Trans Women of Color Collective (TWOCC)

Trans Women of Color Collective (TWOCC) was born from both grief and vision. On August 17, 2013, Islan Nettles—a 21-year-old Black trans woman—was murdered in Harlem after being attacked simply for living in her truth. Her death sent shockwaves across the country and exposed, yet again, the staggering levels of violence that trans women of color face every day.

In the aftermath of Islan’s murder, something powerful emerged. Thirteen trans women of color from across the country came together not just to mourn, but to organize. They weren’t waiting for institutions to save them—they built something of their own. That same year, TWOCC was founded by a collective of leaders including Lourdes Ashley Hunter and Vanessa Victoria, alongside eleven other sisters in the struggle, each bringing deep commitment, brilliance, and love for community.

Together, they created TWOCC as a healing and action-based space rooted in sisterhood, advocacy, culture, and leadership. As Vanessa Victoria reflected, “As transgender women of color, we are at higher risk for discrimination and violence. I and 12 other trans women of colour have a mission to work with and empower trans women of color and foster sisterhood and healing.” Her words, and the spirit of that original circle, still guide us today.

From that foundation, TWOCC has grown into a national collective creating affirming spaces and economic opportunities for trans and gender-expansive people of color. Our work is grounded in community building, mutual aid, restorative justice, arts and culture, and grassroots advocacy. We lead with intention and we move with love, because we know that liberation is something we build together—not someday, but right now.

TWOCC exists because our founders believed in each other. We continue this work in their name—and in the name of every trans person who has been told they don’t belong. We are still here. We are still rising. And we are still building.