By Laura Onyeneho
Sasha “Barbie” Braxton came to Houston from Baton Rouge at 12 years old after a tumultuous and abusive childhood.
She wanted to be in a safe and comfortable environment where she could live her truth as a Black trans woman. Now as an adult, her purpose is to protect other trans individuals. With President-elect Donald Trump preparing for his second term, Braxton is disappointed at the news.
“You have people on his side using us like Guinea pigs to see how things will go,” Braxton said. “It’s sad that we don’t have protection like we should.”
The re-election of Trump has created a sense of fear and frustration within the Black transgender community.
For many, the fear isn’t just about potential policy changes. It’s about survival.
Advocates are mobilizing to address what they see as an existential threat, spurred by Trump’s campaign promises to tighten restrictions on gender-affirming care and bar transgender athletes from competing in sports under Title IX, and gender changes on IDs.
These promises are part of a broader push that has already seen nationwide restrictions enacted. According to the Movement Advancement Project, half of all U.S. states now prohibit transgender youth from accessing gender-affirming healthcare, while 26 states enforce strict limitations on sports participation. The policies disproportionately affect Black transgender individuals, compounding barriers they already face.
Much of Trump’s rhetoric resonates with America. According to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 people who cast ballots nationwide, 55% of voters and 85% of Trump supporters believe that support for transgender rights has gone too far.
The Republican Party spent $222 million on anti-trans advertisements as part of a nearly $1 billion ad campaign. These ads have fueled legislative efforts targeting transgender individuals. Also, Trump and other Republicans hold majorities in both the House and Senate after the 2024 Presidential election cycle results.
Voices from the Frontlines
Braxton is a part of the Transgender Allyship Collective (TAC), a flagship program powered by The Normal Anomaly Initiative Inc., Houston’s premiere Black LGBTQ+ organization. She not only has to deal with the complexities of being trans in the Black community, but she has also faced discrimination, misgendering and being denied employment.
“I’ve been to many interviews and they be like, ‘You have the right energy. We love your look. You’ll be perfect here.’ Then it’s time to give them my I.D. I’ve been turned down like that,” Braxton said. “I’ve been fired because people found out I was trans. I’ve had managers come and dead-name me. Don’t do that because that puts me in harms way.”
She also disagrees with anti-transgender bathroom bans and doesn’t support them in using locations that align with their gender identity. Instead, she says it’s very risky because someone in her position who passes as a woman would be odd using the men’s restroom.
“I’m going into the women’s restroom; I’m not worried about the next lady or about a child.
Men are visual creatures, and they may not think about it, but now you have these girls built like this going into the restroom,” she said. “What if the man is drunk or he’s high or anything and we get sexually assaulted in there, or we get raped or anything like that. It is way bigger than what people are making it.”
TAC has trained hundreds of elected officials, business owners, and community members on the importance of actionable allyship to people of transgender experience. Braxton is a part of a research cohort for gender expansion services.
Joelle Espeut, Advocacy Director at the Normal Anomaly Initiative and co-lead of TAC is more determined than ever to keep fighting the good fight.
“For me, being a part of the Black trans community is about family, joy and hope,” Espeut said. “It’s about showing up unapologetically for myself and for the younger version of me who didn’t have the freedom I have now.”
Drawing strength from Black history, Espeut remains resolute.
“Historically, Black people have faced immense adversity and still persevered,” she said. “I pull from that resilience when I think about the trans part of my identity. Regardless of what the government does, I still believe in hope, representation, and liberation. We are on the right side of history.”
The Normal Anomaly Inc. launched several programs, including its BQ+ Transportation program for individuals who need assistance with job interviews, employment, and doctor’s and counselor’s appointments. They also launched Project Liberate, a six-month small business development initiative, and Peer Support, a program designed to help Black LGBTQ+ individuals navigate sexual health and wellness.
“When we think about communities at the margins, youth facing housing insecurity, even like the drag community or adult content creators [these] are often forgotten about when we think about advocacy conversations,’ Espeut said. “For us, it’s really about doubling down on our mission-driven work and making sure that we are helping to continue to provide community with tools and resources so that they can advocate for themselves.”
MiKayla Poche, a member of Save Our Sisters United Inc. (S.O.S.U), shared these sentiments but acknowledged the challenges ahead.
“I’m a little afraid, honestly,” she admitted. “While I’ve been able to sustain a job, other girls who are just starting to get it together…might not have the same opportunities because of this situation.”
Poche believes there is a human cost of discrimination that people don’t see when it comes to these policies. Coming from Baton Rouge, she described her experience in Houston as a “blessing.” She hasn’t had to face many negative encounters because of her gender identity, and that is the kind of experience she is advocating for others to have.
“We are not just sex workers or prostitutes,” she said. “We work, have jobs, are educated, and contribute to society. We’re not trying to compete with cisgender women. We are your sisters, your friends. We go through the same struggles—abuse, neglect, and pain,” Poche said.”
S.O.S.U was established to facilitate the connection between transwomen of color and appropriate resources, enabling them to navigate the world and live their authentic selves. It is prioritizing mental health resources and recognizing the toll of heightened stress and anxiety.
“We need allies who want to stand with us,” Poche said. “We’re not powerless.
We have to stand up for [our] rights. Because if you don’t stand up for your rights, nobody else will.”