Non-binary actor Indya Moore at World Pride in New York, 2019. (Erin Lefevre/NurPhoto via Getty)
Pose star Indya Moore has been giving back to the Black queer and trans communities who risk “slipping through the cracks” during the coronavirus pandemic.
Moore, who made their name by playing ballroom star turned model Angel Evangelista in Pose, first donated $3,000 in March to more than 50 “Black queer and trans folks facing financial crisis during this time”.
However, as time went on they realised that more people wanted to help. So, they set up a Cash App account to allow their followers to make donations of $50 or more, which they would then redistribute to those in the community who were suffering financially because of COVID-19.
They wrote on Instagram: “Black trans women are the last of us all to receive help and resources, if any at all.
“It’s really important to me to prioritise those who will always be thought of last, if thought of at all. I am looking at all requests and I am looking at all trans folks in need however I am prioritising the needs of Black trans women first, the ones who are least likely to have friends, boyfriends and families checking in or present at all.”
Indya Moore has raised $20,000 to help Black queer and trans folk.
Discussing their COVID-19 relief fund, Indya Moore told Vogue: “You know, whenever I think about this pandemic, I think about the AIDS epidemic and how there was really no response to it at first. Queer and trans people were literally left alone to die.
“I don’t want to see trans and queer folks slip through the cracks while everyone else is receiving so much help and attention. There are so many great drives and fundraising efforts for those who are hungry or don’t have access to essentials, but the last people to receive these things are usually trans people.
“When it comes to these giant initiatives, we don’t know who is behind the selection process, who is choosing who gets to have food and resources and whatever else. I think it’s important to take direct action and think about these things when we’re living in a world that universally ostracises trans people in every possible way.”
They added: “Right now, I think it’s great that in response to COVID-19 we’re seeing so much wealth distribution and we’re essentially practicing socialism.
“This should be something that we should continue to always do. We can hopefully continue to look out for the health and the wellness and the welfare of the most marginalised people always and not just during a crisis.
“That’s what equality looks like.”
By Saturday, April 11, Moore had raised $20,000 and helped more the 400 people in need. They added that while the majority of donations had gone to Black queer and trans people, “many COVID relief recipients are Latinx, Asian, indigenous, queer, trans, disabled and differently abled folk as well.”