Baltimore Safe Haven Marches
Baltimore Safe Haven Marches is an annual photography project documenting the evolution of the annual Baltimore Black Trans Lives Matter march led by Iya Dammons, the Executive Director of Baltimore Safe Haven. The organization provides Baltimore City transgender, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer (TLGBQ+) people with resources such as a drop-in center, advocacy assistance, and linkage to housing services such as low-cost transitional housing. The photos of the protests and marches are ritually shared with Baltimore Safe Haven annually to support their outreach and visibility efforts.
Iya Dammons, the Executive Director of Baltimore Safe Haven, has been tirelessly working out in the streets to help transgender people experiencing homeslessness, addiction, and violence. In April 2019, Brittany Fleming died from an overdose. A rally and vigil were held through the Charles Village neighborhood as members of the TLQBQ+ Community marched up Charles Street to remember and commemorate her. Five months later, Baltimore Safe Haven opened its doors and has become a place of refuge for dozens of Baltimore’s most vulnerable community members. Walking up the haven’s rainbow-colored steps brings one back home.
June 5th, 2020
In 2020, the Coronavirus Pandemic shut down communities around the world and impacted cities such as Baltimore. On May 25th Minneapolis police officers murdered George Floyd. Two days later on May 27th, Tallahassee police officers murdered Tony McDade, a transgender man. Across the nation, communities held vigils, rallies, and marches in solidarity and protest.
On June 5th, 2020 Baltimore Safe Haven held a Black Trans Lives Matter protest march in Baltimore. Around 200 people attended the march, which started at Baltimore City Hall and marched against the flow of traffic through downtown where protesters staged a die-in in the middle of the intersection of St. Paul Street and E Fayette Street.
July 24th, 2021
A year later on July 24th, 2021 Baltimore Safe Haven held a second Black Trans Lives Matter March attended by Baltimore City Council members and Mayor Brandon Scott. Iya Dammons, clad in angel wings performed in front of City Hall before leading the protesters downtown. Once more, a die-in was held at the intersection of St. Paul Street and E Fayette Street to commemorate trans lives lost over the past year.
June 3rd, 2022
On June 3rd, 2022, Baltimore Safe Haven hosted the inaugural Baltimore Trans Pride Parade. The support from Baltimore City and sponsors was apparent as the parade included multiple TLGBQ organizations and performances as it wound its way down Charles Street through the Charles Village Neighborhood. Neighbors from the Johns Hopkins Homewood campus came to show their support. The parade culminated in a block party on North Avenue featuring vendors and booths from local artists, health advocacy groups, and support services for at-risk TLGBQ+ folks. Over 1,000 people participated in this march.
June 3rd, 2023
A year later on June 3rd, 2023, the second annual Baltimore Trans Pride Grand March occurred with an even larger turnout than the year prior. Local march band units such as the Baltimore Go Getters and Baltimore All-Stars joined forces with local TLGBQ+ organizations as they followed Iya Dammons march down Charles Street. At the North Avenue Block Party, messages of solidarity by local officials resounded through the crowd. Two days later, Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed an executive order to protect gender affirming healthcare. A month later on July 28th, 2023 opened a Washington D.C. Safe Haven facility dedicated to serving the TLGBQ+ community.
June 15th, 2024
Baltimore Safe Haven provides a continuum of care with a focus on the livelihoods of Black Trans folks. Each passing year has led to greater support, funding, and outreach for the mission of Baltimore Safe Haven. A protest march of 200 people has blossomed into a much larger movement supporting the tireless work of Baltimore Safe Haven.
Once more on June 15th, 2024, Iya Dammons plans to lead the third annual Baltimore Trans Pride Grand March down through the heart of Baltimore, and in its wake channel the vision of a world where all TLGBQ+ people enjoy self-determined lives liberated from stigma, violence, and oppression.
We continue to remember and say their names.