TRANS DAY OF RESILIENCE 2018 AND A COMMITMENT TO ACTION

New York, NY – November 20, 2018

* For Immediate Release *

Contact:

Michelina Ferrara
Vice President of Community Releations
community@omegaphibeta.org

AN UPDATE ON OUR SISTERHOOD

After six years of fierce political education and the hard work and dedication of the Gender Justice Task Force and Spectrum Committee, Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. made a commitment to move forward as a trans-inclusive sisterhood. On August 3, 2018, at the 2018 National Convention, our Membership approved to amend the National Constitution to include language, which now states that Membership in the Sorority shall be open to “all self-identified women, regardless of any identities they held, hold, or will hold.” This important and necessary statement of radical inclusion brings us one step closer to a the world we envision for our sisters – a world where all of us are safe and free.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Today is a national day of action. “November 20 marks Trans Day of Remembrance, an annual memorialization of those killed by anti-trans violence. This violence overwhelmingly targets Black and Latinx trans women and femmes, and 2017 was the deadliest year on record. For trans people of color to not only survive, but thrive, we need to reimagine our world. We want to live in a world where our full selves are celebrated, not shamed. But trans people of color face discrimination, harassment and fatal violence every day for simply living authentic lives.” (Forward Together)

As an organization committed to ending violence against all of our sisters, we must join this fight and work towards reimagining a world where all of our sisters are safe and able to lives their lives with self-determination and freedom. So today, we pledge to stand in solidarity with our trans sisters, defend all women, and share our Sisterhood with all women committed to sisterhood as an action.

OUR COMMITMENT

With this decision to be a trans-inclusive organization open to all women, we are committed to:

• Learning and growing in our process of accompliceship
• Developing workshops, trainings and conversations that push us all towards a deeper commitment to gender justice
• And working towards creating an organization that is inclusive and powerful for all of our current and future Members

In fierce community, action, and resilience.

Sisters of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated

If you have any questions, please reach out to our Gender Justice Task Force at genderjustice@omegaphibeta.org.  

Omega Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated is a Greek-lettered organization committed to spreading the Awareness of Violence Against Women. The mission of OPBSI is to serve and educate people of diverse backgrounds through sisterhood, leadership and guidance. As positive role models, we promote unity of all cultures, focus on the empowerment of our gender and raise the standards of excellence in our academic, social, and personal endeavors. OPBSI envisions a world without oppression, where empowered women celebrate the essence of womanhood and act as resources in the advancement of their communities. For more information visit: www.OmegaPhiBeta.org