Guest Editor
MICHELLE DING
Academic Outreach Intern
University of Michigan Museum of Art
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Black Trans Lives Matter
Artwork Title: Pumpkin and Roberta
Artist: Danny Lyon
1967, printed 2010; gelatin silver print on paper, Gift of Thomas Wilson '79 and Jill Garling '80, 2013/2.345
In 1967, Danny Lyon, known for his involvement during the Civil Rights Movement as a photographer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), traveled to Galveston, TX. There he became friends with two Black transgender women, Pumpkin Renee and Roberta Henderson. Both shared with Lyon that they identified as "female impersonators and homosexuals." Interested in their lives as Black trans women living in Texas, Danny was invited by Roberta and Pumpkin Renee to document their lives through photography and voice recordings over several months. In one of their discussions, Roberta said of herself: "this wonderful life all started for me when I was six years old … my destiny was to be a girl ... some day I am planning to have a sex-change operation.” This series of portraits of the two teenagers represent a rare depiction of Black transgender women having ownership over how they are represented in photography, especially for the late 1960s. Too often, transgender men and women are portrayed in a negative light in the media (i.e. as victims, criminals, or mentally ill). For example, check out this article by GLAAD examining ten years of transgender images on television.

As both a sexual minority and a racial minority, Black transgender women have faced discriminatory treatment in almost all aspects of society: healthcare, workplaces, education, housing. As a result, the emotional and psychological toll of this discrimination has put many Black transgender women at higher risks of morbidity/mortality for HIV, mental health issues, homelessness, substance abuse, and hate crime attacks. Most recently, on June 12th, the four-year anniversary of the deadly Pulse nightclub shooting, in which 49 people were killed at a popular LGBTQ venue in Orlando, the Trump administration announced that it is eliminating an Obama-era regulation prohibiting discrimination in health care against patients who are transgender (section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act).

With the intersection of Pride Month with the Black Lives Matter movement, and with the recent anniversary of the Stonewall riots, it is important to remember that Black LGBTQIA+ members, especially Black transgender women, were at the forefront of the riots, like Miss Major Griffin-Gracy. Miss Major was a leader in the 1969 Stonewall riots, but was struck in the head by a police officer and was taken into custody.  

I'd like to dedicate this Art In Your Inbox to those who are no longer with us. Remember their names: Marsha P. Johnson, Riah Milton, Dominique “Rem’Mie” Fells, and Stormé DeLarverie, to name a few.

Reflection Prompts:
  • How can we find ways to help our society become a safer and more inclusive space for transgender and gender non-conforming people, specifically transgender people of color?
  • How has general mass media (photography, cinema, news, etc) typically portrayed and/or represented Black transgender women throughout history? What about in comparison to today? What still needs to be changed? 
Credit: New York Times
Five Podcasts at the Intersection of Pride Month and the Black Lives Matter Movement

From the New York Times : "This June has restored the spirit of protest to Pride celebrations. Here are shows to help you understand the moment."
Ann Arbor Pride (Virtual!)
COVID-19 cannot stop Pride. Pride will live on this year in a virtual setting. The Ann Arbor Pride Committee is working hard to create the same experience full of Community, Connections, and Celebration.

Check back for updates!
How Can I Help?
Marie Claire is continually updating this list of Black-led LGBTQ services and groups: "In honor of Pride Month and in support of Black Lives Matter, here are 17 Black-led LGBTQ+ services and activist groups you can help support right now through donations. These groups are bringing real change to their communities and across the nation, and they could use your help not just now, but always."
About The Editor
I am currently a senior majoring in Art History, and minoring in Museum Studies. I have been an Academic Outreach intern at UMMA since January 2020. After graduation, I intend to continue my Art History studies abroad in France and pursue a career path working in an art institution, museum or gallery. 
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