ABOUT MISS MAJOR
As a Black, formerly incarcerated transgender elder, mother, and grandmother, Miss Major has paved the way for us to be who and where we are today. She is a veteran of the historic Stonewall Rebellion and a survivor of Attica State Prison, a former sex worker, a human rights activist, and simply “Mama” to many in her community. At the center of her activism from the 1960’s to today is her fierce advocacy for her girls, trans women of color who have survived police brutality and incarceration.
Miss Major was executive director of the San Francisco-based Transgender Gender-Variant Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP), and has brought her message to Pride marches, United Nations hearings, activist conferences, and community meetings. She has received numerous awards for more than 50 years of visionary activism, and is the subject of the award-winning 2015 documentary feature film “MAJOR!”
Miss Major recently relocated from Oakland, California to Little Rock, Arkansas, where she is embarking on the next chapter of her work: building House of GG, the Griffin-Gracy Educational Retreat and Historical Center, an oasis for transgender people to come, feel safe, and be part of a growing network and united family of Southern trans people working for social justice.
ABOUT MISS MAJOR'S MONTHLY FUNDRAISING CIRCLE
Miss Major made our movement strong. Now she needs our help.
In early July 2019, Miss Major survived a stroke. She has been touched by the outpouring of community care: All of the prayers and prayer vigils, handwritten cards, fundraising events, donations (money, gifts, and time) and especially the ongoing work that trans people do to come together to take care of each other in her spirit—have been powerful support for her healing.Still, the truth is that Miss Major now faces steep challenges both physically and financially. Major is on the path to recovery, but needs constant medical assistance—care that her new home state, Arkansas, does not provide.
We know the system needs to change. All of us should get the care we need. But right now, Miss Major needs us. We are writing in the hope that you can keep her safe and comfortable as she has made our trans community strong.
Miss Major just came home from a month in the hospital and a medical rehabilitation facility, and now needs $30,000 for in-home medical assistance in these next two months alone.
Since her stroke in early July (including recurring monthly donations) we have raised just over $20,000. To ensure your donation goes directly to Miss Major, please give to this Fundly account. If you can, please become a MONTHLY donor at whatever level you can—$10, $25, $50, or more!
After that, will you join us by directly asking 5 individuals to make a 1 time gift, $5 to $50,000? Each contribution is meaningful and helps secure Miss Major’s safety and well being. Seriously.Make a list of 10 folks who you could ask and ask the 5 you think are most likely to say yes. Think about an amount you’d feel like they could say yes to, add some on top of it, and ask them if you can talk about Miss Major and the fundraising that is happening for her health needs.Talk about her, about her more than 50 years of ongoing leadership and work for trans safety and power, and then ask if they will join you in supporting her in getting her medical needs met. Ask for the specific amount and wait until they react or respond. Ideally ask privately, or in a setting where it feels respectful and not showy, on the spot, or a call out. Please honestly and earnestly invite some into this collaborative community of care for Miss Major.
Please become a MONTHLY donor at whatever level you can—$10, $25, $50, or more!
Shéár Avory
Morgan Bassichis
Wriply Bennet
Caitlin Breedlove
Charlene Carruthers
Ceyenne Doroshow
Gabriel Foster
Pooja Gehi
Joss Greene
Chanelle Gallant
Iimay Ho
Vanessa Huang
Beth Jacobs
Jules Litauer Chan
Nora Leccese
Alexander Lee
Colby Lenz
Wazi Marét
Toshio Meronek
Dori Midnight
Janet Mock
Cyd Nova
Una Osato
Pigeon
Suzanne Pharr
Nora Rasman
Barbara Smith
Nat Smith
Rio Sofia
Dean Spade
Eric A. Stanley
Alok Vaid-Menon
danielle marilyn west
Beck Witt
Luke Woodward
+ a growing list of FRIENDS OF MISS MAJOR
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