For Media Contact, further inquiries or interview requests, please contact:
Uchechukwu Onwa - admin@bdlinitiative.org

March is International Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the resilience, leadership, and contributions of women across the globe. At BDLI, we recognize that Black women and LGBTQ+ immigrant women, including trans women, have always been at the forefront of social change, community-building, and advocacy, often without receiving the recognition they deserve. Their stories are hidden, while their impact brilliantly shapes history and movements, creates pathways for future generations, and continues to redefine what it means to belong. Despite facing systemic barriers, racism, sexism, xenophobia, and homophobia, these women have continued to rise, building spaces of safety, joy, and empowerment for themselves and their communities.

We give accolades to phenomenal and fierce women like Therese Patricia Okoumou who on July 4, 2018, climbed the Statue of Liberty to protest the treatment of immigrants on the US border and detention of migrant children under Trump’s first administration. Okoumou immigrated to the US from the Republic of Congo. Okoumou is courageous beyond measure.

As one BDLI member beautifully puts it:

"As a Black queer immigrant woman, I exist at the intersection of multiple struggles, but I also stand on the shoulders of those who came before me. Our survival is resistance, and our joy is revolutionary."

How We Can Celebrate and Uplift Black and Black LGBTQ+ Immigrant Women

1. Amplify Their Voices: Share the stories, work, and activism of Black and Black LGBTQ+ immigrant women on social media and within your communities.

2. Support Black and LGBTQ+ Immigrant-Led Organizations: Donate to or volunteer with organizations like BDLI that provide direct support, advocacy, and resources for Black LGBTQ+ immigrants and trans women.

3. Advocate for Policy Change: Push for policies that protect immigrant women, trans women, and asylum seekers, ensuring that they have access to safety, healthcare, housing, and legal protections.

4. Celebrate Their Achievements: Learn and share the history of Black LGBTQ+ immigrant women who have made an impact in movements for justice, from the arts to activism.

5. Create Safe Spaces: Whether in workplaces, community centers, or local organizations, ensure that spaces are inclusive, affirming, and safe for Black LGBTQ+ immigrant women.

Another BDLI member “Jade” reminds us:

"Women like us have always been here organizing, leading, and fighting for a world that sees our full humanity. We deserve to be honored not just this month, but every single day."

Call to Action: Join Us in Celebrating and Advocating

International Women’s History Month is more than a celebration; it is a call to action. Join us in uplifting Black and Black LGBTQ+ immigrant women by engaging with our campaigns, volunteering with us, donating to our work, attending events, and advocating for change. Follow BDLI on social media to learn more, get involved, and take action in meaningful ways.

Together, let’s ensure that the contributions of Black and Black LGBTQ+ immigrant women including trans women are never erased and that their futures are filled with possibility, dignity, and justice.

ABOUT BDLI

Black Diaspora Liberty Initiative (BDLI) advocates for the rights and well-being of Black LGBTQ+ immigrants, by fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where all individuals not only survive but thrive.

We provide compassionate support, advocacy, and resources for Black LGBTQ+  immigrants who have been displaced from their home countries due to persecution, discrimination, or violence based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, while working towards uniting the Black LGBTQ+ communities in the diaspora.