When Dewayne Queen, CEO and Founder of The Trans Life Awards, inadvertently received a call to action from transgender activist Hope Giselle-Godsey in 2020 on the then-popular Clubhouse app at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it tested his allyship. It prompted him to dive deeper into the transgender community, inspiring the creation of the annual award ceremony held over Labor Day Weekend during Atlanta Black Pride.
This year’s ceremony, held on August 31 and hosted by transgender entertainer Tiffany Starr inside the Glenn Room at The National Center for Civil and Human Rights during Atlanta Global Black Pride, honored a dozen trailblazing transgender and nonbinary artists, advocates, and community leaders. Now in its fourth year, Queen says the mission was clear when he first envisioned The Trans Life Awards: “to honor the unsung heroes who tirelessly work to uplift, empower, and advocate for our communities.”
“Too often, the achievements and contributions of our [transgender] community members go unnoticed,” said Queen. “We wanted to change that narrative by creating a platform that not only celebrates these remarkable individuals but also inspires others to continue their courageous work.”
Recording artist and cultural influencer 2 AM Ricky—renowned for his global impact in reshaping narratives surrounding mental health, reproductive justice, and the transgender experience- received the Pioneer of Culture Award. Ricky was one ten artists included in GLAAD’s second cohort of the Equity in Media and Entertainment Initiative (EMEI). During his acceptance speech, Ricky shared the strength of utilizing your voice to speak truth to power, even in the face of opposition.
“When y’all talk about me being a history maker, a trailblazer, a pioneer of culture. What y’all are discussing is the proof of what you do when you trust God with your voice, and you lean in and speak when it hurts,” Ricky said. “And you lean in when the world tries to silence and erase you, no matter who it looks like, even if they look familiar.”
Nala Simone Toussaint, Director of Programs and Advocacy at The Marsha P. Johnson Institute and recipient of the Pioneer of Global Visibility Award, echoed a similar sentiment.
“It is the seed that we put in the ground that sometimes is not always so fertile,” Toussaint said. “Sometimes people don’t want to pour into that soil but expect [for you] to show up as a full-blown flower. And then judge how the flower looks,” she said.
Being seen in the fullness of their authenticity as transgender people was a recurring theme woven throughout the acceptance speeches, which Queen says comes at a pivotal time.
“Our communities are facing unprecedented challenges, but we are also seeing an unprecedented level of activism, solidarity, and resilience,” Queen said.
“Standing in this moment is very powerful because I happen to transition and come into myself at a time when people were curious about who we were,” Simaya Charlize Turner said.
Turner is the Executive Director of Trans Individuals Living Their Truth Inc. and co-host on urban LGBTQ radio streamer WERUradio. She received the Pioneer of Education Award.
“I entered into environments that were not ready for me. And I had to stand in my truth, in my honesty, in my authenticity, and advocate for myself in real-time when they had no language to identify who we were,” Turner said.
Pioneer of the Year Award recipient and Atlanta newcomer Uchenna “Dr. Lulu” Umeh—a Nigerian immigrant, pediatrician, author, and CEO of Dr. Lulu’s Coaching & Consulting Lounge, and the mother of a trans daughter, delivered one of the evening’s most profound moments. Lulu recalled her reaction to the Christmas Day phone call from her daughter about her gender identity that led to a fracture in their relationship.
“Fear, shame, guilt, doubt, overwhelmness, sadness, anxiety, panic—you name it, I felt it,” Lulu said.”I made the moment all about me. I immediately began to worry about what people would say: my parents, my siblings, her now deceased ex-father, my friends, the church, co-workers, everyone except my child,” she added. “I, too, was raised to fear queerness. To fear my own queerness.”
Lulu is pansexual. She told the audience that she “laid in the fetal position for three weeks” on her sofa after her daughter came out as transgender, which ultimately led to a beautiful revelation.
“It finally dawned on me that people who mind don’t matter, and people who matter will never mind,” Lulu said. “I have learned that I didn’t need to accept my child. No. I needed to accept myself and my identity as a mother of a trans child so I can fully affirm her.”
Additional Trans Life Award recipients included Dani Alexander-Burke (Pioneer of Advocacy), Toni Bryce (Pioneer of Community), Dean Steed (Pioneer of Inspiration), Jada Gremillion (Pioneer of Resilience), E.C. Pizarro III (Pioneer of Technology), Zaria Newbill (Pioneer of Vision), Omega Chuckii (Pioneer of Well Being), and Gabrielle Claiborne, recipient of The Dee Dee Chamblee Lifetime Achievement Award, named after the trailblazing Atlanta transgender activist and leader and honors individuals who have made enduring contributions to the transgender community, especially in the fight for the rights of and dignity of transgender women of color.
Queen tells GLAAD that the awards ceremony, which continues to grow, is a labor of love that does not result in financial reward for him or his small team of organizers.
This year, the community responded in kind with their presence as the ceremony drew a capacity audience. The growth will likely see next year’s ceremony move to a larger venue.
“It’s a great problem to have,” said Queen.