Juneteenth 2025
Juneteenth is celebrated every June 19th, and marks the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation—more than two years after it had been signed. This was an unjustly delayed but powerful moment of liberation for many Black Americans.
Over time, Juneteenth has evolved into a celebration of Black freedom, resistance, and deep pride. It’s a recognition not just of emancipation from slavery, but of the ongoing struggle for Black liberation in every form.
Black Trans folks have long been on the frontlines of liberation work while also being pushed to the margins—both within the broader Black community and the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Juneteenth offers an opportunity to reflect not only on the unfinished business of racial justice, but also on how that struggle must include gender justice, bodily autonomy, and freedom from criminalization and violence.
The legacy of Juneteenth reminds us that freedom delayed is freedom denied—and Black Trans people are still too often waiting for the world to catch up.
In honoring Juneteenth, we honor Black Trans leadership—past and present—folks who continue to fight for a world that resists carceral systems and builds mutual aid networks.
Join us in amplifying and standing in solidarity with the many Black trans women, men, mascs, femmes, and them creating new models of care, survival, and joy in the face of profound systemic hurdles.
Recommended Reflections:
