Celebrating Black History Month | Rev. Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey
“Trans people have existed through their visibility since the beginning of creation. We cannot erase, ignore, or segregate anyone from this divine form of creation. Recognizing trans-visibility in the world is to recognize the presence of life in everyone, formed in inclusive love.”
- Rev. Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey
February is Black History Month, and we're highlighting Black LGBTQ+ Faith Leaders from throughout Black history. Taking a look at the contributions they have made for the church and outside of the walls of the church. This week, we're celebrating and highlighting Rev. Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey, who is the first trans person of color to serve in a leadership role with the Human Rights Campaign.
Rev. Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey is an educator, minister, musician, mother, grandmother, activist and an advocate for inclusion. She was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and was 12 years old when she was called to ministry. It was this early start that lends Carmarion to bring her experience in faith spaces to every table that she sits at: merging faith, LGBTQ+, and vulnerable communities.
She currently serves as the Alabama State Director with the Human Rights Campaign, a position that was born under the Project One America initiative. This was an initiative that was created to help expand LGBTQ+ equality in the South, specifically looking at campaigns in Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas. Carmarion’s holding of this position led to her being the first trans person of color to serve in a leadership role at the Human Rights Campaign.
Before this work, she served in the Public Health and Education fields, focusing on HIV/AIDS initiatives on local and national levels. Additionally, she is the founder and previous Executive Director for Black Transwomen, Inc., which is the first national non-profit organization with a 501 (c)(3) to uplift black trans women. She also previously served for 15 years as an Associate Minister at the Living Faith Covenant Church in Dallas, Texas.
In addition to her work with HRC, she currently serves as the National Co-Facilitator and South Regional Coordinator for the TransSaints Ministry of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, led by Bishop Yvette A. Flounder. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Pride in the Pews.
We are thankful for Rev. Carmarion D. Anderson-Harvey’s work and her contributions to the LGBTQ+ community. We celebrate all of who she is today!
