SPOKANE, Wash. — Beyoncé St. James, a Spokane native, made history as the first Black Latina to win the Miss Trans U-S-A title on November 10th in Milwaukee.
While her victory marked a milestone for the transgender community, St. James fears the future for LGBTQ+ rights under the Trump administration.
St. James, who considers herself a voice for the voiceless, expressed concern over potential executive orders that could harm the transgender and LGBTQ+ communities. “He wants to erase women’s rights. He wants to erase LGBTQ rights,” St. James said, referring to President Donald Trump.
One of St. James’ drag sisters, Bart Deen, has been living with HIV for 27 years. Deen, who struggles with the high costs of necessary medication, worries that new policies could strip away access to life-saving healthcare.
Despite these challenges, St. James remains determined to advocate for her community. “Love yourself, love your curves, love it all,” she said. Deen, though retired from drag shows, is ready to return to activism if necessary, stating he will fight to protect their rights.
While healthcare access remains secure for now in Washington, the threat of policy changes looms. Washington Attorney General Nick Brown has pledged to defend citizens’ rights against any unlawful actions from the federal government.
St. James and others in the LGBTQ+ community continue to push back, with plans for future protests and drag performances as activism.
Over the weekend, St. James attended the Gender in Freedom March in Spokane, reinforcing her message that the LGBTQ+ community deserves respect and equal treatment.
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