Photo Credit: Bryan Whitley on CNN
As Pride month comes to a close, with activists still fighting for Black lives, it’s important to remind ourselves of this truth: all of this was made possible by Black trans women. The Stonewall Riots of 1969, the foundation of the modern LGBTQ+ movement, were in response to police brutality. They were led by trans women of color, a demographic that faces horrifying rates of violence and economic oppression.
Wanting to learn more about racism and Black experiences and advocacy in America? Netflix has been highlighting these stories and even has a documentary about Martha P. Johnson, one of the leaders at Stonewall.
These leaders — often forgotten in our history books — have paved the way for future trailblazers like Aaron Philip! Aaron (she/her/hers) is a black transgender model with cerebral palsey! Working in the adaptive wear industry, we turn to role models like Aaron to remind us all that every body deserves products that inspire confidence.
In an interview with CNN, Aaron shared that
“The fashion industry has only known one type of body, and one type of marketable figure for so long… (But) now we’re entering this time, and this climate, where all types of bodies want to be pushed forward and celebrated — not only celebrated, but be seen as desirable and marketable.”
