HOSTS & SPEAKERS
TRANSFORMATIONS LEADERSHIP
MERRIQUE JENSON (she/her)
(FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR) Merrique Jenson is a transgender, queer, second-generation multiracial woman of color of White and Mexican heritage. She is the Founder and currently serves as the Executive Director for Transformations, a trans and gender-expansive youth organization based in Kansas City. Merrique has been working in the fields of harm reduction and anti-violence advocacy for over 20 years and has helped create multiple startup LGBTQ programs in the Midwest for young people and trans people of color experiencing trauma and living on the streets. She is a respected community advisor and racial equity consultant. She recently was honored and named in the first Trans Day of Visibility Proclamation on March 30, 2022, for Kansas City, Missouri, for her activism and acknowledged by a group of activists in the LGBTQ Commission of Special Action Recognition by Kansas City for June 2021 Pride Month.
Merrique is the Owner/Principal of SocialScope Productions, which focuses on multimedia artistic programs, equity development, and intersectional professional development coaching. Her multimedia projects have been nationally recognized, including the popular #GetWoke event series. She has performed as a DJ, is a published author, and contributing blogger for The Advocate, Out Magazine & HuffPost, and is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. She is a respected content expert, artistic advisor, and racial equity consultant. Merrique also serves a two-year term on the Board of Directors for Theatre Communications Group and has been recognized by the Association for Queer Anthropology for her artistic work.
Additionally, Merrique is a Kansas City, two-time Rocket Grants full-project award winner, has delivered keynotes for Yale University, Southern Oregon University, and Northwestern University, has headlined Seattle Pride and Houston Pride, and has been featured as a guest on The Oprah Show. She currently spends her time living and traveling in both Seattle and Kansas City, MO. To learn more about Merrique’s work, please visit transformationskc.org
KELLY NOU (she/her)
(VICE PRESIDENT) Kelly Nou is a first-generation Cambodian-American immigrant, cosmetologist, and former female impersonator. She has lived in Kansas City since she was a young child and has lived her truth as a transgender woman for 20+ years.
Kelly is honored to nurture and mentor many transgender girls in the Kansas City community as they start their journeys and remains dedicated to uplifting her trans sisters of color. She is very focused on healthcare access and keeping communities of color safe. Kelly currently works with Maximus as a Contact Tracer with Springfield Greene County Health Department, helping to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
HOSTS
JOSS BARTON (she/her)
Joss Barton is a writer, journalist, and spoken word performance artist exploring and documenting queer and trans* life, love, and liberation. Her work blends femme-fever dreams over the soundtrack of the American nightmare. Combining prose poetry, non-fiction confessional essays, drag artistry, and spoken word stage performances, Joss examines the various states of Queer, trans womanhoods from historical, political, and pop cultural identities of death, desires, dreams, and disco.
Her achievements include a 2013 fiction fellowship at the Lambda Literary Foundation’s Emerging LGBT Writers Retreat, a contributing artist position for Nine Network’s Public Media Commons Artist Showcase, and a 2016 fellowship with Topside Press' Trans Women's Writers Workshop. She is also an alumnus of the Community Arts Training Institute of the St. Louis Regional Arts Commission, a grant recipient of the Regional Arts Commission's Artist Support Grant Fund, and a grant recipient of Metro Trans Umbrella Group's Community Fund Micro-Grant. She was also part of the first class of writers selected to create temporary public text-art installations displayed in the historic Saint Louis neighborhood of Marine Villa in collaboration with design and sculpture duo PSA-STL in the summer of 2020. And she is the proud founding organizer of Cicadas & Coneflowers Writers Workshop for Trans Writers of Color.
Her work has appeared in The Contemporary HIV Zeitgeist: A Fresh Look at Gay Men and HIV, Vice Magazine, Vetch Poetry: A Transgender Poetry Journal, Locusts: A Post-Queer Nation Zine, HIV Here & Now Project, For Your Eyes Only Zine Vol. 2, Femmescapes Zine Vol. 2, Out In STL Magazine, Vital Voice Magazine, A Formal Invitation Zine Vol. 1., Nightboat Book’s We Want It All: An Anthology of Radical Trans Poetics, BELT Magazine, Smoke+Mold Magazine, The Brooklyn Rail, and the Disco Wisdom blog. She has performed across Saint Louis and the United States for the Goodie House of Poetry & Stories Reading Series, Metro Trans Umbrella Group's Telethon, Art As Verb queer art show, River Styx Hungry Young Poets Summer Reading Series, Get Woke! Living In Color Kansas City Pride Party, An Infected Sunset Poetry Tour, The Transsexual Empire Strikes Back Poetry Tour, Austin’s Outsider Festival, and the GenderUnbound Arts Festival. She resides and writes in Chicago.
JOELLE BAYAA-UZURI ESPEUT (she/her)
Joelle Bayaa-Uzuri Espeut is a writer, journalist, and creative working with The Normal Anomaly Initiative. As the Director of Programming, she oversees the ancillary programs, including the Transgender Ally Collective, the Positives Organizing Wellness and Resilience program ( P.O.W.R.), and Project Liberate (a 6-month intensive leadership development program).
Deeply committed to activism, Joelle serves on the board of the Houston LGBTQ Political Caucus and The Mahogany Project. She also serves on the newly formed Trans Women of Color Anti-Violence Task Force for the American Psychological Association and the Community Advisory Council for Southern Aids Coalition.
Joelle has worked with AIDS United, GLAAD, Gilead/Compass Initiative, and Emory University. She was awarded The Mahogany Project, Inc.’s Rising Star Phoenix Award in 2020. As a writer, Joelle has been published in the queer publications Spectrum South and Q26. To learn more about Joelle’s work, please visit normalanomaly.org.
SIMAYA CHARLIZE TURNER (she/her)
Simaya Charlize Turner (aka, The Lioness) is originally from South Carolina and currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, where she attended college. She graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Managerial Sciences.
Lady Turner is certified in HIV/ Testing and Counseling, and she has over 12 years of experience in Organizational Management, Program Development, and Grant Writing/Evaluation in the healthcare field. She is currently the Executive Director of Trans Individuals Living Their Truth (TILTT). She is also the host of her podcast, The Lioness Still Lives: Conversations with a Black Trans Goddess.
The Lioness is proud to take on her latest endeavor as the newest host on WERUradio’s The Urban Sound of Pride, based in Atlanta, offering a dynamic morning show, Monday through Friday, 6-10 am EDT.
KEYNOTE PANELISTS
SASHA COLBY (she/her)
(HEADLINER) Sasha Colby is a Hawaii native and has called many places home, including Chicago, Orlando, and now Los Angeles. As a teen, she trained with renowned dance company 24-VII Danceforce Studios, which fostered her love of performing.
As an actress (Hawaii 5-0 as well as a cameo in the upcoming feature film “Breaking Fast”), Dancer (Janet Jackson, Leann Rimes, Nightgowns with Sasha Velour), and music video Choreographer for many of RuPaul Drag Race Stars (Latrice Royale, Tatianna, Aja, Monique Heart), she also modeled for Michael Ngo, Marco Marco in runway and print work. Her most notable achievement was winning the highly sought-after pageant title Miss Continental in 2012. The prestigious title gave her a platform where she could advocate for LGBTQI+ issues, especially Trans-related issues. Sasha counts activism and speaking out on these issues as her true life’s work. To use her platform to influence others for the better.
KERRI COLBY (she/her)
(HEADLINER) Kerri Colby is a model, an online and TV personality, and an activist who most recently appeared on Season 14 of the Emmy Award-winning television show, RuPaul’s Drag Race.
A proud multi-cultural transgender woman, Kerri's objective is to shatter the ceilings placed on the community and to re-narrate the stereotypes.
DR. TATYANA MOATON (she/her)
(MODERATOR) DR. Tatyana Moaton is the CEO and Principal Consultant for Envision Consulting, one of the country’s first Black trans-led consulting firms. She has extensive experience in Human Resources, championing strategic initiatives geared toward diversity and inclusion. She is currently in the role of Senior Capacity Building Specialist with the San Francisco Community Health Center. Tatyana is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, serving honorably as an Intelligence Officer in the US Army. She was reared in the City of Chicago and attended college in Milwaukee, WI. She recently obtained her Doctorate of Philosophy In Management Science.
She is a staunch advocate for the Trans community and has worked with the American Civil Liberties Union as a spokesperson for Trans litigation and LAMBDA Legal. Working with the U.S. Center for Disease Controls, Science Application Team as a consultant to develop the first intervention geared towards the transgender targeted population.
Tatyana is a faculty member of the Transgender Strategy Center and has worked with organizations and companies such as AIDS United, NMAC, Gilead, Merck, Elton John AIDS Foundation, and The Black AIDS Institute.
AGAIOTUPU VIENA (she/her)
Agaiotupu Viena is an unapologetic fa’afafine trans woman from Samoa I Sasa’e. She is a fa’afafineist, descendant of celestial navigators, cat mama, and lover of all things Pasifika. Agaiotupu works as the Deputy Director of UTOPIA Washington after ten years on the Board, serving as co-Chair for over four years. Since 2018, Agaiotupu has partnered with the national Trans Agenda for Liberation Coalition (TA4L) and assisted in creating the TA4L community-led guide addressing the urgent political, legal, and social violence enacted against the trans community.
Agaiotupu brings years of experience advocating for sex workers by fighting to decriminalize sex work, drug use, migrant status, HIV status, and poverty at all levels of government through Decrim WA in collaboration with the Transgender Law Center. She is also the former Director of TRANSformCulture at the Pride Foundation. Currently, she serves as a member of the Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Inclusion Taskforce and COO of the Governance Group for King County.
Since 2020, Agaiotupu co-chairs the first-ever Washington State LGBTQ Commission. She is a core team organizer/co-founder for the Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network, providing support and funding to Black and Brown trans women/femmes in Washington. She fights like hell for the bodily autonomy of sex workers and independence for all life, including the land that provides for us through policy and systems change, narrative shifts, and generative conflict rooted in love and deep care that fosters growth. Witnessing trans people in love, starting families, thriving, and traveling the world brings Agaiotupu joy.
JAHNELL BUTLER (she/her)
Jahnell Butler is a health educator and consultant working with ETR Sciences for their Transgender Professional Development Institute, with previous experience working with the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as a trainer and facilitator.
Jahnell’s passion for education in underserved communities has inspired her to create Living Authentically, a trans support group focused on community, equity job development, and the global well-being of Trans folx. With extensive experience working with organizations to help develop their cultural competencies as it applies to gender-appropriate language and transgender and LGBTQ+ competencies.
TEPA VAINA (she/her)
Tepa Vaina was born and raised on the island of Tutuila in American Samoa. Proudly identifying as Fa’afafine, Tepa is the Program Director of UTOPIA WA, where she furthers her dedication to helping others. From supporting adults with developmental disabilities, mental health challenges, and houseless communities to providing direct support for sex workers, Tepa brings an array of experiences to inform the various programs of UTOPIA WA.
Tepa holds a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Chaminade University in Honolulu, an accomplishment she uses to further her work and achievements. As a sex worker, Tepa sends a positive message that sex workers are educated and hardworking individuals. One of her passions is performing “Siva Samoa,” and feels most free and confident when dancing. When not working, she spends time with family and her fur baby “Kiona.”
FEATURING
AARON ARTHUR-GRAY (he/they)
Aaron Arthur-Gray is a Master of Social Work Candidate at Columbia University School of Social Work. A multi-disciplinary creative operating at the intersections of art, healing, and advocacy, Aaron supports surviving communities through direct clinical practice. In his past, Aaron has worked with various age groups, from adolescents to the elderly, in both school and virtual settings.
Aaron is trained in Crisis Intervention, Motivational interviewing, Strength-Based Perspectives, and Mindfulness. His current efforts include Substance Use and Chemical Dependency, Gender and Sexuality, and the neurological and physical impact of trauma. In addition, Aaron has conducted research surrounding art therapy with struggling youth, the effects of trauma and substance use on the Trans and Gender Nonconforming population, and Eye Movement and Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). To learn more about Aaron’s work, please visit aaronarthurgray.com.
“Sometimes, the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.” - Brené Brown
DOMINIQUE MORGAN (she/her)
Dominique Morgan is an award-winning international artist, activist, and TEDx speaker. She is the Executive Director of The Okra Project, leading work across the country to dismantle the systematic oppression impacting Black Trans and gender expansive people.
Dominique partners her lived experience (including 18 months in solitary confinement) with a decade of change-making artistry and advocacy. She utilizes her background in public health to activate power work in spaces of sex education, radical self-care, and transformative youth development to dismantle the prison industrial complex through the development of an innovative theory she describes as the “gender to prison pipeline.”
Dominique is a 2020 Ten Outstanding Young Americans Award recipient, NAACP Freedom Fighter Award recipient, 2020 JM Kaplan Innovation Prize recipient, and the 2021 United States nominee for Ten Outstanding Young People in the World. Her new album Pisces In E Flat Major is available on all platforms, and her book “Sex Ed for System Facing People” will be available in 2023. To learn more about Dominique’s work, please visit dominiquemorgan.com.
JAMES “JAMIE” NERIA (he/they)
Jamie Neria is a Queer, trans-masculine, Latinx Licensed Clinical Social Worker living on Kickapoo and Potawatomi land (Chicago). He holds his BA in Psychology from DePaul University and his MSW from Loyola University Chicago. From serving on the board of on-campus student organizations as an undergraduate to providing individual and family therapy services to transgender and gender non-conforming youth, Jamie has dedicated himself to creating and developing safe, nurturing spaces for Queer and TGNC individuals. Now in private practice, Jamie's clinical work specializes in working with youth and young adults struggling with chronic stress, trauma, and substance use. He views therapy as a collaborative process where an individual can show up as themselves and work towards goals to live more fulfilling lives; however that might look.
MARISSA MILLER (she/her)
Marissa Miller has worked over the last 15 years with many of the most influential National Agencies working to End the HIV epidemic; AIDS United, NMAC, CDC, HRSA, NIH, and a former BOD Member for Positively Trans, Transgender Law Center. Marissa is currently the Director of Strategic Projects for Envision Consulting.
Her most recent accomplishment was The National Trans Visibility March, where she served as the Senior Strategic Director, rearing over 5 thousand Constituents from across the U.S. Marissa is now working to create change Globally; she is the Founder of Trans Solutions Research and Resource Center. Trans Solutions Research and Resource Center is designed to develop a global culture of safety for the Transgender, Non-Binary, GNC communities through policy, safety networks/app Spaces, web-developed concepts, devices, safe-space training, and certifications.
Marissa is nationally recognized as an advocate for human rights, social justice, health equity, and LGBTQ equality. Marissa has worked for the last 20 years on the Local, State, and National levels to improve access to treatment and care for transgender people and people living with HIV to erase stigma and discrimination through education, policy, advocacy, and visibility.
Marissa brings a great deal of expertise in TGNCNB Communities specific to Programming and Infrastructure Building, Program Development and Evaluation, and Leadership Development. For most of her career, she has created support systems for TGNC PLWHA and made sure that Community Engagement for disenfranchised populations involves decision-makers at the table.
Marissa worked with the Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia, alongside other Trans women of color to create the very first intervention designed explicitly for Transwoman (TWIST). Marissa is a product of her work and ambitions. Transitioning with minimal resources and family support, she understands that transparency is vital to changing the trajectory of services for her community. Trans Solutions was born.
MIMI SHELTON, MSEd (she/her)
Mimi Shelton is a Black trans educator and Director of Trans Initiatives/Services at Destination Tomorrow: The Bronx LGBTQ+ Center (DT). At DT, she is a member of the executive staff; Grant Manager for the grantmaking agency's largest grant, the Gilead Sciences-funded TRANScend Community Impact Fund; a TGNC housing and equity policy consultant; grant manager for the Anti-Violence Project's P.A.T.H Forward fund in support of LGBTQ+ hate violence prevention and awareness; T/GNC/GNB events manager; and a facilitator/supervisor/grant manager for her agency's AIDS Institute funded trans- masculine and feminine peer discussion groups.
Before her position at DT, Mimi taught middle school English at Riverdale Country School and William Penn Charter School, and in other capacities, for over four years. Mimi received her bachelor's degree in English and African American studies from The College of William and Mary (Cum Laude and Highest Honors) and her Masters of Science in Education (M.S.Ed, Pass with Distinction) from the University of Pennsylvania.
Her publications include a blog post for GLSEN entitled “4 Ways You Can Support Black, Queer, Trans & GNC Educators Today” (2019) and a written contribution to Charity-Hudley, Dickter, and Franz’s (2017) The Indispensable Guide to Undergraduate Research: Success in and Beyond College.
In 2020, Mimi was a featured talent in the Dove Pride 2020 Campaign, “Nothing More Beautiful,” directed by Tourmaline. Additionally, Mimi has participated in several panels about race, gender, sexuality, and socioeconomic status issues. On a personal level, Mimi has lived in New York City for the past four years and is originally from Louisa County, Virginia. She enjoys reading, journaling, writing free verse poetry, roller skating (quads), walking in NYC parks, hanging with friends, dancing, eating delicious foods across cultures, therapizing herself with floral aromas, and engaging in political activities and debates.
NYLA FOSTER (she/her)
Nyla Foster has a rich history of advocacy. Rising from intern to Project Coordinator for the Kansas City Anti-Violence Project (KCAVP), her work centers on advocacy for LGBTQIA members who have experienced domestic violence, health disparities, sexual assault, hate crimes, and neglect.
Championing against state-sanctioned violence, in 2018, Nyla partnered with Lambda Legal as a plaintiff to sue the state of Kansas over its transphobic birth certificate policies. She achieved victory the following year, as Kansas finally granted the trans community access to correct their birth certificates.
As the National Director of Trans Women of Color Collective and reigning Miss Black Trans International, Nyla strengthens her community through multi-disciplinary practices, creative and technical writing, and community organizing to create social change. She continues to carve out safe spaces nationwide for transgender and gender-expansive folks to receive support, access, and affirmation.
To learn more about Nyla’s work, please visit nylafoster.com.
RUMBA YAMBÚ (they/them)
Rumba Yambu is an Afro-Salvadoran Trans migrant, founding director of Intransitive, a Transmigrant-led organization in Arkansas. A member of the National Latinx Alliance Against Sexual Assault, Rumba has spent a year working in the fields of sexual and domestic violence, immigration, mental health, and digital organizing. To learn more about Rumba’s work, please visit Intransitive.org
TORI COOPER (she/her)
Tori Cooper is a Health & Equity Consultant and CDC subject matter expert, recently honored as one of the most influential LGBTQ Georgians by OUT Georgia. She currently serves as the Human Rights Campaign Director of Community Engagement and was newly sworn to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA).
Tori is the Founder of Advocates for Better Care Atlanta Consulting, focusing on diversity, equity, inclusion, economic empowerment, capacity building, public safety, and the expansion of public education campaigns.
JADE CAREAGA (she/her)
Jade Careaga (Nursing Student & Makeup Artist) is a multi-racial (white, Filipino, Puerto Rican, and Mexican) woman of trans experience who is an accomplished makeup artist and stylist based in Seattle, Washington. Prior to Covid, she was often working with amazing clients who celebrated Jade for her positive attitude, friendliness, and guidance in all things cosmetic related. On December 16, 2020, Jade became a victim of gun violence from a client and almost died. During her intensive rehabilitation where she underwent four different major reconstructive surgeries within three months to save her life, Jade became very familiar with the medical system and realized she wanted to go into healthcare so she too may be able to help others that have gone through similar experiences as herself. She is proud to share that recently, she enrolled in college and is pursuing a Bachelors of Nursing. Jade is excited to be part of this summit, to lend her voice and experience to help raise awareness to the violence that many trans women of color experience.
LADY SHUG
Lady Shug is a proud Indigenous queen, born of the Diné (Navajo) Nation, growing up in the four corners area in New Mexico. Lady Shug's drag persona has been in the business of female impersonation for over 10 years. She was first created in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she was able to start her career and work amongst some of the best entertainers of the world at the Las Vegas Strip, performing nightly and rubbing shoulders with your favorite celebrities. After being in the Limelight for so many years, the land of enchantment called her home. Recently relocated and is now living on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona/New Mexico border
She has been fighting for equal rights as an activist for her 2SLGBTQIA+ indigenous relatives, to create equal rights in rural areas and reservations that do not normally protect those on indigenous lands. She loves working with the grassroot collectives, which has been the key to encouragement in Lady Shug and to smash white supremacy and heteropatriarchy for our indigenous trans, non-binary and gender nonconforming folks.
Her creativity has connected with her passion of drag and female impersonation, to use her platform on stage and to stand in solidarity or create social movements in her drag performances. She has been featured on many platforms such as USA today, New York Times, VICE, Vouge Spain, and PBS networks. Recently, Lady Shug was featured on an HBO special “We’re Here,” featuring Drag Race alumni Bob the Drag Queen, Shangela and Eureka.
LASAIA WADE (she/her)
Lasaia Wade is an Afro-Puerto Rican, indigenous trans woman. She is the Founder of the Tennessee Trans Journey Project (TNTJ), a member of the Chicago-based Trans Gender-Nonconforming Collective, the Trans Liberation Collective, and the Founder & CEO of Brave Space Alliance. Recently, she was honored at the Chicago LGBTQA Black History Recognitions ceremony and is the first Trans woman in Illinois history to be celebrated in Women's History month for her work beyond community organizing.
LaSaia graduated in 2012 with a Master of Business Administration degree from Middle Tennessee State University, and has 10+ years of experience in advocacy work with Black, Indigenous, trans, and gender-nonconforming people around the world.
LaSaia’s role in organizing ranges between and beyond that of a central organizer for the Trans Liberation Protest in Chicago, the largest march for trans rights in Midwestern history. She is also a leader in the midwest ballroom scene as a member of the international and legendary House of Moncler.
KAYLA GORE (she/her)
Ms. Kayla Gore works to help coordinate homeless services, direct outreach, and advocate for the rights of TLGBQ people, focusing on Black transgender women living in the South.
She studied Sociology at Southwest Community College in Memphis, TN, and provides training for CBOs, educational institutions, and healthcare organizations around trans inclusivity. Ms. Gore utilizes her rich history of leading movements on Staff at The Transgender Law Center, SONG, OUTMEMPHIS, TKO Society INC, and The Transgender Strategy Center in her current role as Founder of My Sistah’s House (MSH).
Her organizing work includes fighting for housing equity for people who face discrimination and advocating for the just treatment of transgender people by law enforcement and government agencies.
DR. MEREDITH GRAY (she/her)
Dr. Meredith Gray is an associate professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center and the medical director of KU’s gender diversity clinic. Dr. Gray started a transgender medicine program at the University of South Florida before moving to Kansas. Here at KU, Dr. Gray launched a robust gender-affirming surgery program that focuses on providing world-class multidisciplinary care as well as training the next generation of physicians to go out and improve the access and visibility of gender services.
She has published multiple articles on gender care in peer-reviewed journals. Most recently, she was the guest editor on a particular section about gender-affirming surgery in the Journal of Gynecologic Surgery. Every article in this series includes authors who identify as transgender or gender nonconforming to ensure community members are at the forefront of the academic discussion and innovation.
PERFORMANCE SET BY
CECILIA GENTILI (she/her)
Cecilia Gentili started Transgender Equity Consulting at the beginning of 2019 after serving as the Director of Policy at GMHC, the world’s first and leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and advocacy from 2016 to 2019. Originally from Argentina, Cecilia came to the United States for a safer life as a transgender woman and lived in the country undocumented for ten years. During this time, Cecilia found survival through sex work and eventual drug use - which made her a continual target for policing. After multiple arrests and immigration detention, she accessed recovery services and, with more control over her life, fought and won asylum. Her experience during this time impassions her desire to ensure that all people living on the margins have access, dignity, and respect in all spaces.
Cecilia’s first role within the community began as an intern at The LGBT Center in New York City. Later, she partnered with the Apicha Community Health Center to develop transgender health services into a stand-alone program. Cecilia’s involvement was instrumental in expanding the program from 27 patients in 2012 to over 500 in 2016. Seeing so many clients affected by institutional discrimination and widespread lack of access, Cecilia decided to move from direct services into policy work at GMHC from 2016 to 2019. There she became the Managing Director of Policy and was integral to the passage of GENDA (Gender Non-Discrimination Act).
Her policy successes inspired her to found Decrim NY, a coalition working towards the decriminalization and destigmatization of people in the sex trade. Cecilia was instrumental in developing two statewide bills to provide survivors of trafficking with record relief and to end the criminalization of ‘loitering’ - a charge overwhelmingly leveled against transgender women, regardless of their involvement in the sex trade.
Cecilia started working independently with Trans Equity Consulting in 2019, collaborating extensively with various organizations, including the AIDS Institute, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Funders for LGBTQ Issues, Borealis Foundation, and Cicatelli Associates Inc. Her admirable reputation amongst these organizations reflects her commitment to the work and her unique insight, which enables a deeper connection with Queer and trans communities.
SHARE YOUR TRUTH!
Have any questions for our speakers, artists, or panelists at the summit? Have a comment, experience, or topic area you’d like the team to explore within a workshop session? Feel free to share your truth by submitting your feedback below.
If you see a workshop session, speaker, or artist that you'd like to know more about, this is your chance to connect before the summit begins. Your feedback will help our facilitators guide conversations to your specific interests and address any questions you have during our various sessions. Of course, you can always share feedback, affirmations, and experiences during the summit.
