For over 20 years, Asha Lyons has dedicated her career to supporting marginalized communities through social work, public health, research, and anti violence advocacy. A trans woman of Latin and Caribbean descent, she brings a trauma informed, anti oppressive, and gender affirming approach to her role as the Licensed Social Worker for the Gender Affirmation Program (GAP) at VNS Health, where she supports trans and nonbinary patients post-gender affirmation surgery. She also serves as Vice Chair of the Bronx LGBTQ Task Force, at the office of Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, continuing her commitment to advocacy and community empowerment.

Janet Mock is a writer, television producer, and transgender rights activist. Her 2014 memoir “Redefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More,” which follows her journey as a transgender girl and young woman in Hawaii, became a New York Times bestseller. She co-produced “The Trans List” for HBO in 2016, before becoming a writer, director and producer for FX’s “Pose.” The first trans woman of color hired as a writer for a TV series, Mock was also the first trans woman of color to write and direct any television episode.

Mock has also worked as a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight, a contributing editor for Marie Claire, and a host for MSNBC. She started the social media campaign #GirlsLikeUs in 2012 to empower transgender women and joined the board of directors at the Arcus Foundation a year later to advocate for LGBTQ rights.

Mock has been honored by the Ms. Foundation, Planned Parenthood, Feminist Press, and the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, among other organizations. Her name has been featured on multiple lists including TIME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People.”

Admiral Rachel Levine, MD, is the highest-ranking openly transgender government official in U.S. history, serving as the 17th Assistant Secretary for Health from March 2021 to 2025, under President Joe Biden. In 2021, Dr. Levine was commissioned as a four-star admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, becoming the first openly transgender four-star officer in any of the U.S. uniformed services. Her clinical and public health work has helped people dealing with a range of medical issues, including eating disorders, the opioid crisis, and COVID-19. She is vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ youth, emphasizing that gender-affirming care is essential, life-saving healthcare.

Dr. Levine previously served as the Pennsylvania physician general from 2015 to 2017 and as secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health from 2017 to 2021.

Born in Buffalo, Peggie Ames (1921 – 2000) transitioned in the early 1970s and was the first publicly out transgender person in Western New York State. She joined Mattachine Society of the Niagara Frontier (MSNF), a local offshoot of the pre-Stonewall gay rights group of the same name, and was the organization’s secretary in 1973-1974. Ames participated in MSNF’s peer counselor training program and organized panels on transgenderism for Buffalo’s annual Gay Pride Week.

Ames also ran an informal counseling service out of her Buffalo-area house, including transition-related guidance, and provided shelter for trans women in need of temporary living accommodations.  Though she faced great harassment, she was one of the few transgender individuals in Western New York willing to be out in public, and her physical presence helped to dispel common prejudices towards trans women.

Ames is one of the unacknowledged mothers of today’s Transgender Rights Movement.

A lifelong New Yorker, Elisa Crespo is a trans Latina leader whose work has consistently centered the needs and voices of TGNCNB people. In addition to serving as the current Executive Director of the Stonewall Community Foundation, she helped build the NEW Pride Agenda into the force it is today as its former Executive Director and played a key role in advancing NY’s Lorena Borjas Transgender and Nonbinary Wellness & Equity Fund.

Her organizing and public leadership have been covered by outlets like them, LGBTQ Nation, Marie Claire, and OUT Magazine as well as recognized by partners across New York. At every step of her career, Elisa’s advocacy and public leadership have created real opportunities and support for our communities.

Since coming to the US at 15 to escape transphobia in Mexico, Bianey García has dedicated herself to uplifting and mobilizing the TGNCNB community. By 19, she was active in transgender support groups and working with community leaders on STD prevention. After witnessing police discrimination against TGNC+ community members, she joined Make the Road NY to confront injustice, build trans leadership, and educate community members about their rights.

She helped launch the TransLatina March in Jackson Heights—the largest of its kind!—and continues to organize against anti-trans violence in Queens. Her advocacy, leadership, and community care strengthen and sustain our movement.