A Unique Collaboration Beyond the HIV Movement

In January 2023, NMAC launched its Coalition For Justice and Equality Across Movements as an urgent need to extend our advocacy efforts beyond the HIV movement. By leading this unique group of policy leaders from national advocacy organizations, the Coalition will strategically advance a collaborative and intersectional legislative agenda that represents our nation’s most vulnerable communities. 

Through collaboration and solidarity, the Coalition’s members represent key issues such as civil rights for people of color, LGBTQ, transgender, women, aging, immigrant, etc (see member list below). 

Vision

The Coalition envisions an America where all communities have their rights protected at all levels of government and the law and where public policies and resources promote their health, well-being, and safety. This Coalition will unite other national movement leaders and support with collective with state-of-the-art communications and community mobilization strategies.

How Does the Coalition Mobilize? 

  • Assess, identify, and raise awareness of political threats by uniting intersectional movements to prevent a systemic erosion of our healthcare access and constitutional rights
  • Unite diverse movements in a common effort to fight and increase awareness of the common threats that we face to our rights, our privacy, our security, and our health and well-being
  • Provide thought leadership on policy priorities to ensure an open, inclusive, multicultural society in which everyone’s rights are protected and everyone has access to essential health services
  • Partner with other movement-related organizations and networks to participate in the work, ensuring the broadest possible diversity of participants and constituencies
  • Educate the public regarding the linked, intersectoral legal, and political threats confronting diverse movements. This work undertakes advocacy to promote sound, timely policies to address these threats, including but not limited to the rights to healthcare access

Trans Leaders Meeting, February 2025, Washington, DC

The United States is home to approximately 1.6 million transgender and 1.2 million nonbinary people. This strategic convening of national transgender advocates was led by Toni Newman of NMAC’s Coalition for Justice and Equality Across Movements and moderated by Dr. Elijah Nicholas, CEO, of The Global Trans Equity Project. 

The day-long meeting featured notable speakers, including Admiral Rachel Levine, former Assistant Secretary for Health, and Congresswoman Sarah McBride of Delaware, who have been staunch advocates for transgender and nonbinary rights. Their contributions underscored the urgency of the issues at hand. 

Additionally, Gilead Sciences sponsored the event and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting transgender communities through these turbulent times.

Objective

Transgender Americans, like all Americans, seek affordable, adequate healthcare, jobs, and economic security. The Narrative Shift and Messaging initiative from the National Transgender Strategy Day aims to reshape public and media perceptions about transgender issues through a comprehensive strategy that promotes understanding and support for the transgender community across various platforms and audiences. 

This initiative seeks to create impactful narratives and media content that foster a positive and inclusive image of transgender and nonbinary individuals, combat misinformation, and enhance societal acceptance.

Strategic Priorities:

The discussion focused on ensuring that trans-led organizations and allies continue advancing policy engagement, strengthening legal protections, and mobilizing resources to protect trans rights. The discussion led to the development of the following strategic priorities: 

  • Strengthening Legal Protections – With executive orders and state legislation threatening trans rights, coordinated litigation and legal defense strategies remain critical. 
  • Sustainable Funding for Advocacy – Two key long-term funding initiatives were introduced:
    • $20 Million Rapid Response Fund – A five-year initiative to provide trans-led organizations with emergency funds, cybersecurity training, and infrastructure support to sustain operations during periods of heightened attacks or funding shortages. 
    • Trans Movement Fund – A ten-year investment in trans-led organizations to create pathways for economic empowerment, workforce development, and financial sustainability within the trans community. 
  • State & Local Engagement – While federal challenges persist, opportunities exist at the state level to advance trans-inclusive policies and leverage progressive attorney generals for legal challenges. 
  • Shifting the Narrative – A collective commitment to reshaping public and media perceptions of transgender issues by elevating trans-led storytelling and countering misinformation.
    • The Trans Visibility and Media Advocacy Campaign will engage mainstream media, digital influencers, and community-led initiatives to humanize trans experiences and amplify accurate narratives. 
    • Efforts will focus on producing high-quality, trans-led media content, training journalists for better representation, and creating a rapid response team to challenge disinformation and anti-trans rhetoric in real time. 

The convening reinforced the urgency of collective action and the need for ongoing collaboration to protect and advance trans rights. Moving forward, participating organizations committed to continued resource-sharing, strategic coordination, and policy engagement to drive long-term change.

Discussion Summary

The National Trans Strategy Day was a pivotal step towards consolidating efforts and resources to combat the adverse effects of policies and social attitudes. The strategic priorities identified represent a collective commitment to enhancing the well-being and prosperity of the transgender and nonbinary communities. Through continued collaboration and targeted action, there is a robust pathway forward to achieving these goals.

Attendees:

  1. Toni Newman, Director, Coalition for Justice and Equality Across Movements, NMAC
  2. Destiny Pearson, Associate Manager, Coalition for Justice and Equality Across Movements, NMAC
  3. JP Hernandez, Sr. National Coalition Manager, Coalition for Justice and Equality Across Movements, NMAC
  4. Dr. Elijah Nicholas, CEO, Global Trans Equity Project
  5. Kris Hayashi, Director of Action and Advocacy, The National Task Force
  6. Morey Riordan, CEO, Mind Share Partners
  7. Jaelynn Scott, Executive Director, Lavender Rights Project
  8. Maria Roman, Vice-President & COO, The TransLatin@Coalition
  9. Alex Sheldon, Executive Director, GLMA
  10. Dr. Kellan Baker, Executive Director, Whitman Walker Institute
  11. Erika Castellanos, Executive Director, GATE (Global Action for Trans Equality)
  12. Tori Cooper, Director of Community Engagement, HRC
  13. Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, Executive Director, A4TE (Advocates for Trans Equality)
  14. Anya Marino, Chief Strategy Programs Officer, A4TE (Advocates for Trans Equality)
  15. Shelby Chestnut, Executive Director, Transgender Law Center
  16. Finn Schubert, Executive Director, Transgender Strategy Center
  17. Shannon Minter, Legal Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights
  18. Diego Sanchez, VP of Policy and Government Affairs, PFLAG National
  19. Masen Davis, Executive Director, FCAA

2024 Coalition Annual Meeting, November, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Following the 2024 election, the Coalition hosted its annual meeting from November 13 to November 16 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Themed “Where Do We Go From Here After the 2024 Election?” Coalition partners gathered to discuss action steps and legislative strategies to protect vulnerable communities. 

The Coalition 2024 Annual Meeting developed a shared 2025 legislative and policy agenda with the new Congress and Presidential Administration. Through these strategic collaborations with national organizations, the Coalition has unified to work together in 2025 to protect human rights and ensure that healthcare is affordable and accessible for all. The Coalition is fighting for all Americans, regardless of their background to receive affordable healthcare.

Coalition Partners

  • Abounding Prosperity
  • Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter Schools
  • ACLU
  • Advocates for Trans Equality
  • AIDS United
  • Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board
  • Albuquerque Indian Health Board
  • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc
  • American Medical Association Foundation
  • Arab American Institute
  • Asian and Pacific Islander Health Forum
  • Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
  • Bienestar
  • Black and Pink National
  • Black Girls Vote
  • Black Lives Matter
  • Black Public Health Academy
  • Black Women’s Health Imperative
  • Black Women’s Learning Institute
  • Black Women’s Agenda
  • California Donor Table
  • Center Link
  • Coai, Inc.
  • Conference of National Black Churches
  • Continental Societies, Inc.
  • Creating Healthier Communities
  • Criminal Justice Expert
  • CRP, Incorporated
  • Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
  • Equal Rights Coalition
  • Equality Federation
  • Equity & Impact Solutions
  • ERA Coalition
  • ERA Coalition/Fund for Women Equality
  • ETR
  • Family Equality
  • Farmworker Justice
  • Foundations for Living
  • Friends Outside
  • Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA)
  • GATE (Global Action for Trans Equality)
  • Gilead Sciences
  • GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality
  • Global Trans Equity Project
  • Harris-Stowe State University
  • Hawaii’I Health and Harm Reduction
  • Houston Health Department Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA)
  • Howard University Student Association
  • Human Rights Campaign
  • Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
  • Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
  • Kumukahi Health
  • La Clínica del Pueblo
  • LA LGBT Center
  • Lady BurAndy
  • Lambda Legal
  • Latino Commission on AIDS
  • Latinos Salud
  • Lavender Rights Project
  • Lavender Rights Project; National Black Association LGBTQ Divison
  • LGBTQ Victory Fund
  • LULAC
  • M Pact Global Action
  • MercerWELL
  • My Brothers Keeper
  • NAACP
  • NASTAD
  • National Abortion Federation
  • National Action Network Washington Bureau
  • National Association of Black Journalists
  • National Black Justice Coalition
  • National Center for Lesbian Rights
  • National Center for Trans Equality
  • National Coalition of 100 Black Women
  • National Coalition of American Indians
  • National Coalition of STD Directors
  • National Council of Negro Women
  • National Council of Urban Indian Health
  • National Council on Aging
  • National Epicureans, Inc.
  • National Hispanic Medical Association
  • National LGBTQ Task Force
  • National LGBTQ+ Bar Association
  • National Medical Association
  • National Organization for Women
  • National Trans Visibility March
  • National Urban League
  • National Wildlife Federation
  • NCAAN
  • Norfolk State University
  • O’Neill Institute
  • Planned Parenthood Action Fund
  • Planned Parenthood Federation of America
  • Positive Resource Center
  • Positive Women’s Network, USA
  • Ribbon
  • Sage USA
  • San Francico AIDS Foundation
  • Sister Love
  • Social Security Works
  • Southern AIDS Coalition
  • Southern Planes Tribal Health Board
  • Southern Poverty Law Center
  • Structural Health Dynamics LLC; HVTN Faith Ambassador
  • The AIDS Institute
  • The Girl Friends, Inc.
  • The MOLES
  • The Oneil Institute, Georgetown University Law
  • The Savoy Group
  • The Trevor Project
  • The Wall- Las Memorias Project
  • The Williams Institute UCLA School of Law
  • Trans Women of Color Collective (TWOCC) (Healing Project)
  • Transcanwork
  • Transgender Law Center
  • TransLatina Coalition
  • UC San Diego School of Medicine
  • United Way
  • Waves Ahead
  • Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Contact NMAC’s Coalition 

Toni Newman

Director
240-935-8806

JP Hernandez

Senior National Coalition Manager (Consultant)
202-766-4654

Destiny Pearson

Associate Manager
202-853-1847