Carter Brown, Black Trans Advocacy Coalition

Carter Brown, the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (BTAC), has played a pivotal role in advancing the rights and well-being of Black transgender individuals. As a transgender man who understands the challenges of marginalized communities firsthand, Carter established BTAC in 2011, making it the first national, Black trans-led non-profit organization.

His unwavering commitment to ending violence, addressing HIV disparities, combating employment discrimination, and tackling other critical issues faced by Black transgender people has been the driving force behind BTAC's impactful initiatives. With over a decade of dedicated engagement with transgender communities, Carter Brown's leadership has elevated BTAC's community organizing and programming to an indispensable position within the quest for equality.

Notably, Carter co-authored the U.S. Trans Survey, a groundbreaking effort that comprehensively highlights the economic, health, and social disparities experienced by nearly 28,000 transgender individuals across the nation. His recent achievements include testifying before the U.S. Congress in support of the Equality Act, a vital amendment to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 aimed at including protections for transgender people.

Carter Brown's tireless advocacy and leadership continue to be instrumental in advancing equity for Black transgender individuals and the broader LGBTQ+ community.

Shéár Avory

Shéár Avory (they, them) is the first Black and Indigenous trans person to campaign for public office in New York State, running for State Assembly in New York’s Hudson Valley. Prior to their historic run for office, Shéár was the Lead Statewide Community Organizer the New Pride Agenda, worked as a Policy Associate and Organizer at the ACLU, advocated for an equitable New York City as a Policy Associate at the Office of the New York City Public Advocate, and previously served then former Vice-President Biden as the 2018 Biden Fellow for LGBTQ Equality at the Biden Foundation in Washington, D.C. They’re credited for co-founding the nation’s first and only Trans Wellness Center in Los Angeles, California; successfully advocating for the repeal of the Walking While Trans Ban in California and New York; achieving the passage of New York State’s Raise the Age for Homeless Youth Act, Safe Haven For Trans Youth & Families Act, Less Is More, and the Equal Rights Amendment; securing an unprecedented three-million dollars in the 2022 and 2023 New York State budgets for TGNC New Yorkers along with the historic passage of the Lorena Borjas Trans Wellness & Equity Fund; and for contributing to a National PREA Resource Center policy for young people in juvenile detention.

Alexander Petrovnia, Trans Formations Project

Alex Petrovnia (he/him) is a vocal trans advocate, a biologist and a writer. Trained as a scientist, he studied Environmental Resource Management at Penn State. An award-winning fiction writer, he also has a background writing and speaking about trans issues, transmasculinity, scientific and queer history and more. Alex is well-known for founding the Trans Formations Project (TFP) in the wake of a viral tweet thread which was featured on Twitter’s front page. The Trans Formations Project is a volunteer-driven nonprofit which tracks anti-trans legislation and is dedicated to providing information accurately, actionably, and accessibly to the public. Their work has been featured in NPR, the Washington Post, and other notable publications. The Movement Advancement Project uses the Trans Formations Project’s database to check their work, and it is used by other movement organizations to track and inform legislative advocacy nationwide. Additionally, the Trans Formations Project’s newsletter has been shared by celebrities such as Alok Menon, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Billy Porter. In his spare sleepless hours, Alex sings, gardens and herds his clowder of cats. He is honored to accept this award on behalf of the countless volunteers of TFP.

Machaela Cavanaugh, Nebraska State Senator

Machaela Cavanaugh, a dedicated advocate for equality, grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, where she has dedicated nearly two decades to community affairs and public service. Her educational background includes a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Machaela's commitment to advocacy shines through her historic achievement: she conducted the longest filibuster in U.S. history, lasting an impressive 60 days. This remarkable feat was undertaken to oppose harmful legislation targeting transgender youth, but it was not the first time Machaela championed vulnerable children. In 2021, she established a Special Investigative Oversight Committee within the Legislature to investigate a fraudulent contract with a private child welfare organization, resulting in the contract's termination and the subsequent deprivatization of child welfare in Nebraska. In 2022, Machaela successfully passed her priority bill to ensure that all children on the Developmental Disability services waitlist received access to Medicaid and an annual stipend for services, preventing families from facing financial hardship while caring for their children.

Machaela believes in the power of perseverance, inclusive family values, and unwavering dedication to social and equitable justice. Her work continues to drive positive change in her community and beyond.

Machaela Cavanaugh is a champion for equality, tirelessly working towards a more just and inclusive world for all. She currently resides in Omaha with her husband, Nick Brotzel, and their children, Della, Harriet, and Barrett.

Mara Keisling, a founder and former executive director of The National Center for Transgender Equality

Mara Keisling is a founder and former executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. Since 2003, she has led organizational and coalition efforts that have won significant advances in transgender equality. As one of the nation’s leading voices for transgender equality, Mara is regularly quoted in major media outlets. A proud Pennsylvanian, Mara received her bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and did graduate work in American Government at Harvard University.