Deadly Year Inspires New Fund To Get Trans Black Women Home Safe

Black-woman-taxi

Actor Devin Michael Lowe Launches Black Trans Travel Fund Aimed To Reduce The Number Of Murders Of Transgender Women By Paying For Their Private Rides Home

by Heather Cassell

How many women out late at night or who find themselves in an unsafe situation at any time of the day would not want a paid ride home?

I know I sure would as a white cis-gendered woman.

I cannot fathom the stress women of color, especially Black trans women, feel wondering if they will get home safe whether they are getting off work or wrapping up a night out on the town.

How much would a free private ride home give them a sense of care and security?

That sense of care and security is what the Black Trans Travel Fund aims to provide by getting trans women of color home safe one private ride home at a time.

Murders of transgender people broke records in the United States last year. A record 350 transgender people were killed in 2020, a majority of them were trans women of color.

The fund is the vision of actor Devin Michael Lowe who is on a mission to save Black trans women’s lives one private ride home at a time.

Devin-Michael-Lowe
Actor and activist Devin Michael Lowe (Photo: Courtesy of Devin Michael Lowe)

“My overall vision is for it to be a hub where allies can find ways to leverage their resources in a way that provides tangible support to Black trans women, as well as a resource where Black trans women can find a means of support,” Lowe told Paper magazine.

Currently, the fund provides up to 150 Black trans women’s rides monthly in New York and New Jersey. An average of 75 of the women have been approved to receive transportation money every two weeks.

The fund is targeting to raise $108,000 for the Travel Fund for Trans Women in New York campaign on GoFundMe.

The fund has raised $6,369 as of January 30.

The fund is also receiving donations directly on Cashapp ($BlackTransTravelFund ), Venmo (@BlackTransTravelFund) and Paypal ().

Rides are supported by 80% of the funds from the fund. The remaining 20% covers the fund’s operation costs, reported the Paper.

Applications are open on the 1st and 15th of each month for Black trans women in New York and New Jersey to apply to receive safe rides home.

The fund plans to add more states in the future.

An added bonus, the fund sponsors books highlighted by Noname Book Club, for good reading on the women’s ride home.

Book your next Intrepid women-only vacation with Girls That Roam Travel. Contact Heather Cassell at Girls That Roam Travel at 415-517-7239 or at .

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