Community is the Only Solution: A Note from Fi Pili Jayei
Fi Pili Jayei is a young black queer and trans community organizer, advocate, & sex worker native to Philadelphia. They specialize in events & organizing that center advocacy, mutual aid, & destigmatization for institutionally forgotten youth, young people in the sex trade, & the liberation of all oppressed demographics, with a heavy emphasis on black, queer, & trans identities. In their spare time, Fi likes to teach fitness and pole dancing lessons to the black and queer community of Philadelphia, model, thrift, or take up a furniture refurbishment project.
My name is Fi Pili Jayei, and I am a trans-feminine human. I was born into a family where my masculinity was uplifted from a very young age. I never felt “female” or identified with femininity until I reached my early 20s when I started to come out as trans. Though I have experienced life as a black woman, I have had to learn that is not how I feel, and that is only people’s perceptions and assumptions of me.
I am learning from my community that trans does not have one look. The trans identity is as diverse as our ethnicities; there are so many different shades of personalities, experiences, & expressions. Never tell a trans person they do not look trans, as looking trans is never our goal, but loving our vessels & feeling safe in our communities and homes is.
Not only today but tomorrow and beyond—I want people to ask themselves, “what am I doing to dismantle the gender binary?”, “how am I showing up for trans people in my life?”, “what can I do to support the experiences and safety of trans people?” With trans people staring down the barrel of genocide, and ALL of our reproductive rights at risk, these are the questions I ask the people of my communities to address & act upon.
I believe community is THE ONLY solution to our freedom, safety, & liberation; as trans humans, & ultimately the rest of our country, & the world.
Explore our list of organizations, resources, and trainings that work every day to uplift and affirm the movement for Trans liberation, equity, and justice.
Explore Our Video Resources on Trans Liberation
Leading The Way: Trans Housing Movement Leaders
Trans housing movement leaders have and continue to lead the way in the movement to make safe, secure, affordable housing accessible to all people everywhere. Hear leaders discuss their lifesaving work with HIV prevention and treatment, and housing trans youth. Receive takeaways for applying mutual aid support in our communities and learn how we can collectively help sustain the essential work they’re doing.
Protecting Southern Queer
And Trans Youth
Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation sweeping the South is disproportionately impacting youth experiencing homelessness. Hear what affirming and safe care looks like for queer and trans clients.