NAME: Elayne Wylie (she/her)
Organization: Producer, Trans Pride Seattle
When did you start getting involved with being an activist or advocate and why?
My first inclination that I might have a larger role to play was back in the early late nineties, when I chose to travel to NYC and appear on an episode of the Sally Jesse Raphael for a segment they billed as ‘Surprise an Old Friend With A New Look’, and wow, did I have a new look! I wanted to ensure that the broadcast signal of my coming out was beamed for the whole universe to hear.
Later, after I transitioned, I joined the board of Ingersoll Gender Center, and then I just kept saying yes to requests for help around the community. The crowning achievement, I think, was helping Danni Askini launch both Gender Justice League and Trans Pride. I’m the most proud of that labor of love.
What are the issues that you focus on?
In 2007, I saw that trans people were largely invisible in the workplace, especially the company I worked for. I developed strategies for sharing trans competencies across the professional sphere. That work helped influence numerous local corporations and their global work, and helped change the face of the LGBTQIA+ workforce.
Near the end of the Obama administration, the focus shifted to civil and human rights, and we developed new ways to bring our community together, helped hundreds to acquire ID documents that matched their identity, and achieved numerous political victories for WA residents.
It’s important to note that I was mentored by Danni Askini, whose vision for our community across Washington has left us in a strong position to show other states how we can fight injustice.
How does your work help build our community bigger and stronger?
I also spend time as a volunteer at Camp Ten Trees, a magical place where our LGBTQIA+ youth can develop themselves, find new friends, and forge a path forward toward adulthood and beyond.
Increasingly, I see that its crucial to build bridges between the parts of our community, and I see many folks volunteering and thriving in not just one organization or group, but many.
What is the greatest achievement you have had in the work you are doing?
Trans Pride Seattle was launched as a dream to bring our tiny slice of the community together, and then thousands of people showed up to our little party! Every year, it’s an honor to both serve our community the best we can offer up, and also lead dozens of volunteers towards a pinnacle Pride event. If you haven’t been to Trans Pride Seattle, this is the year to attend!
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in doing your work?
Personally, I thrive when I’m surrounded by folks who share my vision, and I have other leaders to help keep me accountable and focused. The struggle is ongoing, folks are downtrodden and it’s hard to have hope. But we’re stronger together!
How can others help you in the work you are doing?
That’s easy! Take a long look at what fills you with joy, what your passion is, and what kind of world you want to live in. Find folks doing that work, and chase that! Trans Pride is really fun, because you can definitely help throw a big pride party, but you also cross paths with almost every organization and many companies in town that work with our community. Come find a group that you can call home!
What calls to action would you ask of our community?
First, do not comply in advance. Resist, resist, resist! Second, anything that divides us from each other is suspect. We’re stronger together, and when one of us falters or makes a mistake, we help that person up again. Third, don’t forget about the most marginalized among us, the folks living at intersections of many facets of life. Support and center their work, and find joy in the work. Finally, find an organization focused on the court battles our communities are facing, and volunteer, donate, make calls, emails, and show up!!
Looking at the current climate, what words of hope do you have for our community and what should we be most concerned about?
In this current climate of fear, you can make a difference by lifting your voice up with others. A thousand voices in a rally cry cannot be ignored. Phone calls and emails, protests in the rain, none of that is sexy, and probably doesn’t make great Insta posts. But it’s important! Our electeds cannot do this alone, they need to hear from us.
Find a channel and tune in to what they are doing. Genderjusticeleague.org is a great place to start, and there’s a host of organizations that can use your help and expertise.
Who inspires you to keep fighting the good fight?
The peers and mentors in my life continue to lift me up. I’m not done learning how to do this better, and I need both old friends and new to give me a boost. But nothing gets me more charged up than hearing from the young people in my life, the ones whose entire futures lie ahead of them along this path. I want to craft a world they can thrive in, one where they can find joy.
