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Normal Anomaly Erects Billboard Centering Black Trans Women in Sunnyside, Houston, Texas for Pride Month
Two years after launching Transgender Allyship Collective, Normal Anomaly has erected a billboard that proclaims “Black Trans Women Deserve to Grow Old” during Pride Month.
HOUSTON, TX. – June 8, 2022 – The Normal Anomaly Initiative, Inc., a Houston-based nonprofit dedicated to assisting Black, queer+ people with overcoming barriers and ending stigmas and problematic narratives, is celebrating two years of transgender-centered advocacy by erecting a billboard near central Houston.
Normal Anomaly supports its community by providing research, transportation for doctor’s visits, employment assistance opportunities, sexual education classes, sex-positive, liberation, and LGBTQ+ affirming training, and events to uplift Black, queer+ persons, and their culture. In the past two years, Normal Anomaly has launched Black Queer+ Advancement Festival (BQAF), been announced as the Field Study Team in Houston for HIV Prevention Trials Network Study 096, and opened Houston’s first Black Queer Center.
Transgender Allyship Collective was launched in 2020 with PSAs and a billboard on I-10 in Houston’s Fifth Ward. Since then, it has grown to 3 organizations and is a catalyst for empowering Black, transwomen and engaging allies to do more for Black, transwomen. The billboard is to begin the official launch of transgender allyship training to community members and organizations alike beginning in August 2022.
“Black transwomen are literally the reason why we have a Pride to celebrate and oftentimes the last people that we center. This is our way of heightening the conversation around Black Trans women during a time that they are historically overlooked,” says Ian L. Haddock, Founder and Executive Director of The Normal Anomaly Initiative, Inc.
The importance of centering Black, transgender persons has never been more important. From Texas deemed the transgender murder capital of America with 71% of the murders being Black, transwomen from 2013-2019 according to a report by HRC to the anti-transgender legislation sparking debate in Texas, there is a direct attack on transgender people. Complicating these issues are 34% of Black transwomen reportedly making under $10,000 a year and other disparities.
Joelle Bayaa-Uzuri Espeut, Director at The Normal Anomaly Initiative says, “While trans visibility and representation is higher than it has ever been, so is the violence against the trans community. It is imperative that we not merely put Black Trans women on display during Pride month, but also intentionally engage with Black Trans Women and center them in the forward mobility of not just the trans community, but all communities at the intersection of Blackness and queerness.”
Join The Normal Anomaly Initiative in collaboration with Saint Noir in an art installation and discussion centering Black Trans Women entitled ‘God*’ at Trademark Studios, located at 800 Sampson St., Houston, TX 77003 on Thursday, July 7, 2022, from 6 pm to 9 pm CST. RSVP to the event on Facebook here or Eventbrite here.
The Normal Anomaly Initiative began in 2016 in Houston through its founder, Ian L. Haddock, as a blog to tell the stories of Black, queer+ folx. Since its inception, the Normal Anomaly Initiative has significantly grown to include a team of nontraditional activists that have shifted from storytelling to directly changing the lives and stories of its community through advocacy, direct services, and technical assistance.
In six short years, the initiative’s impact has been recognized globally and through significant pop culture events that raised international awareness on dangerous stigmas for those at the intersections of Black, queerness. Normal Anomaly has been featured on Lil Nas X’s “baby registry” to raise awareness for HIV/LGBTQIA+ organizations, has been a leader in speaking on HIV issues to DaBaby, and has worked with the Huffington Post, United States Conference on HIV/ AIDS (USCHA) and Prime Video to spread HIV and stigma awareness.
The Billboard is located at Scott and 610 and reads “Black Women Deserve To Grow Old.” Apply for you or your organization to be a part of the Transgender Allyship Collective training beginning in August 2022 both virtually and in person by going to https://www.normalanomaly.org/transgender-allyship-collective/.
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About Normal Anomaly – Founded by Ian L. Haddock in June 2016 in Houston, Texas as a storytelling blog, The Normal Anomaly Initiative has grown to become a Houston staple in the community-based social advocacy world dedicated to the forward mobility of all Black, queer people. In March 2021, The Normal Anomaly opened the BQ Plus Center for Liberation, a Black, Queer-led center located in Houston.
