30/03/2022
Regional Trans Icons You Should Know!
In honour of Trans Visibility Day, we're highlighting regional trans trailblazers who have and continue to pave the way within the LGBTQI+ community. Get to know more about them and their advocacy work below!!
Alessandra Hereman
Alessandra is a Guyanese Trans woman who advocates for her community in an effort to shed light on the realities and issues that the community faces daily. In addition to her work with GTU, Alessandra facilitates gender and s*xuality workshops, giving her another avenue to speak more on these challenges.
Xoë Sazzle
Xoë Sazzle is a digital creator and activist who centres her work and initiatives on educating individuals about the LGBTQI+ community and the Trans experience. She hopes that her studies in Women's & Gender Studies at Columbia University will enhance her knowledge, enabling her to impact positively on contemporary q***r Caribbean culture. She hopes that her education and initiatives place her in a position to transform policies and legislation.
Alexus De Marco
Alexus is a human and social justice activist and the current Chair of United Caribbean Trans Network (UCTRANS), and the Vice-Chair for the Youth Steering Committee for the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP). Known as the first self-identified Trans woman in the Bahamas, Alexus is dedicated to raising awareness on the discrimination against, and issues facing LGBTQI+ persons, especially those affected by HIV/AIDS.
Brandy Rodriguez
Brandy was a trailblazer within Trinidad & Tobago’s human rights space as she advocated for the LGBTQI+ community and marginalised groups, specifically trans persons, s*x workers and persons living with HIV/AIDS. She founded the Trinidad & Tobago Transgender Coalition, which collaborated with organisations such as The Family Planning Association and United Caribbean Trans Network.
In May 2021, Brandy was awarded the 180th Commonwealth Point of Light for her exceptional service to the Trans community and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights for over two decades. Brandy’s legacy lives on through her organisation and the many people she assisted in her short lifetime.
Neish McClean
Co-Founder of TransWave and Consultant at Astraea Foundation, Neish McClean is a transmasculine Jamaican LGBTQI+ activist with local, regional and international experience in trans advocacy. Alongside this skill, he is also experienced in governance, movement resourcing, strategy, development and fundraising.
Neish combines his unique skill set and passion for advocacy in the work that he does for the International Planned Parenthood Federation, GiveOut and Act Together for Inclusion Fund (ACTIF).
