WAVE Quarterly Newsletter (March) 2024

RIDE THE W.A.V.E Flow within your truth, Swim in your authenticity

QUARTERLY

NEWSLETTER MARCH 2024 ISSUE #001

WHAT’S TEA? WHO IS W.A.V.E? PAGE 1 MEET THE FOUNDER PAGE 2 IS NEW YORK STATE THE REFUGE FOR YOU? PAGE 3 WHAT IS “CIS-”?

INQUIRING MINDS NEED TO KNOW! PAGE 4 TRANS WOMEN & PROSTATE HEALTH “GET CHECKED AND STAY ALIVE!” PAGE 4

TRIBUTE TO AN ICON PAGE 5 IN MEMORIUM PAGE 6 WAVE ROUNDTABLE PAGE 7

WHAT IS W.A.V.E? W.A.V.E (Women Appropriating Visibility & Empowerment) is an affirming and safe space organization for black and brown women of TRANSGENDER experience. They strive to connect with other women of Trans experience to provide resources, support, and to build trust, share stories, advice, hope, encouragement, and discuss topics that affect us on a daily basis.

W.A.V.E (Women Appropriating Visibility & Empowerment) is an affirming and safe space organization for black and brown women of TRANSGENDER experience. They strive to connect with other women of Trans experience to provide resources, support, and to build trust, share stories, advice, hope, encouragement, and discuss topics that affect us on a daily basis.

We understand the importance of visibility as a black woman, and how that importance of visibility is magnified to be seen, heard, and respected as a black woman of Trans experience. WAVE is an organization whose goal is to Empower, Support, Encourage, and Inspire. We strive to elevate the voices of the people, promote visibility, educate, advocate, fight for social justice, and better healthcare services. WAVE provides mutual aid support for basic necessities, community resources, and brings hope to the underserved BIPOC Transgender and GNC individuals in our communities.

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T E E M

THE FOUNDER JAVANNAH J. DAVIS FOUNDER/PRESIDENT

WAVE WOMEN INC.

JAVANNAH JASMEEN

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Javannah is a community health nurse, 4x self-published author, entrepreneur, actress, activist, advocate, and writer/columnist for Blaque/Out Magazine. Javannah’s passion for writing allows her to share her knowledge, compassion, experience, and encouragement to those in the LGBTQIA+ and allied communities.

Davis is also the Founder and President of W.A.V.E Women INC.; the only black and brown trans led 501c3 not-for-profit organization in upstate New York, and CEO/Owner of Linjé Enterprises LLC. She is a member of the Community Initiative for the local United Way, a member of the University of Rochester Community Advisory Board, participant in Metro Justice of NY, and is an ordained minister.

In 2023, Javannah was awarded the Rochester Business Journal “The Power50 LGBTQ+ Business Leaders. She has also been given the Honorary Fatima Woods Award in both 2018 and 2021 by organization's Next Generation Men of Transition (NGMT), Roc Black Pride, and BlaqueOut Magazine for her contributions to the Rochester, NY community.

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HOW SAFE OF A HAVEN IS NEW YORK STATE FOR TRANSGENDER CITIZENS? The honest answer to this question is that New York State is definitely a safe place to be for its Transgender citizens. BUT, if you are looking to relocate to the Empire State seeking refuge from the treacherous laws against our Transgender people across the country, then I suggest you do your research and make sure that we indeed have the resources that best suits your needs. There are many different view points, and what safety looks like for different people. Read on for more.

CISWOMEN SEEM TO BE LEFT OUT IN THE PREVENTION OF HIV...GET INFORMED!!

OF NEW HIV CASES IN 2021 WERE WOMEN (ASSIGNED FEMALE AT BIRTH).

OF NEW 2021 HIV CASES WERE BLACK/AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN (ASSIGNED FEMALE AT BIRTH).

OF NEW 2021 HIV CASES WERE HISPANIC WOMEN >13 YEARS OLD (ASSIGNED FEMALE AT BIRTH).

OF NEW 2021 HIV CASES WERE WHITE WOMEN >13 YEARS OLD (ASSIGNED FEMALE AT BIRTH).

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HIV PREVENTION STATISTICAL REFERENCE: HTTPS://WWW.HIV.GOV/HIV BASICS/OVERVIEW/DATA-AND-TRENDS/STATISTICS/

ARE YOU REGISTERED TO ?

IF NOT, THEN...

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TRANS WOMEN & PROSTATE HEALTH

IS NOT A DEROGATORY WORD! The term “Cis-” is a Latin word which means “on this side of.” It also means to describe an individual whose personality, and their bodies coincide with the they were assigned at birth. This Latin prefix was used as early as 1914 by Dr. Ernest Burchard, who was a world renown German sexologist, and gay rights advocate, during his studies to introduce the differences between being cis or trans. The term became more mainstream in 1994 by Dana Defosse to be able to refer to non-transgender people without minimalizing those that are transgender.

TRANSGENDER WOMEN AND PERSONS ASS IGNED MALE AT BIRTH, ARE STILL AT RISK OF PRO STATE CANCER, EVEN IF THE RISK IS STILL LOWER THAN CISGENDERED MEN. ACCORDING TO A UC SAN FRANCISCO STUDY IN 2022 THE RISK IS AB OUT 14 PROSTATE CANCER CASES PER 10,000 TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY. TRANSGENDER/NONBINARY INDIVIDUALS FACE HARDSHIPS AND DISPARITIES IN HEALTHCAR E AS IT IS. THIS IS WHY IT IS DETRIMENTAL TO OUR COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE INFORMED, HEARD, AND SEEN WHEN IT COMES TO OUR OVERALL HEALTH. THE FIRST STEP IS TO EDUCATE OURSELVES AND NOT BE AFRAID TO SPEAK-UP AND ASK QUESTIONS.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A LGBTQIA HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IN UPSTATE NEW YORK?

DISCLAIMER: THERE IS STILL A STRUGGLE WITHIN OUR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WHEN IT COMES TO CULTURALLY COMPETENT CARE FOR BLACK AND BROWN TRANS/GNC INDIVIDUALS. ALWAYS SPEAK UP REGARDING WHAT YOUR HEALTHCARE SHOULD LOOK LIKE FOR YOU. 4

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Cecilia Gentili January 31, 1972 - February 6, 2024

In all that Cecilia was in life, whether she was a leader, a teacher, a healer, a friend, an artist, a sister, a mother, etc.

Overall, Cecilia was a survivor and fought hard for all of us, especially those of us as Black and Brown Transgender people, to be able to survive and be allowed the freedoms to be the best version of ourselves.

Cecilia Gentili was a powerhouse in the LGBTQIA community. Though Gentili’s spirit has crossed over to be with the ancestors, the legacy she has left behind will be an inspiration and guiding light for all to live in their truth with dignity for generations to come.

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In Memoriam Nex Benedict January 11, 2008- February 8, 2024 The community is mourning the life of a young life unnecessarily cut short. Nex was a non-binary sibling who lived in Oklahoma and succumbed to injuries sustained from a violent act that occurred in their high school bathroom. This youth was robbed of a life to live in their authenticity. We will continue to say their name, and demand that senseless violence towards our community cease to happen.

Hydeia Broadbent June 14, 1984 – February 20, 2024

Hydeia’s fight began when she was born. No matter what she had to face thereafter she did it with faith and positivity. Hydeia was an activist and educator in the fight against HIV/AIDS from 6 years old until her transition from this world. Her light will never be forgotten.

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For more information please visit: www.wavewomeninc.com or Email us at: Javannah@wavewomeninc.com 7