Trans 100/Andy Karol
This weekend, We Happy Trans, a website that celebrates the positive experiences of transgender people, and This is H.O.W., a non profit organization dedicated to the betterment of the lives of trans people, announced Trans 100, a first-of-its-kind overview of the diversity and impact of the work being done by (and for) transgender people in America. The event was sponsored by Chicago House, GLAAD, the Pierce Family Foundation, Orbitz.com, and KOKUMOMEDIA.
The project intends to shift the coverage of trans issues away from negative stories, by focusing on the positive work being accomplished, and providing visibility to those typically underrepresented. The launch event for the Trans 100 took place at Mayne Stage in Chicago on International Transgender Day of Visibility, a day which aims to bring attention to the accomplishments of transgender people around the world.
Trans 100/Andy Karol
“No matter how well intentioned, the fact is that no one can more effectively tell our stories than us,” said Jen Richards, creator of We Happy Trans.
“Telling our stories, first to ourselves and then to one another and ultimately to the world, is a revolutionary act,” said activist and author Janet Mock. “We need to stop celebrating trans women after their deaths and begin uplifting trans women in their lives.”
“If striving for the equal recognition of all transgender people is our goal, then the steps that ensure the longevity of trans people of color, cannot remain secondary to our mission,” said Dr. Kortney Ryan Ziegler, a GLAAD Award-nominated blogger and filmmaker.
"The Trans 100 will bring much-needed visibility to the critical, grassroots work that trans people have been doing in communities across the country for years," said GLAAD's Wilson Cruz. "While media coverage so often misses the mark on accurate portrayals of trans people, the Trans 100 is changing the game by sharing the inspiring and diverse stories behind trans advocacy."
Trans 100/Andy Karol
GLAAD staff at Trans 100
GLAAD is proud to have sponsored this event, and we will post the full list and video from the event soon!
