In order to combat the violence & dehumanization of our transgender community the Queer Equity Institute (QEI) has announced a new project aimed to quantify the safety of the trans community in individual states & to give the community the tools & education they need to fight back against attacks. Leigh Finke, Executive Director of the Queer Equity Institute & the first out trans elected member of the Minnesota State Legislature stated, “This is a dangerous time for trans people across America. There is a well-funded, nationally coordinated movement to dehumanize trans people across America. The result of this effort allows for acts of violence & the denial of our basic human rights. This hateful movement has created an environment where anti-transgender politicians have been allowed to pass hateful legislation. Often, acts of violence & even murder go unpunished if our community does not bear the burden of immediately & forcibly bring public attention to those cases. The Trans Refuge Project is an effort for everyone concerned with the safety & humanity of the trans community to fill the protection gap that is being created by the failure of politicians & others to fight against these acts of hate.” The Trans Refuge Project is beginning its work in the Midwest specifically in Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio & Wisconsin. In those states the Trans Refuge Project is using collected data as well as outreach to allies to build awareness & identify opportunities to create safe spaces for the trans community. QEI is also doing outreach in other states to draw attention to the gaps in safety & access that members of the trans community face & point them to resources that can help.
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