Meet America’s only gay and transgender gang: Forced into a life of crime by poverty and discr

Meet America’s only gay and transgender gang: Forced into a life of crime by poverty and discrimination, members of ‘Check It’ are turning things around after setting up their own FASHION labelCheck It was formed by group of 'bullied ninth graders’ in the Washington DC neighborhood of Trinidad in 2005It is the only recorded gang of gay and transgender youths in America, with more than 200 members at presentNew documentary, also called Check It, tells how members are now trying to break cycle of poverty and violenceThey are working on their own clothing label, putting on fashion shows and even doing stints as runway modelsOne of the film’s co-directors said: 'Being gay and black… it’s like a nightmare waiting to happen’“Donning stilettos, lipstick and mascara, the young men take to the streets of one of Washington DC’s most violent neighborhoods.But under their clothing - and in some cases, in their Louis Vuitton bags - they are carrying knives, brass knuckles and pepper spray.Meet some of the more than 200 members of Check It, the only documented gang of gay and transgender youths in America.The teenagers and young adults, who have faced discrimination throughout their entire lives, are the subjects of a new independent documentary.The film, also named Check It, explains how many of the youths have been stabbed or shot at, while others have served time in juvenile prisonsBut now, the 'tight-knit’ gang members, who are aged 14 to 22, are fighting to break the cycle of poverty and violence that they have grown up in.”Read the full piece - including more photos & video - here -- source link

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