The SiriusXM OutQ News Blog

Transgender activists this week announced the launch of a new alliance of advocacy organizations. Founders of the “Trans Advocacy Network” say it’s the first such alliance since “It’s Time, America” in the 1990s. Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition head Gunner Scott sits on new organization’s steering committee. He says unlike the previous organization, which was focused on education, the “Trans Advocacy Network” will be a way for activists in the trenches to share strategies.

Scott: “Our goal is to share those types of materials and resources that we’ve developed, and talk about what has been successful, what pieces of materials have you used, or what strategies have you used, and try to cross-collaborate around that.”

Scott says another focus of the group will be uniting the smaller transgender organizations under a large umbrella, to get more visibility within the greater LGBT community.

Scott: “The priorites of the “LG” movement – the Lesbian and Gay movement – sometimes trump the priorities of the trans movement, particularly when it comes to resources, media and education. So part of this is to just to support and build a stronger and more vocal trans movement.”

The steering committee also includes members of local trans groups from Tennessee, Texas, DC and Ohio as well as a representative from the Transgender Law Center.