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Celebrating Changemakers:
Stories from the Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Community 2022-2023
Read from our small grant recipients and ACTIVATE and ELEVATE fellows in their own words.
For the over 2 million transgender and non-binary people in the U.S., many of whom identify as either Black or Latine, programs like Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s ACTIVATE & ELEVATE are incredibly dire as the community continues to endure brusque attacks, discrimination and transphobia.
Sharing their experiences and reading their stories helps us establish more positive representation, build our community and combat transphobia, stigma and anti-trans violence while also creating opportunities to establish prosperity and progress.
Sunshine Bella Goodman (She/Her)
Sunshine is a public speaker and trans activist who was a part of the 2023 Elevate Fellowship through HRCF’s Trans Justice Initiative. Her personal mission is to empower people to lead with authority while living their most authentic lives. She is based in Charleston, SC and serves as both an organizer with the South Carolina United for Justice and Equality coalition and an advisory board member for the Trans Love Fund.
Tell us about how you connect to your local community through your advocacy and/or professional work.
Currently, I serve on the board of the Trans Love Fund, a fund designed to assist transgender individuals with much-needed emergency funds. Additionally, I serve as a member of a statewide rapid response team coordinating efforts to advocate and organize against anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation. More recently, I joined the board of the Transgender Awareness Alliance. TAA provides legal name and gender marker changes, support groups for parents, youth and allies, and emergency housing assistance and emergency aid stipends for transgender folks who reside in South Carolina.
What does visibility as a transgender and/or non-binary person mean to you?
Visibility as a transgender person means hope for the future of our trans youth. It means that we cannot and will not be the outcasts of society. Trans visibility means that we are alive and thriving in a world that often tells us we shouldn't be.
What did it mean to you to be able to be an HRC grant recipient/ACTIVATE/ELEVATE fellow? How has it impacted you personally and professionally?
Being chosen as a fellow of ELEVATE 2023 reaffirmed me as a leader and activist. It helped me to work through my imposter syndrome. I am enough. I am doing the work. I am a woman of great influence. The fellowship not only empowered me to continue to grow as a leader, but it also showed me how I am to be respected and cared for as a valuable member of society.
Nakysha "Nikki" Hoskins (She/Her)
Nikki is a public health professional and trans advocate who was a part of the 2023 Elevate Fellowship through HRCF’s Trans Justice Initiative. She currently serves as a TransLife Care Specialist at Positive Impact Health Centers in Decatur, GA. There she facilitates needs assessments for the community and provides resources to trans/GNC individuals regarding housing, education, HRT, and clinical care.
What about being transgender makes you proud?
I enjoy representing a community that continues to persevere. I am proud of the growth I have shown as a trans woman. To be homeless, on drugs and ostracized from my family, to being a college grad, employed and thriving in my life makes me smile.
What did it mean to you to be able to be an HRC grant recipient / ACTIVATE / ELEVATE fellow? How has it impacted you personally and professionally?
Attending ELEVATE was monumental to me. This cohort opened my eyes to the possibilities. Coming together with others who are as passionate about their growth as myself encouraged me to continue pulling my sisters and brothers up on the ride to success. I learned things about grant writing and the proper elevator pitch that I have since used in my day-to-day life.
What has your relationship with HRC helped you accomplish? What are you looking forward to accomplishing in the future?
I have begun creating my own LLC. HRC lead me to the proper people who encourage and continue to cultivate my ideas. In the near future, I plan to open my own non-profit dedicated to offering housing opportunities for transgender individuals.
Jasmine Lopez (She/Her)
Jasmine is the Economic Empowerment Coordinator for The Center’s Economic Justice Initiatives program, which serves Queer women, LGBTQ+ Immigrants, and TGNC community members. She develops and maintains partnerships with NYC workforce development agencies and delivers TGNC cultural sensitivity trainings and capacity-building support to New York City agencies, to create trans-inclusive workplaces. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human services from Boricua College and is the recipient of the 2016 Translatina Network CRIS Award, and 2017 Ali Forney Award. Jasmine has been featured on BRIC TV, The Scene, Fusion TV’s SHADE: Queens of NYC, Them Magazine, Grovo, and Human Inclusive, spreading awareness of the need for and importance of trans inclusion in the workplace, as well as career development and opportunity for the TGNC community.
What about being transgender makes you proud?
I think that TGNCNB people have this unique yet unspoken gift to unlock this hidden empathy and love in every person that chooses to see them, love them, and embrace their humanity. It's honestly one of the greatest gifts that one human being can give another human being, and it's part of the human experience that you can either decide to relinquish or open yourself to receiving and never losing.
What has your relationship with HRC helped you accomplish? What are you looking forward to accomplishing in the future?
The ELEVATE program at HRC solidified that I can develop a professional identity that doesn't have to live in an organization but rather transcend them. I also learned that it's important to state your intentions as statements and not choices that can be made. For example, I should feel confident to solicit buy-in from potential community partners to support our community, rather than give them the opportunity to tell me why supporting the community is not a priority - this shouldn't be made an option when I can help it. I intend to further my education and get a master's degree in Epidemiology, and I hope to become a possibility model to up-and-coming Research Scientists passionate about TGNCNB health research.
Is there anything else you would like to tell us, either about your experience with ACTIVATE/ELEVATE/the HRC grants programs, or about your experiences as a transgender and/or non-binary person?
In one sentence, I can confidently say that HRC, through its Trans Justice Initiative, will continue to help immortalize the stories of TGNCNB people and redefine what it means to create a legacy as a TGNCNB person.
Andrea Montanez (She/Her/Ella)
Contigo Fund Community Board Member, and an openly proud immigrant transgender Latine woman from Colombia. She serves as Advocacy Director/LGBTQ-Immigration Organizer for Hope CommUnity Center. Andrea's role is to bring visibility and educate communities on the intersections of being an immigrant and transgender. A long-standing community builder through volunteerism, Andrea is Board Member at Peer Support Space, whose mission is to build and be a local hub for diverse peer-led recovery communities. In Addition, she is also a co-Director of Outreach at Come Out with Pride Orlando, whose focus is to produces an annual pride event that fosters a sense of community and encourages LGBTQ+ citizens to live openly and with pride educates the general public of our shared cultural heritage. She aims to continue her social justice, activism, and volunteerism efforts in Central Florida!
What brings you joy as a transgender person?
Oh my gosh, when I see the queer magic in the kids, the youngest ones, when we came together for a legislative session. Where politicians approved horrible laws against us, but we saw the queer happiness. Together we cry, we scream, we laugh. We are completely magic.
What did it mean to you to be able to be an HRC grant recipient/ACTIVATE/ELEVATE fellow? How has it impacted you personally and professionally?
The ELEVATE and ACTIVATE program absolutely changed my life forever. I saw that we’re not alone. We as trans people of color, we have so much in common, and we are so powerful together. I grew so much, and the program helped me with that.
What about being trans and/or nonbinary makes you proud?
In this difficult time in particular, in a state full of hate, I feel more proud than ever. We are magic and despite all the hate I love to be myself and fight for my community
Is there anything else you would like to tell us, either about your experience with ACTIVATE/ELEVATE/the HRC grants programs, or about your experiences as a transgender and/or non-binary person?
First, a big thanks to ACTIVATE/ELEVATE for helping me to be more myself, for helping me to raise my voice.
My experience as a transgender woman is marvelous. I know the hate, but I know the more special love. Like I said, people are scared of our magic. And we are magical, we are special, beautiful people, and I’m going to fight every single day for my community. We don’t need permission to exist.
Kayla Finn
Kayla is native to Florida and currently resides in Richmond, Virginia where she is the PrEP Navigator and one of the HIV/STI Testing Counselors at the Nationz Foundation. Her goal is to educate her community on sexual health awareness and the importance of the work she does within her LGBTQIA community. She aspires to be the very best at anything that she does or any goal she sets for herself. As a survivor of The Pulse NightClub tragedies, she felt that she was given a chance at life for a much bigger calling and purpose and that purpose was to live her best life by being her authentic self while giving back to her community.
What brings you joy as a transgender person?
Every day, life alone brings me the most joy because when I'm able to open my eyes daily it's the true blessing for me. Because that means I have been granted another day here on earth to continue to learn, grow in different areas of my life and to inspire those around me. I mentioned in one of the other questions that I'm an open book to those around me, and me sharing my experiences, bad or good, are a lesson or teachable moment to others that may need to hear my story because they could possibly relate or be in a position that I have already experienced or endured. So, life itself and being able to speak on my life brings me the most joy.
What about being trans and/or nonbinary makes you proud?
Honestly, I started my transition in the late 90's and things were so different then. So, what makes me proud about being trans is number one outliving the life expectancy of an African American trans woman. Also, to see more trans focus today and the elevation of the trans community from television to politics, because trans women have always been only good enough to be sex workers and nothing more. Although we still have lots of barriers to this day, its beautiful to see some changed for people of trans experience.
What did it mean to you to be able to be an HRC grant recipient/ACTIVATE/ELEVATE fellow? How has it impacted you personally and professionally?
I had the opportunity to be a grant recipient for Activate/Elevate in 2022 and it was such a highlight for me because I was able to meet so many amazing individuals from all over the United States and this gave us a chance to learn, network and build relationships outside of the program. The leadership that was in place to guide us through as well was one of the best leadership teams I could have ever imagined. Personally, it gave me lots of insight on different outlines that were presented as assignments that were inspiring and allowed us to open up and be vulnerable amongst individuals I hardly knew but felt safe in this space to open and share things about myself and even learn about the traumas and hurdles of the others as well. How it impacted me professionally was by the knowledge that I gained and learned, but overall I was given the opportunity to become a facilitator for the 2023 Elevate fellowship. I would have never imagined that I would be afforded the opportunity to be in this position to be a leader and a voice that encourages and helps others now.
Korea Kelly (She/Her/Hers)
Korea is a native of Kansas City, Missouri and is better known in the community as “Korea Cavalli,” Founder/Executive Director of Cavalli Entertainment LLC & The Transgender Empowerment Society. She has facilitated many local trans support groups that focus on providing access to tangible resources. Korea is the Supreme President of the first national transgender sorority Kappa Iota Sigma Sorority Incorporated, a Case Manager for Lion House KC/Our Spot KC, and sits on several Community Boards, including Operation Liberation and Kansas City Pride Community Alliance.
What about being trans and/or nonbinary makes you proud?
First, I am Proud being a Black Trans Woman and having the strength to know I am Loved, knowing that my Ancestors died so I may have the Freedom to live in my Authentic Truth.
Tell us about how you connect to your local community through your advocacy and/or professional work.
I have been an advocate in my community since age 15, learning how to be that beacon of light for others who had known one or family to lean or love on them. When parents or grandparents kick them out, I would sneak them in my home so they can be safe. I would tell my grandma and we would still go to school the next day. Finally, at age 22, I stepped all the way in my truth by breaking barriers so that Black & Brown LGBTQIA folks were not left out of things in our city such as entertainment, HIV testing, housing, pride fest, clubs, etc. Currently, I am a board member of two organizations, Kansas City Pride Community Alliance, the first org to ever have a Trans Member since Pride In Kansas City, Missouri ever started. Not only the first trans but the first Black trans woman. I am also Vice President of Operation Liberation, a Black-led and Black-centered non-profit focused on the bailout and mutual aid. Operation Liberation is also the fiscal sponsor of my organization, The Trans Empowerment Society.
We know that transgender and non-binary individuals—and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of color) transgender individuals in particular—are disproportionately impacted by HIV, and often underserved in traditional healthcare systems. How do HIV and other health disparities impact your community?
In my community of Kansas City, Missouri HIV for Transgender folks is lacking BIG time and let me not start with the lack of Black & Brown advocacy around HIV & Aids. Even our Local Planning Council lacks the proper skills of having Trans & Non Binary on it as well as the agencies in the area. When asking agencies, Clinics, or even local health departments in the area about how can they change this they have no answer and a lot of non-solutions to the main issue at hand Helping Trans & Non-Binary Folks who are affected by HIV.
Jennifer Barnes-Balenciaga (She/Her/Hers)
Jennifer Barnes-Balenciaga, soon to be Mrs. McQueen, was the first LGBTQ+ liaison in Atlanta, Georgia. Currently based in Manhattan, she is a member of the New York Commission on Gender Equity (CGE) and is a member of the illustrious House of Balenciaga, a leading institution in the House and Ballroom Scene. She is also the Director of the Crystal La’Beija Organizing Fellowship (CLOF), was a Youth Policy HIV Advisor for Georgia Equality and has presented at many HIV-related conferences such as NAESM, USCA, and at congressional gatherings through AIDSWatch. She has been published in The New York Times, TEENVogue, Harvard Public Health and VeryWellHealth, and can be seen on Season 2 of POSE FX.
What about being trans and/or nonbinary makes you proud?
The fact that being trans does not dictate my Black experience, intellect, ability to love or womanhood.
What did it mean to you to be able to be an HRC grant recipient/ACTIVATE/ELEVATE fellow? How has it impacted you personally and professionally?
It was such an honor to be a recipient of an HRC grant, and it was certainly a helpful boost to our limited budget. It allowed us as a fellowship to offer more relief to those still being affected by Covid-19.
What brings you joy as a transgender and/or non-binary person?
My Fiancé brings me joy in this journey of self-discovery while being a woman of trans experience. It is so appreciated that I have the mental capacity to grow with an individual that is as steadfast in not being hindered by life's circumstances or ignorance of those who want to box us in. Being limitless is the ultimate goal I have discovered while learning what joy and love really mean.
What has your relationship with HRC helped you accomplish? What are you looking forward to accomplishing in the future?
The building of my relationship with HRC has afforded me the opportunity to see that my presence in the Southeast, Northeast and Midwest has not been in vain and those in those respective areas are willing to help uplift those maneuvering in silence and disruptively are equally as important and will always keep the impact of trans individuals upfront, where it belongs. I am hoping to not only attend more HRC Dinners/Galas but to put the ever-growing emphasis of visibility in alignment with HRC values and equitable growth.
Trenton Johnson (Him/Him/His),
Trenton Johnson, known in the community as “Coach Trent,” is a social justice advocate and activist, reverend, certified life coach, community organizer and mentor, as well as the CEO/founder and executive director of (LoveYourNewCreation) LYNC2Gether Connection Center LLC, an organization he created to assist transgender individuals on their gender-affirming journeys in all areas. Trenton holds a special interest in Advocating specifically for mental health awareness and spiritual wholeness centered around black transmen, black transmasculine folks, and trans individuals who have been silenced on their faith journey. His upcoming book “2Sided Pain: Worth the Wait” tells his story detailing his transition as a Black Trans Man of faith and is accompanied with an audio CD of inspiration and empowerment.
Tell us about how you connect to your local community through your advocacy and/or professional work.
I run an organization “LYNC2Gether Connection Center” where I provide life, trauma and spiritual coaching to community members. As a Coach, we had had my share of trauma, I used transparency and my training to help others love their new creation and find their voice while regaining their power.
What about being trans and/or nonbinary makes you proud?
Everything. Literally, the total embodiment of being all that I am and we’re created to be is the most fulfilling, freeing and rewarding gift from our creator. I couldn’t be more proud of you to be a vessel chosen to have this life and for that I am proud!
What brings you joy as a transgender and/or non-binary person?
Knowing that my son knows his dad is trans, knows other trans people and he doesn’t have to be sheltered from my community.
When I was my son’s age, my family kept my community from me, although I had family members in the community. As a trans dad, I wanted my child to have the freedom to evolve into whomever he would be and not feel bad if he liked pink, or wanted to change his pronouns. I wanted love to rule above all. That is joy and liberation to me.
What did it mean to you to be able to be an HRC grant recipient/ACTIVATE/ELEVATE fellow? How has it impacted you personally and professionally?
Wow! It was amazing! I felt seen and heard. I learned so much, I met so many amazing folks. I’ve been busy as a result. Being a part of the cohort changed how I operated in business and in community spaces. Doors began to open for me and many new relationships have been built. I understand how to tell my story with purpose and intentionality
Regina Livingston (She/Her/Hers)
Regina is the founder of the Unspoken Treasure Society, a non-profit providing resources and support for transgender and gender non-conforming people with three chapters in Gainesville and Jacksonville, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia. Unspoken Treasure Society provides linkage to healthcare, housing, HRT and offers safe, non-judgmental spaces for the transgender and gender non-conforming community. Ms. Livingston has also been recognized as one of the most influential women in the state of Florida by Nikki Fried, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, for her successful launch of the Purple Orchid Program, which brings together Black and Brown trans and cis women to dismantle the stigma around HIV and create community-led solutions to end the HIV epidemic.
What about being trans and/or nonbinary makes you proud?
The fact of living out loud unapologetically. I also am proud of the fact that I have a community of peers that live in the same way.
What did it mean to you to be able to be an HRC grant recipient/ACTIVATE/ELEVATE fellow? How has it impacted you personally and professionally?
It was amazing to be surrounded by Black leadership as well as be educated on how to properly carry out projects, write grants as well as coexist in areas where there could possibly be tension.
We know that transgender and non-binary individuals—and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of color) transgender individuals in particular—are disproportionately impacted by HIV, and often underserved in traditional healthcare systems. How do HIV and other health disparities impact your community?
It affects us in the most horrible way because a lot of doctors straight out deny us services which in turn makes us have to seek out more expensive affirming services. We also are as some of the most degrading questions such as what we were born and different very uncomfortable.
What brings you joy as a transgender and/or non-binary person?
The fact that we have more support and the fact that preachers are speaking out to the fact that conservatives have all the wrong mindsets about us.
Nyla Foster (She/Her/Hers)
Nyla is a Black woman of Trans experience, Organizational Strategist, and Trans & Youth advocate. She has been living in her truth since the age of 14 and is well known within the Kansas City LGBTQIA community. She is the current Miss Black Trans International and a former: Miss Missouri State, Miss Black Trans Kansas, Miss Kansas City Black Pride, and Miss Kansas City Gay Pride. Nyla currently facilitates the Kansas City Transgender Empowerment Program (KCTEP), a program open to all transgender and gender non-conforming people focusing on access to healthcare, legal services, employment, education, and safety.
What brings you joy as a transgender person?
To be able to show up whole and not worry about my gender as a barrier. Flowers, cards, self-care, peace, and hearing my mother tell me she is proud of me. To see my community elevated, celebrated — not just tolerated.
What did it mean to you to be able to be an HRC grant recipient/ACTIVATE/ELEVATE fellow? How has it impacted you personally and professionally?
I am thankful to be an HRC grant recipient/ACTIVATE/ELEVATE fellow because it means that one of the largest LGBTQ+ nonprofits in the U.S. believed in me. It has impacted my life greatly. Since joining the cohort, I have transitioned to higher fulfilling jobs as a Development Coordinator, working primarily with grants. I also graduated from MidAmerica Nazarene University with a Bachelor's in Organizational Leadership.
What about being transgender makes you proud?
The fact that I am the expert of MY trans experience. I am proud that I was able to make it this far throughout all of life's challenges — especially as a Black woman of trans experience.
In October 2018, I stood on the steps of the federal courthouse in Kansas City, Kansas, and announced that I was joining a lawsuit brought by Lambda Legal and the law firm of Bryan Cave to sue the state of Kansas for denying transgender people like me an accurate birth certificate; for denying me the ability to live authentically as the woman I am.
I joined three other transgender Kansans – including Luc Bensimon, a Black trans man, and Jessica Hicklin, an incarcerated white transgender woman – as well the Kansas Statewide Transgender Education Project (K-STEP) in the lawsuit challenging Kansas’s birth certificate policy so that transgender people born in Kansas are able to correct the gender marker on their birth certificate to accurately reflect who they are.
Editor’s Note: This lawsuit was successful and transgender and non-binary Kansans are currently able to amend the gender marker on their birth certificates.
What does visibility as a transgender person mean to you?
The President of the U.S. identifying as a transgender or non-binary person. In essence, it is seeing a transgender or non-binary person reflected in leadership. We need to see this so that we can know it is possible. And even if you are not visible, stand up and be seen! Be the 1st!
Syria Jackson
Syria is a long-time Transgender activist, Public Health Prevention Specialist and Counselor and serves as the President of the Board of Directors for the LGBT Community Center of New Orleans and is a member of the Transgender Law Center's Black Trans Circles Steering Committee. Syria has over 20 years as a service representative advocating for disadvantaged youth and consistently providing aid in New Orleans and surrounding communities. Syria is a 2020 ELEVATE Fellow, 3/21 Small Grantee, and Ballroom TransTalk Participant.
What brings you joy as a transgender person?
Just being and hopefully the lives that are impacted by my work and the work that others are doing to ensure our voices, needs and cries are heard and not being taken for granted.
What did it mean to you to be able to be an HRC Foundation ACTIVATE fellow? How has it impacted you personally and professionally?
This opportunity has opened so many doors for me and has given me the know-how of moving forward with my work in this community and abroad.
Tell us about how you connect to your local community through your advocacy and/or professional work.
I've worked in the Public Health field for more than 15 yrs. in various capacities. As I have evolved in my profession, I have tried my best to educate and empower others to make positive impacts in their inner circles as well as community. It takes a village; therefore, I've ensured that the work that I do will reflect the changes I want to see in my community.
We know that transgender and non-binary individuals—and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of color) transgender individuals in particular—are disproportionately impacted by HIV, and often underserved in traditional healthcare systems. How do HIV and other health disparities impact your community?
There are several issues that affect the healthcare systems in the south. Most stem from the legislature and it's a domino effect from there. To speak of stigma and discrimination is only to scratch the surface of the issues many face along with adequate housing and employment.
CJ Moseley Jr. (He/Him)
CJ Moseley Jr. is the Co-Founder and CFO at Trans Across Atlanta. This nonprofit organization provides resources for the transgender community in Atlanta and surrounding areas. Trans Across Atlanta assists people with finding information about physical & mental health needs, living situations and meals. CJ is a 2021/2022 HRC ACTIVATE fellow.
What brings you joy as a transgender person?
For me meeting members of the community and learning from those who have lived the life longer than I brings me joy. Also sharing with young people who are searching for their truth brings me joy.
What did it mean to you to be able to be an HRC Foundation ACTIVATE fellow? How has it impacted you personally and professionally?
Being an ACTIVATE fellow was very meaningful to me. It allowed me to meet people from around the country who are doing the work. It also allowed me a chance to work on my leadership skills and to work on coming out of my shell as an introvert.
HRC’s annual Fatal Violence Report talks about the factors that contribute to violence against transgender and non-binary people. In your area, how are trans and non-binary people impacted by violence?
Violence against the transgender community is still occurring in my community however, it's not heard of if you are not a member. News stories about any attacks, if they are reported, rarely mention the fact that the victim was transgender. If they do report, the story is played once and then it is dropped, especially if the victim is a minority.
What do you wish more people knew about being transgender or non-binary in America?
I wish more people understood that transgender and non-binary people are just that - PEOPLE. We live our lives just like cisgender members of society. We want the same for our families - love, safety, success.
More About the Programs
ELEVATE
An annual fellowship that advances the leadership of transfeminine people by effectively increasing their personal and professional development, particularly in navigating and improving social and public health systems.
ACTIVATE
An annual professional development fellowship designed for trans and non-binary leaders of color. Through Activate fellows become leaders in advocacy and community organizing.
Free Lyft Rides for Public Safety
In partnership with Lyft and trans-focused community-based organizations, HRC is offering free Lyft rides in select cities for medical appointments, job interviews, and more.