nonbinary young people seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months.
59% of Black transgender and nonbinary youth seriously considered suicide.
The University of Washington School of Public Health’s September 2024 review confirmed what we have known: states that restrict trans youth’s access to gender-affirming care experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality among trans youth, as well as increased gender dysphoria. Given that these laws are being passed predominantly in the Black Belt of the U.S., the impact on Black trans youth is catastrophic.
What Seattle Must Consider
Who is coming? The majority of trans people seeking refuge in Seattle will be Black and Latiné, fleeing states where their lives are criminalized.
The current plight of trans people of color: Nearly 1 in 6 transgender Americans—and 1 in 2 Black transgender people—have been incarcerated. The urgency of state control over Black trans bodies cannot be overstated.
The risk of increased surveillance and policing: The rollbacks of 2020 protections, including with the passage of SOAP and SODA, will heighten racial profiling. Even a minor arrest can mean a death sentence for trans people of color in detention facilities.
Gun violence is a trans issue: Black trans women are disproportionately targeted, making gun violence the most significant threat they face.
Moving Beyond Performative Solutions
Racial justice, freedom from wrongful incarceration, and protection from policing are all trans issues. It is time to move beyond surface-level policies and embrace transformative change. We must not merely react to the crises unfolding—we must anticipate, strategize, and act decisively to ensure the safety and dignity of Black trans people in Seattle and beyond.
Seattle has an opportunity to lead with bold, intersectional policy that recognizes the full humanity of Black transgender people. We are calling on the city council to move past symbolic gestures and invest in meaningful, systemic change that truly protects and uplifts the most marginalized among us.
The time for action is now.
Jaelynn Scott Executive Director, Lavender Rights Project
