Black History Month - Black Trans Women - February 25th

Today I want to discuss Earline Budd, a Black transgender woman known for decades of grassroots community work in San Francisco. Earline Budd is a longtime organizer in the Tenderloin neighborhood and has worked with organizations serving LGBTQ seniors and low income residents. Much of her advocacy has focused on practical support: helping transgender people find housing, access social services, and navigate city systems that can be confusing or hostile. She has also worked with programs supporting older LGBTQ adults, emphasizing that trans people need stability and care not only when young, but as they age. Her significance comes from sustained local leadership. Rather than national fame, Budd is known within her community as someone who consistently shows up, connects people to resources, and helps residents advocate for themselves with city agencies. Her work highlights a part of Black trans history that often goes unrecognized: long term neighborhood organizing and daily support that quietly improves people’s lives.