"We have several hip hop artists in our collective. And hip hop is a very male-dominated, very heteronormative space, and so finding producers and recording booths where artists feel safe to record, it's a challenge. There's a large funding disparity when it comes to work that supports black, trans femme artists, and usually the funding that does go to supporting black, trans femme artists is one-time project-based support."
"According to a nonprofit focused on LGBTQ advocacy, 41% of Black transgender people have experienced homelessness or housing instability due to discrimination, and 34% live in extreme poverty, earning less than $10,000 per year."
Black Trans Femmes in the Arts Collective (BTFA) is a nonprofit organization serving Black trans young artists globally, with significant operations in Brooklyn. Founded by Jordyn Jay, who holds a master's degree in Art Politics from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, the organization emerged from a 2019 meet-up where artists identified critical barriers to their success. These barriers range from practical challenges like access to safe recording spaces and arts education funding to systemic issues including housing instability, employment discrimination, and inadequate healthcare access. Research shows 41% of Black transgender people experience homelessness or housing instability due to discrimination, while 34% live in extreme poverty earning under $10,000 annually. The organization addresses these interconnected challenges to enable artists to create at their full potential.
#black-trans-artists #lgbtq-advocacy #arts-access-and-funding #housing-and-poverty #community-support-organizations
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