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Staff

Danni Askini (they/she)
Executive Director 

Danni@GenderJusticeLeague.org

(For direct support, please make an appointment with Ishalaa, Meredith, or Maha)

About Danni Askini

Danni has served for over 20 years as an activist, policy expert, and organizer in TwoSpirit, Trans and LGBQIA+ communities across the United States and Europe. As our founding Executive Director, Danni helped lead Gender Justice League in expanding access to transition-related healthcare, banning conversion therapy throughout Washington, defeating 6 anti-trans legislative bills, crushing 2 anti-Trans ballot measures, launching our mutual-aid project to support survivors of gender-based violence, and successfully producing 11 Trans Pride events in Seattle. In 2016, Danni also became the first Trans person to ever run for statewide office in Washington State.

In 2018, after being targeted by the Trump Administration, Danni was forced to seek asylum in Sweden, having been denied a passport to return home. Upon returning in 2020, after settling her case through the UN Human Rights Council, Danni relocated to Washington DC to work as a Senior Health Policy Analyst supporting the passage of the HEROES and CARES Acts through Congress. Danni is now based primarily in Washington, DC and splits her time in Seattle where she has deep roots.

Ishalaa (she/her)
Director of Community Security Program

Ishalaa@GenderJusticeLeague.org

About Ishalaa

Ishalaa is a Mexican Immigrant Human Rights Activist, Entertainer, Singer, Songwriter, and Theater Writer. She is an experienced Care Coordinator and Operations Supervisor. 

Ishalaa has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Literature and Political Sciences from Hunter College. 

As an activist, Ishalaa has been part of an international movement to help and promote immigrant people’s rights. She partnered with Immigration Equality in different projects to uplift Immigrant communities’ voices and stories, all the way up to the U.S. Congress, to make changes to the current laws negatively impacting LGBTQ+ immigrants’ lives.

Español: Ishalaa es una migrante mexicana, activista de derechos humanos, artista, cantautora y escritora de teatro. Ishalaa es una experimentada coordinadora de salud y supervisora de operaciones. Ishalaa se graduó de la universidad como Licenciada en Literatura Española y Ciencias Políticas en Hunter College. Como activista, ha podido formar parte de un movimiento internacional para ayudar y promover los derechos de las personas migrantes. Se asoció con Immigration Equality en diferentes proyectos, elevando hasta el congreso de los Estados Unidos las voces e historias de comunidades inmigrantes, para hacer cambios a las leyes migratorias y de detención que impactan negativamente las vidas de personas LGBTQ+ migrantes.

Kai Aprill-Tomlin, MSW (he/him)
Director of Communications + Development

Kai@GenderJusticeLeague.org

About Kai Aprill-Tomlin

Kai is a social worker, artist, and transsexual menace based in Seattle, WA. 

Driven to mobilize people and resources in support of Trans life, Kai’s work bridges queer, Trans, racial, economic, housing, environmental, and disability justices—grounded in the belief that in order to survive, we need each other.

Kai brings over a decade of experience spanning direct service, mutual aid, and nonprofit program management to his work building communications and development strategies that center and reflect the lived experience, wisdom, and leadership of our communities. His background in direct service social work with youth and adults navigating chronic homelessness, incarceration, mental health, substance use, and trauma greatly informs his approaches to advocacy, narrative, and fundraising—centering care, dignity, and possibility. 

In his free time, Kai enjoys making weird art, collecting bones, going to local drag shows, and spending time with his partner and their two dogs. 

Katie Bishop (she/her)
Operations Manager

Katie@GenderJusticeLeague.org 

About Katie Bishop

Originally from Colorado Springs, Katie is a musician, audio engineer, and administrator in Seattle. As a queer neurodivergent woman, she channels her energy into the premise that every voice deserves to be heard. She is passionate about advocating for gender equality and reproductive rights, raising awareness about racial injustice, and fighting for LGBTQIA+ rights, as well as education on anti-capitalism, environmentalism, and intersectional feminism.

After working in the music industry for several years, she decided to follow her passion for activism and is active in community development with a special focus on education around Indigenous communities and uplifting small and minority owned businesses. She also does some audio engineering for youth musician showcases. 

She is a cat and plant mom and enjoys cooking vegan food, writing music, and exploring nature.

Meredith (she/they)
Survivor Advocate

Meredith@GenderJusticeLeague.org

(206) 486-2629

About Meredith

Meredith, a proud Gullah Geechee woman hailing from the vibrant coast of South Carolina, is a dedicated advocate for political empowerment, reproductive justice, abolition, and community healing. Growing up steeped in the rich traditions of her Gullah Geechee heritage, she learned early the importance of community, resilience, and activism. Harnessing these values, she has become a prominent figure in local and regional politics, working tirelessly to uplift marginalized voices and enact meaningful change.

Her passion for gender justice has driven her to the forefront of the movement, advocating for the rights of all individuals to make informed choices about their bodies and futures. She is a vocal supporter of comprehensive sex education, access to healthcare, and the destigmatization of reproductive health.

In her commitment to abolition, she actively works to dismantle systems of oppression, advocating for transformative justice practices that prioritize healing and restoration over punishment. She believes in the power of communities to address harm and conflict in ways that foster growth and reconciliation.

Beyond her activism, she is deeply involved in community healing efforts, recognizing the intergenerational trauma caused by historical injustices. She is a firm believer in the healing power of storytelling, art, and cultural preservation, seeking to uplift and preserve the unique cultural heritage of the Gullah Geechee people. Through her work, she embodies the spirit of her ancestors, fighting for a future where all individuals are empowered, all communities are healed, and justice prevails. 

Maha (they/them)
Survivor Advocate

Maha@GenderJusticeLeague.org 

About Maha
Maha is a seasoned advocate and strategist focused on gender justice, survivor support, and systemic policy change. At Gender Justice League, they serve as a Survivor Advocate, working to ensure Trans communities have access to trauma-informed care, legal support, and safety.
 
With over a decade of experience in movement organizing across South Asia and the United States, Maha has led campaigns to protect bodily autonomy, decriminalize queerness, and defend the rights of displaced and marginalized communities. Their work bridges legislative strategy, community education, and political empowerment, with a focus on shifting power to those most impacted.
 
Maha has held leadership roles in coalitions, nonprofits, and government spaces, consistently advancing intersectional solutions rooted in equity, dignity, and collective liberation. Their approach combines policy insight with grassroots urgency, always guided by the belief that justice must be both structural and personal.

Alex (they/them)
Development Coordinator

Alex@GenderJusticeLeague.org 

 

About Alex

Alex is a development coordinator and community organizer who believes fundraising should be about building movements. At Gender Justice League, they work to ensure 2STGD voices, especially BIPOC community members, drive how resources get raised and decisions get made.

As a queer person who’s seen communities step up when systems fail, Alex approaches development work as organizing. They’re passionate about creating authentic connections between supporters and communities, telling real stories without exploiting crisis, and building sustainable power rather than chasing one-off donations. They believe the best fundraising happens when the people most affected by injustice are leading the conversation, and they channel that belief into everything from donor stewardship to campaign strategy.

When not pouring over social justice Instagram feeds, Alex can be found watching the sunset, vacuuming a shawarma, and building the perfect resistance playlist.

Board of Directors

Coming soon

Sarah Moran (she/her)
Board Chair

SarahMo@GenderJusticeLeague.org 

About Sarah Moran

About me coming soon!

Coming soon

Zane R. (they/he)
Board Secretary

Zane@GenderJusticeLeague.org 

About Zane R.

Seattle born and raised. GSBA + Pride Foundation Scholar. Math and science tutor.

Identifies as: nonbinary. trans. queer. mixed-race filipinx. punk. gaymer. nerd.

Queer + trans activist on college campus and in workplaces. Lover of media, animals, history, politics, and resource sharing. Far left, prison abolitionist, supportive of reparations and decriminalizing SW, and lobbying for UBI. In solidarity with the movement for black and indigenous self determination and liberation, and determined to move against all oppression.

Coming soon

Anya Edwards, JD, TEP (no pronouns)
Board Treasurer

Anya@GenderJusticeLeague.org 

About Anya Edwards
An accomplished business leader and trusted advisor in the wealth management and private banking industry for more than 25 years, Anya has built and defined her career by an earnest and unyielding commitment to exceptional relationship-based and client-focused service.
After graduating from the University of Arizona School of Law, Anya moved to Washington in 1998 and began her career at former SeaFirst Bank (now Bank of America) as a Trust Officer and soon assumed additional roles as both a Trust Department Team Leader and Quality Manager within the Private Bank supporting the Bank and its clients throughout the complex merger of several regional banks to form one of the largest and truly national banks in the country. In 2002, she moved to Rhode Island to join The Washington Trust Company as Manager of the Trust Administration Group overseeing multiple offices and their staff located across the State. In 2006, Anya returned to Washington State to join BMO Harris Private Bank as the Seattle Office Director of Trust and Estate Services.
After nearly 15 years working for some of the largest and oldest Banks in the country, Anya established her own boutique wealth management firm, Bailey Private, and serves a select clientele here in Washington State, across the country, and internationally.
Outside of work, Anya actively engages in various professional, community, and philanthropic organizations in various roles including the Estate Planning Council of Seattle, Kitsap Community Foundation, and the Carrie Lewith Charitable Trust and loves spending her personal time with her spouse, Melissa, their family and their fur children (Bear, Jonesy, and Elizabeth). Her favorite pastimes include: photography, cooking, travel, gardening, gaming, camping, fitness, and spending time in Nature. And Anya’s most passionate causes include: climate change, environmental protection, biodiversity, poverty and homelessness, freedom and equal rights for women, the LGBTQIA+ community, BIPOC, and all minorities, and The Arts.
Coming soon

Nathan Bays (he/him)
Board Member

Nathan@GenderJusticeLeague.org 

About Nathan

Nathan has worked as a public defender, an assistant attorney general, and a policy advisor for the Governor’s Office. In each role, he has advocated for the rights, privacy, and protection of LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, including by fighting against bias and disparate treatment in the criminal legal and carceral system; challenging harmful federal and state policies and actions; and working to protect the personal information of Washingtonians. Nathan is grateful for the work of the Gender Justice League and the opportunity to contribute to its mission through service on the Board.

Before graduating from law school in 2008, Nathan taught secondary school for the Peace Corps in Malawi. Following law school, Nathan clerked for two federal judges and since then has worked as a frontline public defender for the King County Department of Public Defense; as special counsel overseeing DPD’s policy work and affirmative litigation; and as Section Chief for the Complex Litigation Division of the Washington Attorney General’s Office, where he received the Attorney General’s Award for Excellence. Nathan currently handles federal policy issues for the Governor’s Office, and he has represented pro bono clients for the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project; the King County Housing Justice Project; the King County Kinship Care Solutions Project; the WDWA’s Drug Reentry Alternative Model (DREAM) Program; and Swords to Plowshares. Nathan was recently featured on NPR’s Lost Patients podcast discussing his experiences as a public defender handling civil commitment cases.

Coming soon

Sophia Lee (she/her)
Board Member

Sophia@GenderJusticeLeague.org 

About Sophia Lee

About me coming soon!

Coming soon

Delphine Brody (she/her)
Board Member

Delphine@GenderJusticeLeague.org 

About Delphine Brody

About me coming soon!

Coming soon

Galaxy Marshall (he/him or she/her)
Board Member

Galaxy@GenderJusticeLeague.org 

About Galaxy Marshall

About me coming soon!

Coming soon

Kyle S. (he/him)
Board Member

Kyle.Y@GenderJusticeLeague.org 

About Kyle S.

Kyle has experience in nonprofit leadership, aging services, and systems-level planning. With a background in public administration and criminal justice, he has led organization-wide efforts to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces, managed multi-county service teams, and secured grant funding to expand access to programs for underserved populations. His career includes progressive leadership roles in aging and disability services in both Florida and Washington State. His commitment to culturally responsive, person-centered care is reflected throughout his career in both operational and strategic leadership roles. In his free time, Kyle is involved in emergency response volunteering and enjoys puzzling, cooking, and board game nights.

Coming soon

Cade S. (he/him)
Board Member

Cade@GenderJusticeLeague.org 

About Cade

About me coming soon!

Coming soon

English (pronouns)
Board Member

EnglishFields@GenderJusticeLeague.org 

About English

About me coming soon!

Coming soon

Salem (pronouns)
Board Member

Salem@GenderJusticeLeague.org 

About Salem

About me coming soon!

Coming soon

Xandra (pronouns)
Board Member

Xandra@GenderJusticeLeague.org 

About Xandra

About me coming soon!