[News/People] [USA] Janet Mock Empowers Trans Women with #GirlsLikeUs Campaign

[Stephanie Stevens]

GLAAD, USA


GLAAD BLOG

Janet Mock Empowers Trans Women with #GirlsLikeUs Campaign

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 - 11:40am by Marcus Brock, Media Field
Strategist at GLAAD


“My purpose at USC was to elevate the conversation, to urge a new
generation of young LGBT leaders and allies to question what they
truly mean when they say they’re fighting for equality,” says a
passionate Janet Mock in reference to the keynote speech she delivered
at the University of Southern California’s Lavender Celebration on
April 29, 2012 as highlighted by Queer Women of Color Media
<http://www.qwoc.org/2012/05/janet-mock-launches-girlslikeus-campaign-to-empower-trans-women-of-color/>
.

The impassioned Mock has sparked a Twitter campaign to empower trans
women. The #GirlLikeUs campaign
<http://janetmock.com/2012/05/01/usc-speech-cece-mcdonald-paige-clay/>
calls on the media to prominently tell the stories of the many trans
women who are victims of hate crimes.

As a respected media professional and self-acclaimed person writing
and “living visibly as a proud trans woman,” Mock has used her voice
to spread awareness within the trans community and beyond. The issues
that trans women and men of color must be a galvanized effort
consisting of allies and community activists in order to bring these
significant stories to national presence, discussion and action.

Mock, like many other advocates such as Laverne Cox
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laverne-cox/transgender-rights_b_1506180.html>
have all spoken out against the sweep of violence that has been
affecting the trans community, and most recently the disappointing
cases of CeCe McDonald <http://supportcece.wordpress.com/> and Brandy
Martell. Mock is critical of the media’s coverage of these issues,
but is hopeful that a continued fight will deliver justice.

On Mock’s blog, “Fish Food for Thought <http://janetmock.com/blog/> ,”
she states, “The brutality and injustices that we face are rarely
told. Our stories are rarely elevated beyond our own community’s
cries.” This is a strong statement because it is not only enough to
discuss the issues within the community, or as the adage goes,
“speaking to the choir,” but the concern of the trans community, must
be the concern of the LGBT and for all humankind.

You can follow Janet on Twitter at @janetmock
<https://twitter.com/janetmock> and join #GirlsLikeUs
<https://twitter.com/search/%23girlslikeus> to elevate the
conversation.


http://www.glaad.org/blog/janet-mock-empowers-trans-women-girlslikeus-campaign