1. Laverne Cox

Laverne Cox is a pioneer. She became a household name with her role as Sophia Burset on Orange Is the New Black, but it’s her tireless work as an advocate that makes her truly iconic. As the first openly transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy, Laverne has broken barriers and continues to inspire countless people. Whether she’s speaking out against anti-trans violence or fighting for better healthcare access, she’s always at the forefront of the movement.

• Website: Laverne Cox Official Site

2. Elliot Page

When Elliot Page came out as transgender in 2020, the world listened. Best known for his roles in Juno and The Umbrella Academy, Elliot’s announcement was a groundbreaking moment for trans representation in Hollywood. He’s used his platform to speak openly about the importance of mental health and trans visibility, and his courage has inspired countless others to live their truth.

• Instagram: @elliotpage

3. Janet Mock

Janet Mock is a powerhouse in both activism and entertainment. A best-selling author and director for shows like Pose, she’s been one of the most visible trans women of color in media. Janet’s writing, including her memoir Redefining Realness, offers a raw and honest account of her life, making her a voice of empowerment for the trans community and beyond.

• Website: Janet Mock

4. Indya Moore

Indya Moore, a star of FX’s Pose, is a force to be reckoned with. As a non-binary actor and model, Indya has used their fame to advocate for trans and non-binary people of color. Their openness about their own struggles, particularly around healthcare access and trans rights, has helped shine a light on issues that often go unnoticed. They were even named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people.

• Website: Indya Moore Official Site

5. Rachel Levine

Dr. Rachel Levine made history as one of the highest-ranking openly transgender officials in U.S. government. As the Assistant Secretary for Health, she’s been a vital part of the country’s public health efforts, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rachel has spent her career advocating for LGBTQ+ healthcare and breaking down barriers in medicine and government.

• Profile: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

6. Hunter Schafer

Hunter Schafer’s rise to fame came through her stunning portrayal of Jules Vaughn in Euphoria. But even before she was on screen, Hunter was an activist, fighting for trans youth rights in North Carolina. She continues to be a beacon of hope for young trans people, using her platform to advocate for a more inclusive and accepting world.

• Instagram: @hunterschafer

7. Geena Rocero

Geena Rocero’s TED Talk, where she shared her story of coming out as transgender, was a powerful moment in her life and for many others. As a Filipina-American model and activist, she founded Gender Proud to push for transgender rights worldwide. Her work brings attention to the legal challenges trans people face, and she’s a fearless advocate for acceptance and equality.

• Website: Geena Rocero Official Site

8. Munroe Bergdorf

Munroe Bergdorf is not afraid to speak her mind. This British model and activist has been vocal about racism, transgender rights, and mental health. Her public firing by L’Oréal for speaking out against racism in 2017 led to a huge public conversation about diversity and corporate responsibility. Munroe continues to use her platform to push for change, particularly for transgender and marginalized communities.

• Instagram: @munroebergdorf

9. Alok Vaid-Menon

Alok Vaid-Menon, known simply as Alok, is a non-binary writer, performance artist, and activist. They challenge the binary views of gender with powerful performances and writing that explore identity, race, and self-expression. Alok’s work has a deep impact on the visibility of non-binary people, and they have become an advocate for self-love and breaking down societal norms.

• Website: Alok Vaid-Menon Official Site

10. Jazz Jennings

Jazz Jennings has been in the public eye since she was a child, and her reality show I Am Jazz has helped bring transgender youth stories into millions of homes. Jazz has been a fierce advocate for trans youth, talking about everything from healthcare challenges to mental health. She’s been an inspiration for so many young people and continues to use her platform to fight for trans rights.

• Instagram: @jazzjennings_

These incredible individuals are not just influential; they’re changing the world. Their courage, advocacy, and commitment to equality inspire countless others and pave the way for a more inclusive future.

Who is Sarah McBride?

Ms. McBride is a former intern in the White House, under President Obama. She now works for the Human Rights Campaign, an organization that works to protect and advance the LGBTQ community. On Thursday she spoke out about the discrimination faced by transgender people in our country, and from its people.

Risking Her Dreams

“Four years ago, I came out as transgender while serving as student body president in college. At the time I was scared. I worried my dreams and my identity were mutually exclusive.”

In her remarks, McBride urged Americans to be more accepting of people’s differences.

“Will we be a nation where there’s only one way to love, one way to look, one way to live?”

In advance of her speech, McBride said she wanted to make other transgender Americans proud to be who they are.

“I’m certainly excited to have this opportunity … I just hope I do my community proud,” she told NBC News earlier. “I really want to use this moment to reinforce and underscore that behind this debate on trans equality, there are real people who are seeking dignity and fairness throughout their lives, people who hurt when we are ridiculed and mocked and discriminated against, people who are facing violence … I want to make sure that people realize the humanity behind the conversation.”

McBride was joined onstage by Rep. Sean Maloney, D-N.Y., the chair of the congressional LGBTQ caucus and the first openly-gay person elected to Congress from the Empire State, who also urged Democrats to remember the hard-fought victory for same-sex marriage enshrined by the Supreme Court last year.

In his remarks, Maloney recounted calling his husband, Randy, after news broke of the Supreme Court’s decision on June 26, 2015.

“The news hit like a thunderclap. Many of us wept. … I called Randy, I could barely speak,” he said. “Yes, our family’s a little different, but we read bedtime stories the same. Until that day, we weren’t really the same, not according to the law.”

See the entire speech below. And let us know what you think in the comments.

While dining out with friends, Kupec is depicted being denied access to the correct restroom until two women intervene. The minute-long ad dramatizes the predicament faced by many transgender people across the nation in the face of heated rhetoric in places like North Carolina and Mississippi as they pass discriminatory laws aimed at curbing transgender civil rights.

“Most Americans want to do the right thing, but they have never met a transgender person, so they have misconceptions,” said Ineke Mushovic, Executive Director of the Movement Advancement Project. “This ad cuts through the political rhetoric and simply asks people to consider the serious challenges and discrimination faced by transgender people—discrimination that is still legal in most states.”

“Transgender people desperately need laws that protect us from being unfairly fired from our jobs, kicked out of our homes, and denied access to public bathrooms, just because of who we are,” said Mara Keisling, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality.

“Our newly released survey data shows that 59 percent of transgender people avoided bathrooms in the last year out of fear of harassment. A shocking one in ten (12%) transgender people reported being harassed, attacked, or sexually assaulted in a bathroom, and one third avoided drinking or eating so that they did not need to use the restroom. Eight percent have had medical problems like urinary or kidney infections from avoiding the restroom.”

The North Carolina legislature recently adjourned without repealing the state’s odious HB2, which nullified LGBT nondiscrimination protections statewide and requires transgender people to use the restroom that corresponds with the gender listed on their birth certificate. The fate of the law is currently in the hands of the federal courts, but activists and Democratic lawmakers say the Governor will be forced to call a special legislative session to take action. The NCAA recently doubled down on their pledge to move the 2017 All-Stars Game from Charlotte if the law isn’t repealed.

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Avery, eight, is a transgender girl who teamed up with Equality House, a rainbow home that promotes LGBT visibility and is owned by non-profit Planting Peace, to make sure trans people have a spot just for them.

Once a year Equality House repaints itself with the colors of the transgender flag; blue, pink and white. It was during this time that Avery made a visit to the location.

Seeing the home so openly support trans people gave Avery a sense of pride. After that she began showing herself in pictures, feeling that she would be accepted as she is.

‘I loved the Rainbow House when it was painted like the transgender flag. I felt so happy and proud to be transgender,’ she said.
Avery Jackson, eight, is a transgender girl who teamed up with Equality House to create a center for transgender people in Topeka, Kansas

Moved by how affected Avery was by Equality House’s temporary make over, Planting Peace decided to start the process of purchasing the house next to them – directly across from the Westboro Baptist Church – and permanently painting it the colors of the trans flag.

Not only did Planting Peace plan for the house to bear the colors of the trans flag, but they also wanted the home to become a safe center for trans people in the Topeka, Kansas, community.

Planting Peace, a non-profit that owns Equality House, bought the home next door to them to turn into the new center

Avery got the idea for the center after visiting Equality House, which is across the street from the Westboro Baptist Church

Equality House is a rainbow home that promotes visibility, and once a year the facility is repainted the colors of the transgender flag

But first the non-profit needed to raise the money to purchase the neighboring house. A fundraiser on Planting Peace’s site raised just over $11,000 – about $60,000 short of buying the house. That’s where Martin Dunn stepped in.

Dunn, a New York City developer, fund the $70,000 project after reading about Avery’s fight for a transgender center. ‘The idea was to create something that was a very visible symbol of acceptance and pride. The idea that it would be across from a hate group was also really appealing.’

When Avery visited the home during its stint with the blue, pink and white colors, she was overjoyed that there was such support for people like her

She began showing her face in pictures after the visit. Equality House was so moved by this that they decided to make Avery’s dream of a place for people just like her a reality

Planting Peace began working toward purchasing the house next door to them (pictured, right) so they could paint it

Martin Dunn, a New York City developer, gave Planting Peace $70,000 to build Avery’s dream center next to Equality House

‘I have three children and if I had a kid that was transgender I would want a place that would celebrate them and accept them. That’s just not available in this country and it should be,’ Dunn told the New York Daily News.

Avery said Dunn has made her dream come true.

‘I was worried that having a transgender house was just a dream, but now it’s finally real. I love the transgender flag. It’s beautiful and makes me smile. I’m happy that we will have a house painted like the flag to show that transgender people are beautiful and will make them smile,’ she said.

Equality House and the new transgender center (pictured, prior to painting) are right across the street and in plane view of the Westboro Baptist Chruch

Aaron Jackson, the president of Planting Peace, said if the Westboro Baptist Church (pictured) responds to the new facility with hate, they will be met with even louder love

So far the Westboro Baptist Church, notorious for inflammatory protests of soldiers’ funerals and picketing with signs that boast hateful messages, hasn’t reacted publicly to the house.

Aaron Jackson, the president of Planting Peace, told the Daily News the transgender community will meet every sign and every negative statement with louder love. ‘We need to fight for the right for all people to live freely and love freely without fear,’ said Jackson.

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PEARLAND, TX (KTRK) —

Kimberly Shappley is as conservative and Christian as they come.

It was her child who, at just three years of age, would challenge her faith and rock her to the core.
For Shappley and her family, it all began with a hair bow.

“I want a bow like Daisy,” her then-three-year-old son Joseph Paul begged of her. Shappley knew the big red bow, ponytails and princess dresses were things almost every little girl wished for. However, these weren’t for a daughter — Shappley reminded herself these were the requests of her son.

“Please mommy,” Joseph Paul would plead with her.

His desire to dress in little girl’s clothes is a secret Shappley has kept from the outside world since Joseph was just a toddler. As an infant, she put him in blue clothes. As a toddler, she made him do what shes says is ‘typical boy stuff,’ like fishing, playing football with his siblings and throwing little boy’s birthday parties.

“We tried to make this kid be a boy,” said Shappley. Still, Joseph kept seeking out what the girls had and, by the age of three, he was telling everyone he was a girl.

A devout Christian, Shappley prayed while Joseph made shirts into skirts and begged to wear girls underwear — and asked his family to call him by the name of “Kai.”

“This hasn’t happened overnight for us. I am a Christian and I love the Lord,” Shappley said as she struggled with her son’s requests.

The gravity of her son’s pleas became almost too much to bear when she heard Kai praying to die.

“I overheard Kai praying and asking the Lord to please take Joseph home to be with Jesus and I realized Kai’s begging the Lord to let her die,” Shappley said through tears.

As a first step down the path to understanding Kai’s situation, Shappley bought girls underwear for Kai, though it took her three trips to the store to finally purchase them.

“When Kai came home that day and opened the drawer and saw princess panties, she fell down on the floor with the panties, crying and thanking me that this was the best day ever,” Shappley said.

Shappley sought out more help, turning to pastors and her faith. Her hope was that her young boy would act like one.

“So Christians are not gay, OK, that’s the mindset that I had.”

Shappley said faith leaders reassured her God doesn’t make mistakes.

“Christians are not going to have a transgender child, because as a Christian, that goes against everything that we read in scripture,” she said.

Finding Support for Parents of a Transgender Child

Feeling alone and isolated, Shappley dug into social media for help, finding a secret underground Facebook network of more than 2,000 other Christian mothers with transgender children. Shappley says she found support in the stories of other mothers who had faced criticism, some who had even been threatened by those who had vowed to take their children away or kidnap them.

“We knew that, at some point, if someone found out that our child was transgender, that you could put our safety at risk,” Shappley said.

Despite all the risks, acceptance has helped Shappley and Kai. She says her daughter is now thriving.

As for Shappley herself, the Facebook group for Christian parents of transgender youth was just the beginning of her journey to understanding and accepting Kai. Now five years old, Kai will soon enter the public school system in Pearland at the same time schools throughout the country work to meet the demands of an Obama administration directive that says transgender students are to be treated no differently than any other students.

In part two of this report, find out how Kimberly Shappley found herself in the middle of the controversial bathroom debate. Stay tuned to Eyewitness News and abc13.com for the rest of the story.

(Copyright ©2016 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.)

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Are times really changing for the LGBT community? More specifically, is it really the tipping point for transgender folks? It appears that there is an increase in media attention covering transgender issues across America. But why? And what is causing this sudden interest with a community that has been living in the dark and has been oppressed for so long? As a trans woman and activist, I have formed my own opinions based on the current state of affairs that we are currently facing.

If we look back just forty-three years, we find that the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and declared that homosexuality was not a mental illness. Not so long ago, were the gays and lesbians fighting to be seen as equals in the eyes of American law, but they were fighting to be seen as sane and mentally capable individuals. What is astounding is that within that movement, the transgender community was never mentioned, nor was gender dysphoria addressed. As a result, the stigma and fear that once accompanied homosexuality during those times of ignorance is the same stigma and fear that is currently placed on gender identity and transgender individuals.

To begin understanding gender identity it is important to acknowledge that it is not a choice, just like sexual orientation, but rather a state of consciousness that a fraction of the population experiences. The choice in this matter is choosing to live authentically, as the person we know we are within. Until the general public and the religious opposition begin to understand this fundamental truth—which most likely won’t be tomorrow—general views and acceptance of trans people will not shift or come about at the rate we would like it to. The transgender community, therefore, must continue taking actions to bring forth change at a local and national level to guarantee its very own protection. As the new “equal rights movement” in America, the trans community needs to look back at history and understand it, so that we may get a glimpse of our future. Just as the Jews were once oppressed by the Nazis, and the African Americans were once slaves and second-class citizens, we must fight our battle head-on and win. It is inevitable.

We may not change every mind or religious belief out there, but history tells us that we will gain equal rights in the eyes of the law, that we will gain complete protection from discriminating employers, and that law enforcement and elected officials will uphold and obey the law of the land and protect every citizen of this nation. The “Transgender Tipping Point,” as Times Magazine called it in its June 9th, 2014 issue featuring transgender actress Laverne Cox on the cover, is in fact approaching if not here already, and the signs are evident.

Just last month, Sheriff Chuck Wright, from the South Carolina’s Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Department, spoke at a Republican’s women’s meeting and threatened to ‘whip’ any trans woman found in the women’s restroom. Not long after, Tracy Murphee, a Denton County, Texas cop, also threatened to beat transgender women that may be using the same restroom as his little girl. Various states have recently passed and are trying to pass more anti-LGBT legislation that blatantly discriminates against transgender people. It’s obvious that fear and ignorance are deeply rooted in our society and our government and that it is directed at trans men and women, whom many see as sexual predators and as mentally ill. What the masses are failing to admit is that the trans community is in fact the new focus for social injustices and that this community is being used as the new scapegoat for those who propagate their hateful religious agendas and bigotry. At this point in time, it is more socially acceptable to be gay, but it remains a disgrace and an abomination to be transgender. So how is all of this seemingly bad news a sign that things are changing for the better?

As with any equal rights movement, the opposition appears to get stronger as the movement makes great strides forward. The fearful and the ignorant will speak up against us, threaten our cause and even our lives. But they are inadvertently helping us gain more ground by showing the leaders at the top that it is time for change. Life has drastically changed in the past thirty to forty years for the queer community, and every injustice that a trans man or woman suffers at the hands of the oppressors—and often violent perpetrators—becomes one more notch on the scoreboard in favor of our cause. This in no way makes it admissible for any of us to become victims of violence or injustice. Simply put, we should not have to suffer or die in order to have equal rights. But this is the current reality we are facing as a community and as part of this largely divided and misguided society.

So where does this leave us now, and what must we do to move forward? For one, we must push harder than ever before. We must live in the face of opposition and not give into fear. Our stories need to be told and heard, and more of us need to flood the media outlets and share our journeys. Visibility in large numbers is the key to persuading our local and national leaders that we will not stand for it any longer. If we are to be known as “The United States of America,” tremendous changes will have to take place and local and state authorities will have to yield in front of our federal laws. This country has the potential to be great, and undoubtedly it is on its way there. But it is ultimately our responsibility to bring about those changes and a new day when our nation can proudly say, “United we stand!

Daliah Husu is the author of “I Am Woman: Surviving the Past, the Present, & the Future,” and she can be found on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and her personal website.

[amazonjs asin=”B01F9FW99K” locale=”US” title=”I Am Woman: Surviving the Past, the Present, & the Future by Daliah Husu (2016-03-23)”]

(As read by Aaron Kirkhouse  –  May 9, 2016)

Good evening from sunny Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

I wish I could be there to accept this award in person, but since I cannot, I am delighted to have Aaron Kirkhouse accept it on my behalf.

As you know, I am held in an American military prison with only a small library and without access to the internet. In this time of rapid technological advances in social networking and the machine learning age, it’s quite an odd predicament to find myself in.

Today, when once obscure online refrains are now finding their way into the global lexicon  —  ”pics or it didn’t happen”  –  it’s easy to feel disconnected from a world exponentially intertwined and dependent on technology.

As a military prisoner, my public persona is carefully controlled and enforced. Any interviews or statements that I make  —  such as this one  —  must be written or dictated through someone else who types it up on my behalf. I am not allowed to be recorded over the telephone, do any video interviews, or have any pictures taken  –  with the exception of the occasional grainy mug shot. For those living in my situation, it’s easy to start feeling invisible  –  left behind and dismissed by the rest of a fast-paced society.

Despite these obstacles, I know I need to keep going. It is important to stay vocal. To stay creative. Active. Motivated. To keep fighting.

I keep fighting to survive and thrive. I am fighting my court-martial conviction and sentence before a military appeals court, starting this month. I am fighting to make the full investigation by the FBI public. I am fighting to grow my hair beyond the two-inch male standards by the U.S. military.

I keep fighting to warn the world of the dangerous trend in which the only information you can access is the kind that someone with money or power wants you to see.

And, I keep fighting to let people know that they too can create change. By staying informed and educated, anyone can make a difference. You have the ability to fight for a better world for everyone  —  even for the most desperate, those at the bottom of the social ladder, refugees from conflict, queer and trans individuals, prisoners, and those born into poverty.

Thank you all so very much for your support over the years, and thank you to Lady Hollick, Mr. Davis, and Dr. Dreyfus for selecting me to be the first person to receive this award. It is truly an an amazing treat. I’m honored that my voice continues to be heard. Thank you for all for listening and choosing to fight alongside me. And of course, thank you to Aaron Kirkhouse for accepting this award for me.

I am grateful to you all  —  for being here tonight, and being there for me tomorrow. Think what we might accomplish if we do one thing  —  perhaps a grand undertaking or even what may seem to be a tiny, insignificant gesture  –  each day with the simple goal of making the world a better place.

Good night everyone =)

Aaron Kirkhouse (above) accepting the Blueprint Enduring Impact Whistleblowing Prize on Chelsea Manning’s behalf.

This piece originally appeared on Chelsea Manning’s Medium blog.

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Author: Chelsea Manning

The bill, which bans trans people from using bathrooms that do not match their birth gender, sparked an immediate response from the trans community.

The third-year Wake Forest grad student decided to post a personal response to North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, listing his personal frustrations. The post has been steadily circulating online since it was published last week.

“This is what trans looks like, Gov. McCrory,” Adam Plant writes. “I am trans, I am queer, I am a lover, a writer, an actor, and a singer.”

The rest of the post reads:

I am tired of the stares, the murmured hate, the aggression when I dare to hold another man’s hand on the street.
I am tired of my racing heartbeat, the catch in my breath, the worst case scenarios I have to think of when I walk in a public bathroom.
I am tired of my state supporting hatred and bigotry.
I am tired.
But that doesn’t mean I will ever stop fighting.
This is what trans looks like, Gov. McCrory. I am trans, I am queer, I am a lover, a writer, an actor, and a singer. I am a person of faith and when I was formed from the dust of the earth, the same breath of life that filled your lungs also filled mine. Do not mistake your privilege for superiority. It will not serve you forever. But for now, at the risk of sounding crude, suck it, McCrory.
I am trans, and I am not going away. Deal with it.

Plant originally posted the message privately, only setting it to public after urging from his friends. It now has well over 6,000 likes and has been shared thousands of times.

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“I had been struggling all weekend to articulate how I felt about the passing of HB2, but couldn’t find the words to express how I was feeling,” Plant told BuzzFeed News.

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Jenny L. Viars, Dancing Lemur Photography

A dedicated man of faith, Plant is currently studying at Wake Forest’s School of Divinity. The idea to publicly air his grievances was sparked during a discussion in his Old Testament class.

“We were talking about the book of Psalms. One of the forms that the Psalms take are laments, and my professor described them as ‘complaining in faith to God’ — a way for people to express their feelings of anger, frustration, and grief and to feel as if someone was hearing them,” Plant explained.

He added that writing the post was “cathartic.”

“[It was] a release of many conflicting emotions that I was no longer able to contain,” he said.

“It has been so overwhelming,” Plant said of the response his post has received. “The support and affirmation I have received has been incredibly moving.”

Plant hopes to use his voice and “relative place of privilege” to continue advocating for those the bill targets.

“The South is full of good, loving people, and this is not the picture that I want to be painted of our state,” he said. “We are not this.”

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Author: Sarah Karlan