Trans Advocacy is Trans Power: Post-Legislative Session 2024 Update
With the legislative session now wrapped up, we have a lot to celebrate: as a result of our collective work, we achieved some significant victories for queer and Trans people in the state. One of our proudest accomplishments was helping pass the curriculum...
What We’re Fighting For: Our 2024 Legislative Priorities
For over 10 years, Gender Justice League has been building, growing, training, and mobilizing TwoSpirit, Trans, & Gender Diverse (2STGD) communities to impact public and private decision-makers in addressing the widespread disparities we face. As part of...
Recap: What We Accomplished Together in 2023
In an effortful year of fighting and navigating nationwide anti-trans legislation, the still raging COVID pandemic, and a major drop in foundation giving, GJL is proud to have continued to provide necessary, by-and-for support and advocacy for our TwoSpirit,...
Trans Day of Remembrance Officially Recognized by King County in 2023
Gender Justice League is proud to have worked alongside STANCE Choir and Diversity Alliance of the Puget Sound to have Trans Day of Remembrance finally recognized by King County this year. We wish to thank Dow Constantine and King County for recognizing TDOR as...
Honoring Loved Ones Passed: Trans Day of Remembrance 2023
This Trans Day of Remembrance, we’re reflecting on and honoring some of the GJL organizers we’ve lost over our 10+ year history: Ryannah Quigley, chip phillips, and Ragnar Thorrison. Each of them brought light and laughter to our lives and to our...
SafeHouse is now our Community Security Program!
Since its inception in 2018, SafeHouse has been our program providing direct support to TwoSpirit, Trans, and Gender Diverse (2STGD) survivors of gender-based violence and crime in WA State. Combining government funding and mutual-aid funds to flexibly support as many...
Ten Years of Gender Justice: A Conversation with Ganesha Gold Buffalo
In celebration of Gender Justice League’s 10-year anniversary, this blog post is part of a series called Ten Years of Gender Justice, a commemoration of some of the key players throughout GJL’s history. Throughout this series, we’ll highlight a few of the collaborators, organizers, and activists who have worked within or alongside GJL to make strides in advancing gender justice in Washington State and beyond.
Ten Years of Gender Justice: A Conversation with Oliver Webb
In celebration of Gender Justice League’s 10-year anniversary, this blog post is part of a series called Ten Years of Gender Justice, a commemoration of some of the key players throughout GJL’s history. Throughout this series, we’ll highlight a few of the collaborators, organizers, and activists who have worked within or alongside GJL to make strides in advancing gender justice in Washington State and beyond.
Ten Years of Gender Justice: A Conversation with Sara Ainsworth
In celebration of Gender Justice League’s 10-year anniversary, this blog post is part of a series called Ten Years of Gender Justice, a commemoration of some of the key players throughout GJL’s history. Throughout this series, we’ll highlight a few of the collaborators, organizers, and activists who have worked within or alongside GJL to make strides in advancing gender justice in Washington State and beyond.
Gender Justice League Celebrates 10th Anniversary of Trans Pride Seattle with Zooey Zephyr, The House of Ada, & More Fabulous Trans Talent
In celebration of Gender Justice League’s 10-year anniversary, this blog post is part of a series called Ten Years of Gender Justice, a commemoration of some of the key players throughout GJL’s history. Throughout this series, we’ll highlight a few of the collaborators, organizers, and activists who have worked within or alongside GJL to make strides in advancing gender justice in Washington State and beyond.
Gender Justice League & Trans Pride Seattle Public Statement on Denying Table to Seattle Public Library
In celebration of Gender Justice League’s 10-year anniversary, this blog post is part of a series called Ten Years of Gender Justice, a commemoration of some of the key players throughout GJL’s history. Throughout this series, we’ll highlight a few of the collaborators, organizers, and activists who have worked within or alongside GJL to make strides in advancing gender justice in Washington State and beyond.
Ten Years of Gender Justice: A Conversation with Yani Robinson
In celebration of Gender Justice League’s 10-year anniversary, this blog post is part of a series called Ten Years of Gender Justice, a commemoration of some of the key players throughout GJL’s history. Throughout this series, we’ll highlight a few of the collaborators, organizers, and activists who have worked within or alongside GJL to make strides in advancing gender justice in Washington State and beyond.
Ten Years of Gender Justice: A Conversation with Savannah Sly
In celebration of Gender Justice League’s 10-year anniversary, this blog post is part of a series called Ten Years of Gender Justice, a commemoration of some of the key players throughout GJL’s history. Throughout this series, we’ll highlight a few of the collaborators, organizers, and activists who have worked within or alongside GJL to make strides in advancing gender justice in Washington State and beyond.
Ten Years of Gender Justice: A Conversation with Liezl Rebugio
In celebration of Gender Justice League’s 10-year anniversary, this blog post is part of a series called Ten Years of Gender Justice, a commemoration of some of the key players throughout GJL’s history. Throughout this series, we’ll highlight a few of the collaborators, organizers, and activists who have worked within or alongside GJL to make strides in advancing gender justice in Washington State and beyond.
Ten Years of Gender Justice: A Conversation with Danni Askini
In celebration of Gender Justice League’s 10-year anniversary, this blog post is part of a series called Ten Years of Gender Justice, a commemoration of some of the key players throughout GJL’s history. Throughout this series, we’ll highlight a few of the collaborators, organizers, and activists who have worked within or alongside GJL to make strides in advancing gender justice in Washington State and beyond.
Ten Years of Gender Justice: A Conversation with Gwen Yeh
In celebration of Gender Justice League’s 10-year anniversary, this blog post is part of a series called Ten Years of Gender Justice, a commemoration of some of the key players throughout GJL’s history. Throughout this series, we’ll highlight a few of the collaborators, organizers, and activists who have worked within or alongside GJL to make strides in advancing gender justice in Washington State and beyond.
Ten Years of Gender Justice: A Conversation with Sophia Lee
In celebration of Gender Justice League’s 10-year anniversary, this blog post is part of a series called Ten Years of Gender Justice, a commemoration of some of the key players throughout GJL’s history. Throughout this series, we’ll highlight a few of the collaborators, organizers, and activists who have worked within or alongside GJL to make strides in advancing gender justice in Washington State and beyond.
Ten Years of Gender Justice: A Conversation with David Ward
In celebration of Gender Justice League’s 10-year anniversary, this blog post is part of a series called Ten Years of Gender Justice, a commemoration of some of the key players throughout GJL’s history. Throughout this series, we’ll highlight a few of the collaborators, organizers, and activists who have worked within or alongside GJL to make strides in advancing gender justice in Washington State and beyond.
What Black History Month Means to Us: Community Care, Resisting Disposability, & Other Black Trans Feminisms
This blog post is part of a series on what Black History Month means to us, where GJL staff reflect on some of these lives and stories which hold untold power—shaping and influencing us, our movements, and the world.
What Black History Month Means to Us: My Ancestry, Organizing, and Black Trans Excellence
This blog post is part of a series on what Black History Month means to us, where GJL staff reflect on some of these lives and stories which hold untold power—shaping and influencing us, our movements, and the world.
What Black History Month Means to Us: Black Trans History is Community Care
This blog post is part of a series on what Black History Month means to us, where GJL staff reflect on some of these lives and stories which hold untold power—shaping and influencing us, our movements, and the world.
What We’re Fighting For: Legislative Priorities 2023
In an undeniably challenging year of anti-trans legislation, attacks on reproductive justice, the ongoing COVID pandemic, and organizational challenges, GJL is proud to have continued to provide necessary, by-and-for support and services for our trans & gender diverse communities.
Recap: What We Accomplished Together in 2022
In an undeniably challenging year of anti-trans legislation, attacks on reproductive justice, the ongoing COVID pandemic, and organizational challenges, GJL is proud to have continued to provide necessary, by-and-for support and services for our trans & gender diverse communities.
Announcing: Danni Askini as Co-Exec. Director of National Programs
After 3 months of serving as our Interim Executive Director, we are excited to announce that one of GJL’s founding members, Danni Askini, will become our new Co-Executive Director of National Programs! Danni has served for over 20 years as an activist, policy...
SCOTUS Decision Overturning Roe v. Wade
Friday, June 24, 2022 Gender Justice League Board & Staff Today the U.S. Supreme Court officially reversed Roe v. Wade, ruling an end to the constitutional right to abortion. As trans and gender diverse people, we are intimately familiar with the terror...
GJL Response to Leaked SCOTUS Draft Majority Decision Repealing Roe v. Wade
Tues, May 3, 2022 Gender Justice League Board & Staff Gender Justice League joins with our colleagues and community in expressing deep concern and outrage over the leaked draft of a Majority Decision repealing Roe v. Wade and overturning more than 50 years of...
Elayne Wylie Announces Departure as Executive Director
As some of you know, I have recently decided to transition from my role as Executive Director for Gender Justice League (GJL). It has been an honor and privilege to help lead this organization for the last 10 years. Reflecting on how far we have come, I remember our...
Executive Director Elayne Wylie on the History and Future of Gender Justice League
“Together, we’re building something stronger than any of us thought possible a decade ago.” We caught up with our Executive Director, Elayne Wylie, to discuss her journey from WA to L.A. and back again, the early days of GJL, and the future trans people...
Year in Review: What We Accomplished Together in 2021
Through the ups and downs of the past year, GJL has continued to stay on the front lines of resilience and resistance. In 2021, we skillfully navigated our continuous remote work and service delivery amidst COVID, regrouped after some staff turnover, and have drawn...
Trans Day of Remembrance ’21
Trans Day of Remembrance is a day we remember and honor all the trans lives we have lost to violence in the past year. This year feels especially difficult, as we have lost two Latina trans women here in Washington: Rikkey “Tru Starlet” Outomuro in...
‘This Work Nourishes me’: Gender Justice League Board Chair, Sarah Moran, on her Responsibility to the Trans Community
We caught up with Gender Justice League (GJL) Board Chair, Sarah Moran, to discuss what keeps her coming back to trans justice work, the importance of a racial justice lens, and the impacts Gender Justice League has made for trans communities across Washington State. ...
An Interview with WA State Senator Marko Liias
We sat down (virtually) with WA State Senator and trans justice advocate Marko Liias to discuss the importance of community led policy advocacy, investing in leadership development, and the power in collective work towards gender justice. This interview was conducted...
Anti-Trans Legislation Response
Gender Justice League is a collective that creates multicultural programs for transgender, gender diverse, and racialized communities, and those who live in the intersection of all lived realities.
In Support of Taking B(l)ack Pride
Gender Justice League supports Taking B(l)ack Pride and the existence of spaces which center, celebrate, and uplift Black and brown LGBTQI+ voices, contributions, wellness, and joy.
Interview with Mahkyra Gaines, Programs Coordinator
We caught up with Programs Coordinator Mahkyra Gaines to ask some questions about how Mahkyra first connected with Gender Justice League, the meaning of gender justice, and why intersectionality and mutual aid matter in trans organizing. What does gender justice mean...
2021 Policy Wins Statement
In the 2021 legislative year, Gender Justice League has been hard at work advocating for policies that make WA State safer for trans and gender diverse people, especially BIPOC, with special focus on housing, healthcare, and police accountability. While policy reform...
An Interview with Tobi Hill-Meyer
We caught up with Co-Executive Director Tobi Hill-Meyer to ask some questions about her time with Gender Justice League, and the past and future of organizing for trans justice and liberation. *This interview was conducted December 2020. What does gender justice mean...Gender Justice League Anti-Racism Statement
Gender Justice League has explicitly made racial justice one of our priority values since our founding in 2013, but there have been many times we failed to live that as strongly as we could or should have. Racism and anti-Blackness has existed within our organization...
Tobi Hill-Meyer Announces Departure as Co-Executive Director
It is with mixed emotions that I am writing to announce my departure from my position as the Co-Executive Director of Gender Justice League to pursue new ways of fighting for our communities. Working with Gender Justice League has been a life changing experience for...
In Support of the Ingersoll Staff and Former Staff Collective
Gender Justice League trusts, believes, and supports BIPOC when they share their experiences of racism and harm. We stand in solidarity with the Ingersoll Staff and Former Staff Collective (the Collective) and support the demands for accountability and improvement...
Year in Review: 2020
We don’t have to tell you how trying the year 2020 was. However, through it all, many of us have found or reconnected with our purpose. At Gender Justice League, ours is creating a Washington state where all people can live safely, truly, and freely. Through all the...
Thinking of You: Navigating the Holiday Season
We know the holidays can feel especially isolating and draining for our communities, especially after a year ripe with grief and other challenges. To help get through this time, we’ve compiled a few resources that have given us relief, nurturing, and healing in...
City of Olympia will protect its minority communities
The Olympia City Council voted unanimously in favor on Tuesday of adopting city polices aimed at protecting BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) transgender and non-binary people from harm. via Jolt News...
A Pride Worth Fighting For: Reflections from our co-executive director
Hi, my name’s Tobi Hill-Meyer. I’m one of the co-executive directors of Gender Justice League, and I’m a commissioner for the Washington State LGBTQ Commission representing Thurston County. This has been a difficult year to celebrate Pride. Isolation...
Trans Panic Nikki Kuhnhausen
Earlier this month, the remains of transgender teenager Nikki Kuhnhausen were found, and this week a suspect has been arrested with her murder. The police have emphasized that the murder took place soon after Nikki disclosed to the suspect that she was trans, saying...
Seattle Public Library Event Response
We recently found out that an anti-trans organization has booked an event at the Seattle Public Library with the express purpose of arguing to take away legal rights for trans people. The library has put out an immediate response and are continuing to look at their...
New HHS Ruling Against LGBTQ People
This morning, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a notice which stated that, effective immediately, they will no longer be enforcing nondiscrimination requirements among federal grant recipients, while also proposing a new rule that will...
LGBTQ+ Government Contractors and Employment
Disconcerting news out of the White House last Wednesday, August 14, 2019, with President Trump’s Administration permitting government contractors to discriminate against LGBT employees. According to Truthout.org, this new order will include “for-profit corporations,...
Trump Administration Brief Concerning Title VII and the Definition of Sex
On Friday, August 16th the Trump Administration filed a brief with the Supreme Court to argue that transgender workers are not protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. We at Gender Justice League remain committed in the fight for the rights of the...
Trans Pride Seattle 2019
Supreme Court Enforces Transgender Troops Ban
The US Supreme Court today in a 5-4 decision granted the Department of Justice’s request for a stay on the lower courts preliminary rulings, which have been protecting transgender troops allowing them to openly serve in the military. With this stay on the preliminary...
New Co-Executive Directors
As we have announced previously our founder Danni Askini has stepped down as Executive Director of our organization. Today we would like to announce our new Co-Executive Directors, Elayne Wylie and Tobi Hill-Meyer. Elayne Wylie started her local activism in 2007,...
Response to the DOJ’s Supreme Court Request
In a recent development concerning our lawsuit against the Trump administration’s transgender military ban, the Department of Justice (DOJ) attempted to circumvent the lower district court’s preliminary ruling by escalating the case directly to the Supreme Court. In...Our Statement Regarding Sunday’s New York Times Article
It seems the Trump Administration is not content with attempting to remove trans servicemembers from our military. In their newest attack, leaked internal memos discovered by The New York Times this Sunday describe a strategy to define “gender” as man and woman by...
Leadership Update at Gender Justice League
We are saddened to announce that our Founder and Executive Director, Danni Askini, has stepped down. Danni has in recent years become a target for Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups in the United States, due to her work at Gender Justice League, and...
Kavanaugh Confirmation Response
This weekend the United States Senate voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in the most problematic and flawed confirmation process in recent history. Never have we had a Supreme Court nominee who has demonstrated such partisanship and lack of...
Yes on Initiative 1631
We are proud to announce that Gender Justice League is standing by our allies at Yes On 1631 to fight for Climate Justice and support Initiative 1631. The core principles of Gender Justice League lead us to take a strong stance on Climate Justice. Marginalized...
Washington State 2018 Primary
Remember, today August 7th is the deadline to return your primary ballots in WA State! If you don’t know who to vote for, a good way to make an educated decision is to look up online the endorsements listed on your favorite newspaper. If you agree politically with the...
Cupcake Royale donates $2800 to GJL programs
We received a whopping $2800 from their June promotion.
Gender Justice League launches new website
We are excited to announce that we are launching our new website, www.genderjusticeleague.org. Our new website was redesigned to streamline content and materials to help bring transgender rights to all. Read about our organization on our about page, for resources...
Gender Justice League responds to Judge Kavanaugh nomination
Last night, President Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. If Kavanaugh is appointed, it would pose a devastating blow to civil rights, transgender people, and countless marginalized communities in our country. “Gender Justice League condemns...
Gender Justice League Responds to Masterpiece Bakery Case Ruling
Seattle, WA – “Gender Justice League joins our colleagues around the country in expressing our disappointment in today’s Supreme Court ruling.” Said Danni Askini, Executive Director of Gender Justice League “this ruling, however, is extremely limited in scope,...
Trans Pride 2018
Trans Pride Seattle is an annual event organized by Gender Justice League in association with local organizations who support the Seattle-area trans and gender diverse community.Washington DOH Passes Groundbreaking Rule Creating a Third Gender Option for Birth Certificates
Washington DOH Passes Groundbreaking Rule Creating a Third Gender Option for Birth Certificates Rule creates gender marker “X” for those who identify as a gender that is not exclusively male or female SEATTLE, WASH. – Today, the Washington State Department of Health...Response to Community Report of Sexual Harassment
Recently Gender Justice League received a report of sexual harassment against a member of our board of directors. This report comes at a time when there has been a powerful movement of people coming forward to confront sexual harassment and abuse by people in power...
Non-Binary WA Birth Certificates
Back in August, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) filed a statement of inquiry to add an option for “non-binary” on Washington birth certificates. Washington DOH has released their first draft of a rule and we have a Tuesday 9/26 deadline for...Gender Markers For All
This last Monday, these comments were submitted to the Washington State Department of Health. “Gender Justice League along with Ingersoll Gender Center, National Center for Transgender Equality, Trans United, Legal Voice, Seattle Men’s and Women’s Chorus, LGBTQ...Local transgender community responds to shocking discrimination survey
Newly released Washington-specific data from the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS)i shows that 37 percent of transgender Washingtonians have experienced homelessness in their lifetimes and 28 percent live in poverty. The USTS, a nationwide survey of nearly 28,000...
Washington State Trans Survey: press conference and community meeting
Do you want to be a part of the groundwork for future policy changes in Washington State? Are you committed to housing justice, healthcare justice, and access to education? Please join Gender Justice League, Pride Foundation and Ingersoll Gender Center, for an evening...
Transgender Servicemembers, Veterans and Organizations Denounce Trump
Trans Civil Rights Organization Denounces Trump Tweets Local Transgender Veterans and Active Duty Service Members Respond Press Release PDF. Seattle, WA – This morning US President Donald Trump sent trans military service members into chaos this morning by...
Opposing Apple Health’s Restrictive Rules
June 27th, 2017 Gender Justice League is joining our colleagues in the Coalition for Inclusive Healthcare in opposing rules changes to the Washington Apple Health (Medicaid) Program’s coverage for transition-related healthcare (also known as the “Gender...
2017 Pride speaker Jennicet Gutiérrez
Jennicet Gutiérrez is a transgender Latina organizer from México, and she is an organizer of Los Angeles based Familia: Trans Queer Liberation Movement. Jennicet believes in the importance of uplifting and centering the voices of trans women of color in all racial...
Gender Justice Awards 2016
The 2016 Gender Justice Awards dinner will highlight and showcase the incredible activism and culture creation of trans and allied activists and artists who have made incredible strides for trans, gender queer, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people in the...
VICTORY! SB 6443 Defeated!
Moments ago, the full Senate debated Sen. Ericksen’s (R-Ferndale) harmful SB 6443. This bill would have eliminated the Washington State Human Rights Commission’s rules, which made the 2006 Anderson-Murray Anti-Discrimination law’s requirements clear...
Response to the YMCA of Pierce & Kitsap counties non-discrimination statement of December 15th, 2015
For Immediate Release December 15th, 2015 In Washington State, and across the country, there is a growing focus on transgender individuals and their rights to access public restrooms and locker rooms. These are places the rest of us usually take for granted. In...
Victory! Apple Health (medicaid) Announces Final Trans Health Coverage – furthest state so far!
Gender Justice League is excited to announce our Frequently Asked Questions document on the Washington Apple Health Plan’s Transgender Health Coverage. The Washington Healthcare Authority announced on Friday July 31st that it has issued it’s final rules...
Seattle becomes 3rd City with Gender Neutral Restroom Legislation
Gender Justice League congratulates the Seattle City Council for unanimously passing legislation transmitted to the council by Seattle Mayor Ed Murray. Seattle joins West Hollywood, California and Washington DC in requiring all single stall restrooms to be labeled as...
Gender Justice Awards Announced! Join us Thurs. Aug. 6th!
Gender Justice League has announced the award recipients for the 1st annual Gender Justice Awards. The 11 award recipients and categories are as follows: Gender Justice Awards and Honorees The Emergence Award honors Selam Abunu, an emerging activist within the trans...
Solidarity with Lizzi
Urgent Action: SOLIDARITY WITH LIZZI! JUNE 27 PICKET FIGHT TRANSPHOBIA & TRANS-IGNORANCE! People’s Bank refused service to Lizzie Duff based on a policy that is biased against trans people. As the Seattle Office of Civil Rights investigates this outrageous...
2015 GENDER JUSTICE AWARDS – A TRANS* PRIDE / GJL FUNDRAISER
The 2015 Gender Justice Awards dinner will highlight and showcase the incredible activism of Trans and Allied Activists who have made incredible strides for Trans, Gender Queer, and Gender Non-Conforming people in the Pacific Northwest. This year’s Gender...
LGBTQ Hate Violence Forum A Huge Success
Gender Justice League was honored to join with Councilmember Kshama Sawant’s office and 10 other LGBTQ and allied community organizations to hold a community forum on hate violence in Capitol Hill. Since the start of 2015 – 8 trans women, 7 of them trans...
GJL Opposes new Anti-Prostitution Bills
Gender Justice League has joined with our colleagues at Sex Workers Outreach Project – Seattle in expressing serious concerns about the impact of two new proposed anti-prostitution bills in Washington state that would dramatically increase penalties for...
Trans Health Insurance Forum a huge success
On Saturday January 17th, Gender Justice League hosted a Trans Health Insurance Forum with the Coalition for Inclusive Healthcare. The forum featured panelists and presentation on coverage for transition related care in private insurance policies, for state employees,...
Frequently Asked Questions On Washington OIC Letter on Transgender Healthcare
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON WASHINGTON INSURANCE COMMISSIONER LETTER ON TRANSGENDER HEALTHCARE OVERVIEW The Washington Insurance Commissioner’s office sent a letter to private insurers in Washington State on June 25th of 2014 announcing that in order to comply with...