Our History & Impact

2023

2022

• SafeHouse shelters 107 trans & gender diverse people, and gives over $32,000 in financial assistance to trans & gender diverse survivors. 
• Supported 10 incarcerated trans & gender diverse people across WA access basic needs supplies and support navigating legal systems, re-entry, and transitioning while incarcerated. 
• Supported the relocation of 5 trans & gender diverse people fleeing anti-trans laws in their home state, helping them access reproductive and gender-affirming care.
• Advocated for city funding to support survivors in the City of Seattle budget for culturally-specific service providers serving marginalized gender-based violence survivors, ultimately securing over $1 million from City of Seattle and King County in funding across all GBV organizations.
• Hosted our first in-person Trans Pride Seattle since pre-COVID (2019) in a new location at Volunteer Park, welcoming 10,000+ attendees.
• Co-organized hybrid Trans Day of Remembrance events in Seattle & Tacoma alongside DAPS and other community partners, providing space to grieve and be together immediately following the tragedy in Colorado Springs.
• Endorsed the Trans Bill of Rights, a first-of-it’s-kind bill stating protections for trans and nonbinary people, introduced by Rep. Jayapal and others.
• Leadership transition: Elayne Wylie departs as Executive Director, and Danni Askini returns as Executive Director. 

2021

2020

• Helped pass the Nikki Kuhnhausen Act, a bill outlawing the use of the “trans panic” defense in criminal trials, working closely with Justice 4 Nikki, the Washington State Legislature, and other community leaders. 
• Delivered food and toiletries to 60+ trans and non-binary families in Thurston County during the first wave of COVID-19 (April to July). 
• In collaboration with leaders like Mattie Mooney and Catherine West, helped to pass The Gender Affirming Treatment Act, a first in the country transition related health Insurance law that bans so-called “cosmetic” exclusions for medically necessary gender-affirming procedures that are prescribed by a physician. 
• Successfully advocated for police accountability bills HB1054, SHB1310, SB5051, and HB1267: prohibiting police from using life-threatening tactics; banning police from acquiring specific military equipment; establishing guidelines for the use of tear gas; setting a civil standard for peace officers, prioritizing de-escalation; strengthening community oversight of police activity; and creating an independent office of investigations to conduct competent investigations in police use of force incidents. 
• Successfully advocated for SB1070—which permits King County to use a 1% tax revenue increase towards purchasing buildings for housing programs—and began advocating alongside WA Black Trans Task Force for the Department of Commerce to allocate a portion of this funding to trans-specific housing, prioritizing Black trans communities (eventually leading to Lavender Rights Project’s The House: a 35-unit building of permanent supportive housing for QT2BIPOC). 
• Formlly committed to anti-racism and set in motion an expansive anti-racism action plan to infuse and prioritize anti-racism throughout the organization and programming, including but not limited to allotting at least 50% of financial assistance microgrant dollars and resources for trans & gender diverse BIPOC.
• SafeHouse shelters 26 trans & gender diverse people, and gives $20,000 in financial assistance microgrants to local trans & gender diverse people. 
• In collaboration with the City of Olympia, passed a resolution protecting trans and nonbinary BIPOC and established a seat for our community in the city’s social justice work moving forward.
• Co-hosted 2 town halls for trans women and femmes, bringing together community members in Thurston County to talk about real-life issues and collectively organize for each other.  
• Produced a conversation on organizing as Indigenous & Trans, Two Spirit people, alongside Candi Brings Plenty and Stephanie Byers.
• Hosted a panel discussion on parenting trans kids.
• Hosted a virtual Trans Pride Seattle, an online performance and workshop extravaganza for transgender, Two Spirit, nonbinary, and gender diverse people. 
• The Gender Justice Awards virtually honored award winners Katherine Blake, Sherae Lascelles, Mattie Mooney, Lavender Rights Project’s WA Black Trans Task Force, Pizza Klatch, Randy Ford, Ve’ondre Mitchell, Mercy Kariuki-McGee, and Scarlett D’Giacomo.

2019

2018

•  SafeHouse program is born, shelters 4 chronically homeless trans people, and gives $10,000 in financial assistance microgrants to local trans people. 
• Trans Pride Seattle welcomes 15,000 participants to march and celebrate at Cal Anderson Park. 
• The Gender Justice Awards honors award winners Poni Colina, Lonness Valenna, The Most Dangerous Year, Stella Keating, Tristan Cook, Danni Askini, and Ginger Chien. Emcee’d by Mac McGregor.
• Leadership transition: Danni Askini departs as Executive Director, and Elayne Wylie becomes interim Executive Director.

2017

• Worked in coalition to defeat WA State anti-trans bathroom ban (I-1552).
• Sued the Trump Administration over the trans military ban. 
• ‘Say My Name’ name and gender marker clinics helped hundreds of people and gave tens of thousands of dollars to help community members with name and gender marker changes. 
  
• Trans Pride Seattle welcomes 10,000 participants to march and celebrate at Cal Anderson Park.  
• The Gender Justice Awards honors award winners Nikkita Oliver, Ebo Barton, Neve Mazique, Scarlet D’Giacomo, Simone Dawson, Modessa Jacobs, Skyler Ting, Garfield Hillson, Monserrat Padilla, Taffy Mae, Ijeoma Oluo, Tai Jordan, Q Center, and Frances Lee. Emcee’d by El Sanchez, with special guests J Mase III and Oti Onum.

2016

• Worked in coalition to co-found Washington Won’t Discriminate and successfully defeat 6 anti-trans bathroom/facilities bills, including I-1515, a campaign to restrict bathroom and locker-room access for transgender people; and Senate Bill 6443, a bill intended to roll back protections for transgender people. 
• Created ‘Say My Name’ name and gender marker clinics, which helped hundreds of people by giving tens of thousands of dollars to help community members with name and gender marker changes
• Trans Pride Seattle welcomes 8,000 participants to march and celebrate at Cal Anderson Park.  
• The Gender Justice Awards honored award winners Ryannah Quigley, Seth Kirby, Laurie Jinkins, Jade Vogelsang, The Lady B, Hiram Calf Looking, Sydney Brownstone, Jeremiah Allen, Marci Owens (Seneca Rose), Micha Cardenas, and Monisha Harrell.

2015

• First staff member is hired!
• Trans Pride Seattle welcomes 5,000 participants to march and celebrate at Cal Anderson Park. 
• The Gender Justice Awards are born. Hosted at the Melrose Market Studios, award winners celebrated included Selam Abunu, Vanessa Grandberry, SWOP, Kshama Sawant, Kiyomi Fujikawa, Alison Davison / Sid Jordan, Finn Cottom, U.T.O.P.I.A., and Ro Yoon were honored. 

2014

• Won comprehensive trans healthcare for Washington State’s Applecare. 
• Successfully advocated for Public Employee Benefits Board to cover gender-affirming care in their healthcare plans.
• Trans Pride Seattle welcomes 4,000 participants to march and celebrate at Cal Anderson Park. 

2013

• Trans Pride Seattle is born, welcoming 3,000 participants to Cal Anderson park.
• Created the Coalition for Inclusive Healthcare alongside 40+ local and national partners to expand all public and private health insurance coverage in Washington State to cover trans-related care.
• Advocated for an increase in HIV prevention funding and helped launch the “We-Are-1” public education campaign for HIV Testing, PrEP, and treatment services.
• Helped pass the PrEP Drug Assistance Program—the first in the nation—to ensure all people could have access to HIV Prevention Medication. 

2012

• GJL is founded by a group of long-time trans, queer, and allied activists looking to increase the community’s capacity to address cissexism, transphobia, transmisogyny, and the homo, bi, and queer phobias that trans and gender diverse people face.
• Worked in coalition to win a referendum on the ballot for same-sex marriage (referendum 74) and ultimately secure same-sex marriage in WA State (three years before becoming federally recognized).
• Advocated around HIV prevention, healthcare, and housing/homelessness with the City of Seattle, King County, and WA State.