Sarah Kapostasy, MA, LPC

We found love in a hopeless place

- Rhianna, We Found Love

I don’t know about you, but hopelessness is more than reasonable right now. We are in the midst of the dual pandemics, COVID-19 and state sponsored violence against Black bodies. Our country is divided. We can’t agree on the truth.

And yet.

I was speaking with my colleague Wes Cowan about all the examples of empowerment and mutual aid we are seeing in the LGBTQIA2+ community right now. Particularly within the trans community, and specifically for trans people of color. For example, Black Trans Leadership of Austin, a new non-profit, is starting to distribute funds for those experiencing housing insecurity.

BTLA was formed in 2020 by local queer Black activists and advocates who saw where other LGBTQIA2+ organizations did not have the lived experience and direct connection to Black and queer people. BTLA seeks to lead by example on how to support them.

As a white cis woman, I’m struck by how I get bogged down in despair about the state of the world. Meanwhile, folks who are objectively more impacted by these forces than I am keep going. They find ways to support and love one another because they have to.

Rather than feeling guilt, this motivates me and gives me hope. I hope to be the best co-conspirator I can in supporting these efforts. I invite you to consider a donation: https://btla.squarespace.com/take-action

And if you need more motivation, go listen to some classic Rhianna. And, I hope this blog continues to inspire us as we move through 2021 together. See you next month.