A Place 2 Be founder, Dr. Byron Johns, is bringing forward voices of some of the most marginalized identities in the Black communi-ty: transgender people. In a series called “Stories from the Los Angeles Black LGBT Communi-ty,” Dr. Byron Johns creates a space that enables Black transgender people to share their narra-tives, utilizing oral history and culture.
“I think humanity is really it, because we just need to recognize we’re all human beings. I’d like people to leave with an understanding of what it’s like to be a trans person, some of the issues, and how people can be allies to support trans people—period. It’s also part of the whole project: bringing the Black LGBTQIA+ community together, and this is the dialogue specifically within the trans community.” said Dr. Byron Johns.
A Place 2 Be is a nonprofit and “global com-munity hub where individuals are empowered to thrive through shared resources, engaging programs, and transformative experiences,” according to its website. Beginning in 2022, 22 in-depth oral histories have been documented and recorded to fully showcase stories of activism, triumph, perseverance, and most importantly, identity. The interviews are also archived at UCLA’s Center for Oral History Research (COHR).
A public launch of the project was held in 2024 at APLA (formerly known as AIDS Project Los Angeles), and in 2026-2027, it will host six themed community dialogues co-led by an elder, an adult leader, and a Gen Z participant to illustrate the intergenerational connection of Black LGBTQ identities. The first dialogue, coming in October at the Circa Film Festival is entitled “An intergenerational Dialogue with the LA Black Trans Community”.
Johns also added, “If we’re really talking about equity, all the marginalized communities need to have those stones turned over. The trans community is one of those communities…Where the project started was telling the sto-ries—period—of this community. Those stories don’t get told, they don’t get recognized. There’s so much in terms of contributions and history that people just don’t know.”
Ahead of its October premiere at the Circa Queer Histories Festival, longtime community activist and actress Jazzmun Nichala Crayton spoke about the series’ meaning and the oppression transgender people face in society.
“For me [it’s about] pride and respect—and just remembering that the identities that the world has made us to be are not necessarily who we are. We get to be our full expression of love, stand in our proud selves however we identify in this rainbow, and create a space that’s affirming and reminding people that our existence is truly our resistance.”
Crayton further added a statement about, “Oppression is fear pretending to be righteous. Our identity is questioned, dehumanized, criminalized—it’s been like that for a long time. We have to always be counteracting, showing up as our best version, going out, showing up in media, and just being fabulous, our whole selves, to counteract all that misconception about who we are.”
Jovan Wolf, who participates in the series as a Black trans storyteller and community advocate, spoke about the importance of a trans person controlling their narrative and visibility.
“It’s important for us to tell our stories in our versions—how we experience joy, how we experience our traumas—instead of having politicians or the greater society create this narrative of who trans people are.”
He further added, “There’s this dangerous myth that trans people only struggle, only do sex work, only live on the streets, and never get degrees or hold leadership roles. Yes, some of us are pushed out by families, schools, and institutions, but that’s about rejection—not being trans. The truth is we are thriving: we’re scholars, CEOs, directors, and we keep building community and resources even when the world tries to take them away.”
“Stories from the Los Angeles Black LGBT Community” will be available for public view-ing in October at the Circa Film Festival. For more information, please visit aplace2be.org or oneinstitute.org/circa/.
