Professionals for Trans Rights 2022

Justice Roe Williams
Trans Activist Award

Justice Roe Williams (he/him) is a poet, writer, author and now editor of his upcoming anthology, Deconstructing the Fitness Industrial Complex: How to Resist, Disrupt, and Reclaim What It Means to Be Fit in American Culture being published in 2023.

Williams is a trans, body-positive and social justice activist that continues to create safe spaces for queer and trans bodies, now across the globe through his work with Fitness4AllBodies.

Candace Nguyen
Trans Excellence Award

Candace Nguyen (she/her) identifies as a Vietnamese Trans Woman. She currently works both in healthcare and is an entertainer that does drag on the weekends. Her role at MGH helps other trans and gender non conforming folks navigate through the healthcare system as they seek out for gender affirming care. You can catch Candace performing all over Boston at Carrie Nation, Ghost Pepper, Jacques, and more.

Andrew P. Cohen
Trans Ally Award

Andrew P. Cohen (he/him) has nearly two decades of experience as a consumer advocate, community organizer, and health care policy expert. He is the Director and Lead Attorney for HLA’s General Legal Practice (GLP) Team. Andrew founded HLA’s Transgender Health Project and his policy advocacy and client representation have ensured coverage expansions under MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid) for an array of gender-affirming services.

Golden

Golden (they/them) is a black gender-nonconforming trans-femme photographer, poet, & community organizer raised in Hampton, VA (Kikotan land), currently residing in Boston, MA (Massachusett people land). They are the author of A Dead Name That Learned How to Live  (Game Over Books, 2022) and the photographic self-portraiture series  On Learning How to Live, documenting black trans life at the intersections of surviving & living in the United States. Golden’s published & collaborative work can be found on Instagram (@goldenthem_) or through their website goldengoldengolden.com.

Hazel Afrodite

Hazel Afrodite (they/them & she/her) is a Southern Black non-binary femme from Texas. They describe their music as a fusion of alternative rock, R&B, pop, and electronic music all in one. Hazel is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and plays instruments including (but not limited to!) clarinet, viola, piano, guitar, bass, and violin. Her mission is to make sure little Black and queer kids and adults know that they are free to be themselves; to see her and feel validated that they can be or do anything they dream of. They hope to be a beacon of hope and relatability to those who need it most. Visit Hazel’s website.