Lives at Stake: TRANS VOTE and HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARSHA!
Lives at Stake: Imara Jones in Residence
Photo courtesy of the host
Overview
Journalist-in-Residence Imara Jones continues her monthly residency in The Greene Space with a discussion on the importance of transgender people of color running for political office.
Campaign 2020 is in full-swing so what exactly is the choice between Democrats and Republicans for trans voters? Since both parties have now completed their party platforms, we will unpack what they have to say about transgender people and their rights. We will also celebrate the 75th Birthday of Marsha P. Johnson, the legendary transgender activist who played a vital role in the Stonewall Uprising as well as the fight for trans equality for three decades.
Jones talks with Reginald Greer, LGBTQ+ Vote Director for the campaign of Vice President Joe Biden; Victoria Cruz, the veteran trans rights activist, victims rights advocate and friend of Marsha P. Johnson; and Elle Hearns, Founder and Executive Director of the Marsha P. Johnson Institute.
ASL interpretation will be available during the show.
The trans community, allies and those who wish to learn more are all welcome to join us to share experiences, insights, questions and celebrations by tweeting @TheGreeneSpace and using the hashtags #translash and #livesatstake.
An Emmy and Peabody Award winner, Imara Jones’ work has appeared in The Guardian, The Nation, BBC News, Mic, The Grio, Salon, and The Root, as well as broadcast on MSNBC, CNBC, PBS, NPR, BBC, and The Takeaway. She is the creator of TransLash, a cross-platform media journalism and personal story project which produces content to end the culture of hostility and save trans lives. Imara previously held economic policy positions in the Clinton White House and was named a 2018 Champion of Pride by The Advocate. She is currently a Soros Equality Fellow.
Lives at Stake is a new monthly IRL & livestream/virtual event series at The Greene Space at WNYC/WQXR featuring frank and urgent conversations by and for trans people about issues affecting their communities this Election Season and beyond, produced in partnership with TransLash Media.
TransLash tells trans stories to save trans lives during this pivotal moment in history. Beginning in 2018 as a series of video shorts which focus on what it is like to be trans–-especially a trans person of color–-at a time of social backlash, it has evolved into a cross-platform media effort led by founder and creator Imara Jones.
Through the lens of journalism and personal narrative, TransLash creates and curates content, events, and resources in collaboration with our partners, as well as in community with trans individuals and allies. Through our work we center the humanity of the most marginalized of the marginalized.
Find out more at www.translash.org.
Photo by Kenneth Hamlett
Elle Hearns is the Founder and Executive Director of The Marsha P. Johnson Institute. She is an accomplished writer, and has been published by The CUNY Law Review and Ebony magazine. Elle has been profiled by Posture Magazine, CNN, MTV, The New York Times, Time, Democracy Now, Fusion, Essence Magazine, Telesur TV and The Washington Post.
Prior to founding MPJI, Elle served as a founding strategic partner to the BLM Global network where she also formerly worked as the interim organizing director.
She previously served on the board for Million Hoodies Movement for Justice and is the lead advisor to The Tamir Rice Afrocentric Cultural Center. Elle splits her time between her hometown of Columbus, Ohio and New York City.
Photo Courtesy of Guest.
Reggie Greer is a D.C-based LGBTQ advocate. He currently serves as the LGBTQ+ Vote Director for Vice President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign for president— fighting to include every LGBTQ+ voice in Team Joe’s winning coalition. Reggie joined the Biden campaign after serving as Constituent Engagement Director at LGBTQ Victory Institute where he supported LGBTQ+ elected and appointed leaders around the country.
Prior to joining Victory, Reggie served as Deputy Director of Public Engagement at the United States Department of Transportation where he developed strategies for effective communication and engagement with thousands of transportation stakeholders on key White House and Departmental priorities. Appointed by President Barack Obama and Secretary Anthony Foxx in May 2014, Reggie served as the Department’s liaison to the White House Business Council, engaging business leaders across the country on a wide range of transportation-related initiatives, programs, and issues. Reggie began his tenure at the Department as a special assistant to Secretary Foxx.
In 2016, Reggie was appointed to serve on Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s LGBTQ Advisory Committee. He is a graduate of Georgetown University, where he studied Government and History and concentrated his studies in education and social policy.
Photo Courtesy of Guest.
Victoria Cruz is a veteran LGBT Rights Activist, Longtime Domestic Violence Counselor, and Friend of Marsha P. Johnson.