Oluchi Omeoga — Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project

For immigrants to the United States, the difficulty of crossing borders is compounded by a volatile political climate. The challenges are even greater for those seeking refuge in the United States because of LGBTQ+ persecution.

This episode focuses on Oluchi Omeoga, who is based in Minneapolis and works to safeguard those at the intersection of immigration status, race and gender identity as the co-director of the Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project (BLMP). The project was created in response to the increasing number of Black LGBTQ+ migrants who were in vulnerable situations after fleeing persecution in their home countries or were exposed to discrimination in the U.S. due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.

This is the third episode of the three-part series American Problems, Trans Solutions.

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Black trans people are among the most marginalized of marginalized Americans. But those closest to the nation’s most pressing problems are often able to craft innovative solutions.

Join award-winning journalist Imara Jones as she travels across the country to tell the stories of three Black trans leaders on the frontlines of change: housing advocate Kayla Gore; Breonna McCree, a champion for economic empowerment; and Oluchi Omeoga, who fights for the rights of migrants.

Despite a record-breaking number of anti-trans bills passed in 2023, these Black trans people are addressing critical issues surrounding economic empowerment and human dignity with heart and vision.