Advocates for Trans Equality

Searching for a new opportunity in 2025? Apply now to join the largest trans-led organization fighting for trans rights. Our team is hiring for three positions to advance our mission of building a future where trans people can live joyfully and without barriers. All three roles can be found in further detail on our website: https://lnkd.in/e487fdeE Open positons: - Major Gifts Officer — West Coast - Name Change Project Director - Summer Legal Internship

Thank you to the members of congress who continue to do the work of championing trans rights, like Representative Jill Tokuda from Hawai'i, who met recently with Executive Director Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen and Olivia Hunt, Director of Federal Policy.

Apply your digital skills to the nation's leading trans-led organization. As we continue our work in building trans power our team is hiring for a Digital Strategist, who will take us to the next level. This position, answering to the Director of Strategic Communicatios, will be responsible to create, plan, and execute digital content and messaging across all digital channels and functions, including rapid response. Visit the link for more information and to apply today: https://lnkd.in/e487fdeE We are also still accepting applications for three other roles: Major Gifts Officer, Name Change Project Director and Summer Legal Internship.

Building trans power! Josie Caballero, Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, and Olivia Hunt joined many other LGBTQ+ leaders at the international LGBTQ+ Victory Institute conference last weekend. All three spoke at and/or moderated several events. Josie remarked on her experience saying, “Being around current trans electeds and future trans candidates brings hope to a better future.”

We're hiring for two positions: Major Gifts Officer - West Coast and Summer Legal Internship. This is your opportunity to join a trans-led organization fighting for trans equality. Apply today or share to your networks! Major Gifts Officer - West Coast — https://lnkd.in/e8Yf4GVG Summer Legal Internship — https://lnkd.in/eVfrF_Dc

Yesterday, Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) Executive Director, Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, was quoted out of context in a New York Times story, and he released the following statement: “Yesterday, New York Times ran an article in which I was quoted saying, ‘We have to make it OK for someone to change their minds,’ and ‘We cannot vilify them for not being on our side. No one wants to join that team.’ Because my quotes were taken out of context, I’d like to clarify what I meant. Those statements were regarding how to persuade every day, undecided people in the public, not people who have already taken actions to oppose our equality. “Extreme right politicians targeting the trans community is the reason we’re having this conversation at all. So, I want to ensure that no one misinterprets our message to the community: A4TE’s approach has not changed. We will continue confronting the institutions making the rules and we will be at Capitol Hill and in the courts fighting to change the rules to build power for trans people. “Trans people doing the best they can to live with respect and dignity are not the enemy. We are angry because extremists would like to ban us from bathrooms and control the decisions we make with our doctors. Make no mistake about who the opposition is here. We’re gearing up for the fight of our lives against the incoming administration, and we are not backing off. “For nearly a decade, trans advocates have been holding the line against thousands of anti-trans state bills and vile rhetoric to prevent the erosion of hard-fought progress. Now, more than ever, we need to use every tool we have because we cannot afford to cede any ground to anti-equality forces. And we are prepared to confront this period of uncertainty and hardship with the work our community relies upon. “We will fight. We will organize, we will testify, we will march. Trans people have faced political and legal oppression before, and we will look back at our history to guide us on how to move forward. We cannot, however, allow our fear to provoke us to lose our values. Because our values will sustain us. We can only survive what is to come if we hold on to each other and our ability to be decent and kind and just because we are fighting for a future in which trans people are no less than equal.”

Advocates for Trans Equality is excited to welcome Kate Traub and Anya A. Marino as General Counsel and Chief Strategic Programs Officer, respectively. These two provide a wealth of experience and knowledge that will shape our ongoing efforts in the fight for trans equality. And as our CEO Andy Marra noted, "Part of building trans power is creating a pipeline for trans leadership whose voices deserve to be heard." Anya A. Marino is the incoming Chief Strategic Programs Officer for Advocates for Transgender Equality (A4TE), where she will drive A4TE’s legal and policy efforts to protect and advance the rights of trans people. As the first General Counsel for A4TE, Kate Traub will serve as the primary legal advisor for A4TE, providing guidance and oversight on all legal and compliance matters. The General Counsel will play a crucial role in shaping the organization’s legal strategies, managing risk, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations. “To prepare for the battles to come, we knew that we needed exceptional leadership. A4TE has recruited some of the top trans talent across the country to help lead this organization and our movement into this next chapter of resistance.” — Andy Marra, CEO “We are beyond thrilled to announce two new additions to A4TE’s leadership. We could not be more pleased with Anya and Kate’s impressive records and decades of experience to help our newly merged organization continue to lead from a place of strength, and we look forward to the ways their fresh perspectives and extraordinary talents will shape our work.” — Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, Executive Director Read the full release here: https://lnkd.in/gmf4miYK

Even with the political backlash and record number of anti-trans bills, we are winning! Thanks to LAUGHING GULL FOUNDATION for shouting out A4TE and our recent legal victories.

Executive Director Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen joins LGBTQ Nation and a panel of prominent LGBTQ+ leaders as they discuss the current state of the LGBTQ+ movement, the stakes of the upcoming election, and the future of LGBTQ+ rights. This non-partisan roundtable, moderated by Alex Berg, dives deep into key issues facing our community, with an eye toward 2025 and beyond.