Trans activist marks 34th birthday by getting a cake with faces of murdered trans women on it
NEW YORK, NY – JUNE 02: Ashlee Marie Preston attends Teen Vogue Summit 2018: #TurnUp – Day 2 at The New School on June 2, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Teen Vogue)
Trans rights campaigner Ashlee Marie Preston has marked her 34th birthday using a cake emblazoned with the faces of murdered trans women of colour.
Posting on Instagram on June 7, Preston said: “Thank you for all the birthday wishes! Today I turned 34! Sadly the average life expectancy for a black trans woman in America is 35 years old.”
She explained that she got a cake company to “place the photos of 77 black trans women who were murdered under 35 years old on my cake.”
Trans rights campaigners widely cite that 35-years old is the average life expectancy for trans women of colour.
The activist added that she is starting a campaign called #ThriveOver35, which is “intended to help black trans women reimagine themselves somewhere other than an open casket.”
Preston continued: “Please use this hashtag for every birthday under and over 35 years old to remind our sisters brothers and others that we’re not only surviving we’re THRIVING!!”
The message on the cake reads: “Today I turned 34. Statistically, I won’t live over 35. Black trans women will no longer accept this.”
Preston highlighted the low life expectancy of black trans women on Instagram. (ashleemariepreston/Instagram)
A 2014 report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights found that the average life expectancy of trans women in the USA is between 30 and 35.
Preston made headlines last year when she called Caitlyn Jenner a “f***ing fraud” for supporting US president Donald Trump.
“You need to f***ing stay away,” she reportedly told Jenner at an event. “No-one wants you here.
“It’s f***ing ridiculous. You’re a f***ing fraud,” she allegedly continued.
The transgender pride flag. (Creative Commons)
Model and trans rights campaigner Munroe Bergdorf recently posted a message on Twitter, calling for women-only spaces for trans women – and highlighting the low life expectancy for trans women of colour.
The 30-year-old posted an image of an activist holding a placard, with the statement: “The average life expectancy for trans women of color is 35 years.”
Bergdorf wrote above the image: “I’m often asked why I’m so vocal about issues that affect black trans women and people of colour in a wider sense. This is is why… Statistically I only have four years left to live.
She added: “This is why trans women need access to women only spaces.”
