“We persist”: Advocate and artist Mila Jam reflects on the significance of Transgender Day of Remembrance
The fusion of art and activism is innate. Mila Jam, a transgender vocalist, lyricist, and performance artist, embodies this fusion, leveraging her craft to stir action and instigate change.
“Pop culture and mixed mediums, they’re my passions. I relish in merging art forms visually and sonically,” she shares with Yahoo Life. “When I fuse them together, something transformative occurs. That’s how ‘Stop killing us’ came to fruition.”
Her 2019 initiative featured a music video for her track “Masquerade,” wherein Jam bared herself, inscribing “Stop Killing Us” across her form. This summer, amid protests against police brutality, Jam resurrected those words.
“It’s been about trans liberation, it’s been about Black Lives Matter. We’ve taken to the streets, rallying for our existence because not everyone comprehends the plight of being marginalized, Black, or transgender,” Jam asserts.
To amplify these voices and commemorate those lost, November 20th marks Transgender Day of Remembrance. Originating in 1999, the day pays homage to transgender individuals whose lives were claimed by anti-transgender violence.
“We must honor the lives we aspired to live, because many couldn’t voice their truth. They merely sought peace and acceptance,” Jam reflects.
The battle for equality and safety rages on. GLAAD reports 36 deaths of trans and gender non-conforming individuals due to anti-transgender violence in 2020 alone. “Most victims were Black trans women or women of color—cherished kin, friends, valued members of their communities—yet their lives were forsaken in a culture that perpetuates transphobia,” asserts GLAAD President & CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis.
Activists and allies tirelessly raise awareness and advocate for legislative change to safeguard the transgender community. Though progress is gradual, Mila Jam identifies pivotal milestones worth celebrating.
“We witness numerous prominent Black trans women on television, in music, across various media platforms, boldly speaking out and existing,” Jam notes. “We’re passionate, cherished, and uplifted women.”
Her fervor captivated Out Leadership, a global LGBTQ business network, leading to Jam’s appointment as Senior Advisor of Global Trans Initiatives, focusing on content creation.
“We’re bridging gaps between brands, sponsors, companies, and corporations, carving out space for our narratives,” Jam emphasizes.
While advocating for the transgender community holds personal significance for Mila Jam, she acknowledges the broader scope of the equality struggle.
“I’ve conversed with trans elders in their 70s and 80s, a reality I hadn’t fathomed—to be an elder recounting times of utter silence,” Jam reflects.
“There’s solace in conversing with trans elders, in sharing these moments.”