GJLA: A Legacy of Trans Liberation

Saturday October 28th 1-3pm 

@ The GJLA Center 2701 N Broadway Los Angeles CA 90031

This program is organized by Gender Justice LA as part of the 2023 Circa: Queer Histories Festival, presented by ONE Archives Foundation.

Gender Justice LA (GJLA) is one of the longest running trans-led social justice organization in Los Angeles. An organization by and for trans, gender non-conforming, intersex (TGI), two spirit, non-binary and gender expansive folks, GJLA has been part of LA’s queer and trans ecosystem since the late 90’s. Last year, GJLA celebrated its 20+ years of existence. The organization is excited to continue lifting up the legacy, memory, resistance, and imagination of trans organizing in Los Angeles in an effort to keep our community’s histories alive and not be erased or forgotten. 

Join GJLA for an immersive event featuring an exhibition of trans organizing in LA and gallery walk featuring archival pieces of past GJLA art projects, campaigns, photos, and videos. Following the tour, GJLA will host a monumental panel of past and present TGI organizers, artists, advisory board, and staff. The event will culminate in an art-making activity for anyone interested in being part of TGI legacy.

Panelist include: 

Jaden is a survivor organizer, poet, educator, and cannabis enthusiast cultivating healing-centered spaces committed to collective liberation. Jaden is the Co-Director of Mirror Memoirs, an oral history and abolitionist organizing project intervening in rape culture by uplifting the healing, liberation, and leadership of 2-Spirit, queer, trans/non-binary, intersex, Black, Indigenous, and people of color (QTIBIPOC) who are survivors of child sexual abuse. His work within grassroots and nonprofit organizations has included designing and leading programs for trans folks to access health services, training government agencies to better serve transgender people, participatory action research, and policy advocacy at the city, county, and state level. As a consultant, Jaden supports organizations, collectives, and professional groups to increase their knowledge and capacity to support and uplift communities that continue to be marginalized by white supremacy. Jaden was an inaugural member of the Los Angeles Transgender Advisory Council, a 2017 California HIV/AIDS Policy Research Fellow, 2021 Women’s Foundation California Solis Policy Institute Fellow, and a 2021 John W. Mack Fellow. He currently sits on the Board of Level Ground, an award-winning artist collective and production incubator. Jaden self-published his first poetry chapbook, Intentional Musings on Staying Alive When I Want To Die (2019), an honest depiction of navigating mental health and systemic oppression. You can learn more about Jaden through his Linktree, https://linktr.ee/thedappermrjaden, and his LinkedIn, https://bit.ly/JadenLinkedIn