Gender Justice League

Gender Justice League (GJL) is an advocacy group for transgender, genderqueer, non-binary, and gender non-conforming individuals in Washington state in the United States.[1] The group advocates for transgender legal, political, and medical rights as well as participating in protests, awareness raising, and fundraising events.[1][2][3][4]

Gender Justice League director Danni Askini declaring "Trans Pride Day" at Seattle city council
Gender Justice League
Established2012 (2012)
Location
  • 1122 E. Pike St. #969 Seattle, Washington 98122
Co-Executive Directors
Elayne Wylie, Tobi Hill-Meyer
Websitewww.genderjusticeleague.org

History

The Gender Justice League was founded in 2012 by transgender activists and allies.[3] In 2013 they organized the first Trans Pride Seattle, which has since taken place annually in June.[5]

Focuses

Public Accommodation

One focus of the Gender Justice League is on curbing legislation that disallows transgender individuals from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity rather than their sex assigned at birth, otherwise known as bathroom bills.[1][6][7] Washington currently has a law that protects transgender individual's rights in public bathrooms, but the League's activists are concerned about petitions that are trying to get rid of these laws and legal initiatives to overrule them.[8][9][10][11] The group claims that their next goal is to change single stall bathrooms across Washington in to gender neutral restrooms.[12]

Name changes

The Gender Justice League has held legal clinics to help transgender individuals legally change their names.[13][14][15][16][17] These clinics were specifically held between November 2016 and January 2017, due to the group's fear that newly elected president Donald Trump might revoke transgender individual's ability to legally change their names once he was inaugurated.[14][17][18] These clinics invited volunteers from various LGBT law organizations to do pro bono work, and the clinics served as many as 200 individuals.[14][19] A problem arose however, as the Gender Justice League wanted to provide money to those trying to change their names, but were unable to due to their tax status. The League organized with King County to be able to give individuals seeking a name change the money to do so without forfeiting their nonprofit status.[19]

Political activism

Seattle politics

The Gender Justice League supports various political causes within the city of Seattle, not all of which are strictly related to transgender issues.[20][21] The League has also supported other efforts within the city, including bills that strengthen tenant's rights.[22]

Kshama Sawant was the recipient of a Gender Justice Award in 2015, for her political activism supporting transgender individuals.[23] Sawant has also donated money from her "solidarity fund" to the League, citing their efforts to help transgender individuals as the reason for her donation.[24]

Washington state politics

The Gender Justice League is active in influencing Washington state politics. They have had an impact in organizing against bills that they believe would harm transgender individuals in Washington, including Washington senate bill 6443 and state ballot initiatives 1515 (2016) and 1552 (2017).[10][12][24][20][25]

National politics

In 2017 Lambda Legal and Outserve-SLDN filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Gender Justice League against President Trump and the U.S. Department of Defense over the transgender military ban, proposed by Trump on July 26, 2017.[26][27][28]

Events

Trans Pride Seattle

The Gender Justice League organized the now annual Trans Pride Seattle, an event that is very similar to a Gay Pride Parade.[5][29][30] The event was first organized in 2013, a year after the organization was founded.[31] The 2016 event drew upwards of 5,000 participants.[32] Members of the Gender Justice League claim that the event is a necessary space for transgender individuals and their allies to form community and overcome isolation.[33]

Gender Justice Awards

The Gender Justice League holds an annual awards ceremony called the Gender Justice awards in which they celebrate individuals who have supported the transgender community.[34][35]

Solidarity Music Festival

In 2016 the Gender Justice League helped organize the Solidarity Music Festival as a form of anti-capitalist protest.[36]

References
  1. "The Stranger's Sydney Brownstone Wins Gender Justice League Award for Coverage of Trans Rights". The Stranger. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  2. "Seattle Children's Hospital Opens Gender Clinic for Trans Kids | Seattle Weekly". Seattle Weekly. 2016-10-07. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  3. "About GJL | Gender Justice League". www.genderjusticeleague.org. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  4. Boyd, Helen (2013-12-30). "Five Questions With: Danielle Askini, Gender Justice League". en|gender. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  5. "Trans Pride Seattle". Trans Pride Seattle. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  6. "Our Support: Coalition Partners – WA SAFE Alliance". www.wasafealliance.org. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  7. Radke, Jeannie Yandel, Bill. "It's Not About Trans People (But Keep Bathrooms Separated), Lawmaker Says". Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  8. Walters, Derek Wang, Kate. "Transgender activists see big setback in Trump's rollback on school bathrooms". Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  9. "Group pushing again to repeal Washington state transgender bathrooms rule". The Seattle Times. 2017-01-09. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  10. "State's rules for transgender restroom access set off debate". The Seattle Times. 2016-01-09. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  11. "Statehouse Republicans Pre-File 'Genitalia of a Different Gender' Bill | Seattle Weekly". Seattle Weekly. 2016-12-08. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  12. "Fighting for Trans Rights in Washington State – Interview with Gender Justice League's Danni Askini". Socialist Alternative. 2016-01-28. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  13. "Gender Justice League launches emergency fund for name, gender marker changes". CHS Capitol Hill Seattle. 2016-11-29. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  14. "Gender Justice League hosts transgender legal clinics". Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  15. "Gender and justice in a gentrifying city". Crosscut. 2016-12-19. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  16. "SGN - Seattle Gay News - Page 14 - Gender Justice League and partners hosts name and gender marker change legal clinic - Friday, January 6, 2017 - Volume 45 Issue 01". www.sgn.org. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  17. "Gender Justice League Organizes "Say My Name:Name and Gender Marker Change Clinic" | Seattle Gay Scene | Your Daily Gay In Seattle". seattlegayscene.com. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  18. "Trump Is Going to Be President. Time to Organize. | Seattle Weekly". Seattle Weekly. 2016-11-15. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  19. "County Strikes Deal to Help Transgender People Pay For Name Changes | Seattle Weekly". Seattle Weekly. 2017-01-13. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  20. "Resistance and Resilience: Trans Struggle Today". Socialist Alternative. 2016-12-19. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  21. "Social Media, Social Activism and Trump: A Recipe for Mass Action | Seattle Weekly". Seattle Weekly. 2017-02-01. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  22. "Seattle: Sawant and Tenant Activists Win Landmark Victory on Move-In Fees". Socialist Alternative. 2016-12-15. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  23. "Gender Justice Awards | Gender Justice League". www.genderjusticeleague.org. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  24. "Council Connection » Sawant, Gender Justice League Celebrate Defeat of Transphobic Bill in State Legislature". council.seattle.gov. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
  25. Macz, Brandon. "Anti-transgender initiative fails to make signature deadline". Capitol Hill Times. Retrieved 2017-07-27.
  26. "Gender Justice League Sues Trump Administration Over Transgender Military Ban | Seattle Weekly". Seattle Weekly. 2017-08-28. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  27. "Lambda Legal and OutServe-SLDN Sue President Trump to Reverse Transgender Military Service Ban". Lambda Legal. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  28. "Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief". Lambda Legal. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
  29. "Trans* Pride 2016 dances through the rain on Capitol Hill". CHS Capitol Hill Seattle. 2016-06-25. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  30. "CHS Pics | Trans* Pride swells to thousands for march, rally on Capitol Hill". CHS Capitol Hill Seattle. 2014-06-28. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  31. "Trans Pride Seattle 2016 - The Seattle Globalist". The Seattle Globalist. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  32. "Despite Rain and Violence, Trans Pride Seattle Thrives | Seattle Weekly". Seattle Weekly. 2016-06-27. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  33. Gender Justice League discusses TransPride, retrieved 2017-06-08
  34. "Gender Justice Awards: A call to action - Capitol Hill Times". www.capitolhilltimes.com. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  35. "2016 Gender Justice Awards at Melrose Market Studios in Seattle, WA on Thu., Nov. 17, 6-10 p.m. 2016 - Seattle Community & Civics Events Calendar - The Stranger". The Stranger. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
  36. "Imaginative Anarchists Are Holding a Downtown Rock Concert With the Gender Justice League on May Day". The Stranger. Retrieved 2017-06-07.
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