Transcript:
Hurricanes and other disasters can be especially devastating for Black transgender people.
Racism, transphobia, and other issues contribute to higher rates of poverty and homelessness for Black trans people – making them more vulnerable when disasters strike.
And they may have a harder time getting help afterward. For example, some may not have ID that aligns with their gender identity, which can make it more difficult to access shelters.
McKenzie: “So that is also preventing them from going into those spaces to get those resources that they need.”
Jasmine McKenzie is the founder and executive director of the McKenzie Project – a Miami-based group that supports the Black transgender community.
As part of that mission, she created the HRT – or Hurricane Response Team – hub, which provides emergency supplies after a storm.
After Hurricane Milton, the group delivered generators, food baskets, and solar charging stations to trans people across the state.
McKenzie says there’s a need for more disaster relief initiatives like hers that are led by and serve Black transgender people.
McKenzie: “To make sure that trans people have the necessities to thrive and survive before and after any type of a natural disaster.”
Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media