“To be Black in America is to be gaslit everyday of your life”
BY SOPHIE GRIFFITHS
At just 25-years-old, Pose star, Indya Moore has already lived an incredibly full life. From their breakout role as Angel Evangelista, to being named one of the most 100 influential people in the world last year by Time magazine, they are carving out a positive future for Black trans individuals everywhere.
In a recent interview with Vogue India, Indya has opened up about their family’s transphobic views as they were growing up and how they are learning to heal from it.
Indya explained that they were put into foster care at 14 due to their parents’ transphobia and believes that they are still “figuring out” their life.
“From living in survival mode, I have a set of experiences that I think are helpful to share on behalf of my community with the world, that form the way that I advocate for myself and people like me. But I still feel like I don’t have the grace to be human,” they said.
Describing the transphobia they faced growing up, Indya explained that their mum was a follower of the Jehovah’s Witness faith.
“Contrary to popular belief that only white families can be conservative,” they said.
“Practising being a part of this religion I faced some difficulties around being seen at home where I was. The moments where I was seen, I was criminalised.”
Throughout 2020, Indya has dedicated so much of their time to opening up conversations regarding the Black Trans Lives Matter movement.
“I think that this happening [the Black Lives Matter movement] has been affirming at a magnitude,” they said.
“It’s so large, but it’s still not enough for us to get liberated and get free. It’s still affirming nevertheless, because to be Black in America is to be gaslit everyday of your life and to gaslight yourself sometimes, to just get by.”
