BLACK TRANS FUTURES
BLACK TRANS FUTURES
Zuriel and Deedee
Left to right: Zuriel and DeeDee
Zuriel (she/her) is 19 years old and currently leads the Youth Ambassador Program at TKO. As a Trans activist, she has been on the frontlines of advocating for better healthcare access while transitioning. Zuriel is a notable figure on TikTok and shares her experiences as a Trans leader and advocate.
Derrica “Deedee” (she/her) is 39 years old and acts as the Reproductive Justice Coordinator for TKO. Derrica works day-to-day to provide health resources for TKO clients and loves dancing / performing in her spare time.
What do you love about yourselves? and each other?
“I’m in love with my features, my cheekbones, and my way with words.”
“I love that I can wake up and feel like the woman I am every day.”
Zuriel: something I admire about you [Dede] is how honest you are. You tell someone the way it’s supposed to go and I really appreciate that.
Deedee: you are a great person. You’re like the person I used to be when I was growing up, and I love seeing that.
A Message For My Future Self (2022)
poetry and performance by Zuriel Hooks
Hey, so girl, I realize you been trippin.
So let me remind you, who you are.
I see you are upset that a lot of men don’t treat you like the other girls, cause you are different.
I see you are upset cause people compare you to something that is not you.
I see that you are upset because stereotypes that you have to face into today’s society is bad because of your true experience.
I see you are upset because of the change that you have to bring along
But let me remind you that you are one-of-a kind.
You are an untouchable spirit that would dominate the battlefield.
You are a loveable person
You are deserving of all the love in the world.
You are beautiful inside and out.
You are perfection
The moral of the story?
You are worth it.
What does it mean to be Black and Queer in Alabama?
Zuriel: From the family aspect of things, it’s a struggle. It can be a crossroads with that duality. It is hard but, for the most part, I wouldn’t change my journey for nothing.
Deedee: [being in Alabama] means we need our queer family. We are a queer family right now.
Zuriel: in my transition, as a whole, I don’t think a lot of people understand that…it’s my livelihood when it comes to my identity. So, [TKO] really helped me with that. With Dede, I feel a sisterhood that I have never felt before.
