WAVE Newsletter June 2025 by Linjé Enterprises LLC

It’s been a while, but we are back!! What better month for us to come ba the month of As we re through our newsletter, it is cru acknowledge both the challenges faced and the resilient spirit that has us through an incredibly difficult yea

PAGE 23-24 This past year has seen unprecedented attacks on our Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming communities. With a new administration often aligning itself against our dignity and fundamental rights, we’ve witnessed a disturbing rise in discriminatory legislation, targeted hate rhetoric, and harmful policies designed explicitly to diminish our visibility and erode our safety.

Yet, amidst these challenges, WAVE remained steadfast in its mission and unwavering in advocacy and action. We’ve been fiercely present in legislative chambers, community forums, and public spaces, raising our voices powerfully and unapologetically to defend our rights and protect our communities. We have tirelessly collaborated with allies, strengthened partnerships with other justicefocused organizations, and expanded our support services to meet the increased needs of our community.

Over this challenging year, we’ve spearheaded initiatives designed to fortify our resilience and resistance. Our advocacy teams have worked diligently to inform and mobilize voters, ensuring our voices are heard loudly in elections and policy discussions. Workshops and healing spaces have blossomed, offering sanctuary and affirmation to our community, reinforcing that each member is valued, seen, and respected. We’ve prioritized mental health support and mutual aid, ensuring our people are sustained emotionally, spiritually, and materially through these turbulent times.

Our proactive outreach has included educating healthcare providers and institutions on affirming and competent care, thus making significant strides toward the creation of New York’s first Trans-owned and operated healthcare clinic in collaboration with Riverside Family Medicine. This landmark effort will revolutionize access to affirming, culturally competent healthcare, directly combating the systemic discrimination that too often denies our community essential services.

Looking forward, our goal is clear: to foster a future where Black and Brown Trans and Gender Non-Conforming people thrive, celebrated and safe. We are committed to dismantling harmful narratives through education, visibility, and advocacy. We remain determined to influence policies at every level, demanding systemic change that ensures true equity and justice for our communities.

Together, we hold hope—a powerful, revolutionary hope that recognizes our collective strength. As we continue this journey, let us remember that our existence, joy, and love remain acts of resistance against oppression. Our resilience will lead to liberation.

LLOVERALLY OVERALLYRochester,NY

CAMPAIGN CAMPAIGN

Why the Rally: Why the Rally:

It’s more than a celebration; it’s a declaration of survival and resistance

Uplifts Black, Brown, Indigenous, disabled, poor, and ruralTGNCNB voices

Creates space for healing, advocacy, joy, and reimagining community safety

Confronts rising violence, political attacks, and healthcare rollbacks

HowYour Donation Helps HowYour Donation Helps

Supports community-led healing and mental health resource building

Funds grassroots advocacy and legislative action tools

Powers intergenerational cultural events and artistic expressions

Builds sustainable care networks shaped by and forTGNCNB people

Help us raise $100,000 byAugust 15, 2025

Show that love is not just a feeling, it’s radical, collective action

Make the Rochester Love Rally a powerful national beacon of hope and resilience

Donate today and stand unapologetically withTGNCNB communities!

CAMPAIGN CAMPAIGN

The New Healthcare Apartheid: The Discrimination Behind Policy Cuts

The United States is facing a critical juncture in healthcare policy, with proposed federal legislation threatening to dismantle essential services for millions of Americans. Among the most affected are Transgender individuals, low-income families, people living with HIV, and older adults who rely heavily on Medicaid and Medicare. The implications of these proposed changes are profound, potentially exacerbating existing health disparities and undermining decades of progress in public health.

The Proposed Legislation: A Closer Look

Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a comprehensive budget bill, often referred to as the "Big, Beautiful Bill." This legislation includes provisions that would prohibit Medicaid and Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans from covering genderaffirming treatments such as hormone replacement therapy and surgeries.

Approximately 185,000 Transgender adults currently depend on Medicaid for vital healthcare services. The bill also introduces significant cuts to Medicaid funding, threatening the health coverage of over 10 million Americans, including many living with HIV.

Impact on Transgender Individuals

Transgender people, particularly those from marginalized communities, face numerous barriers to accessing healthcare. The high costs of genderaffirming treatments increase the risk of depression, unemployment, HIV infection, suicidality, and substance abuse among this group. Removing Medicaid coverage for these treatments would exacerbate these risks, leading to poorer health outcomes and increased healthcare costs in the long term.

The New Healthcare Apartheid: The Discrimination Behind Policy Cuts

Consequences for People Living with HIV

Medicaid is the largest health insurer for people with HIV, with more than 40% relying on it for coverage. The proposed cuts to Medicaid funding would threaten access to essential HIV prevention and treatment services. Additionally, the Trump administration's abrupt termination of a $258 million program critical for HIV vaccine development further jeopardizes efforts to combat the epidemic.

EffectsonLow-IncomeandOlderAdults

Low-income individuals and older adults often rely on Medicaid and Medicare for healthcare services not covered elsewhere, such as home-based care, dental, vision, and hearing services. Cuts to these programs would disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ older adults, many of whom face discrimination and lack traditional family support systems. Without adequate coverage, these individuals risk losing access to necessary care, leading to increased institutionalization and diminished quality of life.

BroaderPublicHealthImplications

The proposed legislation's impact extends beyond individual communities, threatening the stability of the broader public health infrastructure. Community health clinics, especially those serving vulnerable populations, face funding cuts that could lead to closures and reduced services. These changes risk reversing decades of progress in reducing health disparities and controlling the spread of infectious diseases.

REIMAGINING HEALTH EQUITY FUND

CAMPAIGN

Why W magining Health Equity Fund:

Rive s de a y ed cine is a trusted, trans-led healthcare provider deeply rooted in our community.

Rive y ine is a trusted, trans-led healthcare provider deeply rooted in our community.

It’s more than a clinic, it’s a lifeline for transgender people with no other options.

We face an urgent need due to historic legislative and cultural attacks on trans rights. Safe and effective healthcare is being stripped away from the TGNCNB community almost DAILY.

How Your Donation Helps:

Provides low-cost preventive care for uninsured/underinsured trans community members Delivers affirming, culturally competent care by providers who truly understand trans lives

We face an urgent need due to historic legislative and cultural attacks on trans rights. and being stripped away community almost DAILY. How Your Donation Helps: Provides preventive care uninsured/underinsured community Delivers affirming, culturally competent care by providers who truly understand trans lives

Subsidizes care for those who can’t afford the full cost Ensures a safe, welcoming space where trans patients are respected and honored

Dr. Colt St Amand

Javannah J. Davis, LPN

How will your support help? Howwillyoursupporthelp?

Dr. Colt St Amand

Javannah J. Davis, LPN

My first time as a My first time as a Nurse Nurse

For two unforgettable weeks, I had the honor of serving as the camp nurse for a wild, wonderful, and beautifully queer youth camp deep in the woods—and baby, it was nothing short of an adventure! From managing I gave my full self to this role. When I found myself unexpectedly taking a swim test just to kayak (because of course, who wouldn’t want to nearly drown in front of a crowd of campers?). And yet, despite the loch-ness-level drama, the joy I felt floating in that lake, giggling with kids, and showing up fully as myself was unmatched. Every moment reminded me why I do this work with love, laughter, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting.

From raccoons barging into my office like they owned the place, to locking eyes with a full-grown black bear during night med rounds, I learned very quickly that these woods weren’t here to play with me but I was here to care, protect, and uplift our queer youth anyway. Whether I was sipping green chai tea in between tummy aches, judging the most chaotic camp talent show of my life, or navigating forest trails with my trusty broom sidekick, I was exactly where I was meant to be. These kids sang to me, trusted me, and reminded me daily why queer joy is not only powerful it’s necessary. Through the scares, laughs, and quiet moments, I felt a deep, healing connection with every camper I served. Being their nurse gave me more than stories—I left with a full heart, a fierce sense of purpose, and a little bear trauma. But most importantly, I left knowing I made a difference.

My first time as a My first time as a Nurse Nurse

Camp Story #1

So around bout 3pm I'm in my office minding my beautiful Black @$$ business counting and sorting these 8,567 medications for these kids right?! Tell me why my director come walking in talking about he forgot to tell me, but i'd need to do a swim test to go swimming in the lake or kayaking.

So I look at him and said, "First of all, I wasn't planning on swimming in no lake with bugs, fish, and Loch Ness monsters and s!" He assured me I'd be fine, and I do wanna squeeze my tiny @$$ in a kayak tomorrow. THEN me, "Oh, and the swim couch is down with the kids and you have about a half hour or you won't be permitted in the lake. So I'm like "You don't see me swimming in these medications??"

So I was like, whatever, I agreed to take the test just to get it over with. I had a coupe hours to kill before I start throwing meds around. Besides, I knew I had nothing to worry about. “I know how to swim, Hell, I'm a Pisces, I'm a whole Mermaid in this B...”so I thought! Anyway, I threw these 8 pounds of meds in there respective places and shot out my office to put on my cute, modest lil bathing suit. I'm all giddy as I just scamper on down to the pond where everyone was at. I take a seat in the tall lifeguard chair and just waited for all the kids to go first. I'm waiting, and waiting, aaaannd waiting, finally it was my go. So I slid on down from the chair. I just KNOW I'm about to show all these folks how a Black woman can swim and swim WELL!

I sashayed over to the instructor and looked at her and said, "Girl just put me down for PASS cause I got this!!" I tiptoed over to the ladder and slid in the water all graceful like. I waited for her to say go and I TOOK OFF! I was gone. I swimming like I was training for the Olympics. But a strange thing happened half way, not too far from the ladder. My muscles and lungs whispered, "B is you crazy?? We ain't swam like this in almost 33 years!!"

As I got closer to the other side my muscle froze a little and I went under the water, and I felt no bottom. I had to act fast cause I was like, "Oh lord, I'm about to drown. But most importantly, I ain't gonna be able to squeeze my tiny @$$ in that kayak tomorrow!" So I got ahold of myself and got to the other side. This is when my lungs screamed, "NO MORE"!! I had to hold on to the other side. The instructor screaming, "YOU'RE DOING GREAT!" I'm like No I'm not, I can't BREATH!

My first time as a My first time as a Nurse Nurse

Camp Story #1

So I fight to catch my breath, cause now I have to swim backwards back to the other side. So I pulled it together and worked out a deal with my heart, lungs, and muscles. I promised them that if we don't die, I will just float from now on. So I did my back stroke to the other side. I did a few more lil things and passed the test. I could barely climb the ladder to get out the water. I just laid there for like 10 mins, half of my body still in the water, clinging to the little breath I had. The kids literally stopped, got quiet, and just looked at me. All I could think about was how F***ed up it would have been for the ONE person to drown out here was their NURSE! I don't care, I still passed and i'm going kayaking tomorrow...with a life jacket on. I ain't playing with this lake like that no more! But yeah, camp was off to a great start!

My first time as a My first time as a

Nurse Nurse

Camp Story #2

Now before I get to why I was lying across my bed in absolute terror, I have to start by telling you that the day started out great.

I got up early, got myself together, cleaned my office, made me a nice big pot of chai green tea, brought out the meds for the kids, and sat down and started to work. Couple hours went by and I had my office door open because I loved the smell of the fresh air in the morning. It was raining too so it was even more soothing.

So I’m just sitting and preparing paperwork and hear tiny tapping on the wood walkway leading to my office. I ignored it and went about my business right?! Thinking it’s just one of the kids. All of a sudden, in the corner of my eye, I see a damn raccoon run full speed into my office.

I jumped on my desk, screaming my head off! It literally stared at me for a second, stood on his hind legs with his arms extended like he wanted to give me a damn HUG!! I screamed even louder! The camp counselor and a couple other folks heard me screaming and ran in. They got to the office door and jumped back. They talking about, “It’s a raccoon!” Me AND the raccoon turned our heads like, “No S, it’s a raccoon!” I’m still on the desk screaming, ”WHAT DO I DO, WHAT DO I DO??”

One of the counselors snatched the broom out of the corner and went after the raccoon swinging at it. I screamed even more because in MY head all I could see is this man hitting this raccoon and it flying towards me! I jumped off my desk and on to my exam bed! I quickly turn back and the counselor had ran the raccoon back out the door then slammed it shut. He said it ran back down into the woods, after he asked if I was okay. I told him yeah and just went on with the rest of my day - vigilantely!

-But wait, it gets better-

After the chaos with the raccoon the day was pretty uneventful besides a few tummy aches and headaches with a few of the kiddos. I played a few games with the kids, had them sing to me in their scavenger hunt, I judged their talent show contest *which I think was a set-up because I was the ONLY judge, the only BLACK judge who was judging these kids while everyone else stood in the back, giggling and shit. So if I don’t pick right these lil MF gon’ come after the ‘ol Black Nurse and hide me away under a tree or something cause I didn’t pick them!* But I digress…

My first time as a My first time as a Nurse Nurse

Camp Story #2

I had a decent dinner, and started to work on my night med pass. Now you should know that during my night med pass I take our little golf cart and drive all the way down to the kids cabins to deliver their meds. It’s a cute lil ride.

The time comes for me to deliver their meds, so I pack up, wrap up, put on my head lamp, and head out. I do my usual by riding to the two cabins I need to get to, deeep in the woods. Now mind you, I’m still on guard for that raccoon from earlier. Hoping he or she (I didn’t ask its pronouns) not waiting for my @$$ in these trees plotting its revenge! It was alright though, I had that broom sitting right next to meI was scared but I was ready!! Hell, I had no choice!!

-Now here’s where things get reeeal interesting-

Anyway, I finish passing my meds, after tracking down the accompanied children in their designated cabins, and headed back. Now on the way back everything was fine, EXCEPT, I look ahead on the side where bushes are and I think I see something but it’s too dark to really see what it is until I pass by it. I figured it was just something like an old barrel or something I hadn’t noticed before. So I drive on not giving it a second thought, until I got up almost right beside it. I turn my head light to look and see what it was, and there… was

big @$$ BLACK BEAR starring right at me!!

I screamed, “LORD JESUS!” IMMEDIATELY I thought I was gonna die from either a bear attack or a heart attack the way my body went into absolute shock I slammed my foot on the gas of that cart and bent that damn corner up the hill back to the lodge I heard rustling as I was driving away, I look back real quick, while still hauling all types of @$$, to see if it was chasing me. Thankfully it wasn’t. I peeked that it was running away from the road. I guess the loud sound of the engine scarred it away. I got back to the lodge hopped off the golf cart. Maaan, I don’t even remember stopping it before I jumped out. I know I left the key! I bust them front doors wide open as I ran in and went straight to my room! When I got back to my room I just laid across my bed in disbelief. I immediately bought bear mace the next day!!

What happens when four Black Trans women from different corners of the country are called to the presence of a living legend? You get something more powerful than any one of them could have imagined; a divine convergence, a sisterhood, and the birth of a movement rooted in collective healing, ancestral wisdom, and unapologetic joy.

While on a soul-stirring visit with the iconic Miss Major, four women, Love Latonia (Love), Chastity Bowick (Harmony), Nasia Crosby (Joy), and Javannah Davis (Wisdom), were pulled together by a force greater than circumstance. What began as a moment of reverence and connection soon evolved into a living, breathing manifestation of purpose: The Sisters of Eternal Essence.

Whether poolside in reflection, embraced in sacred waters under the night sky, or gathered around firelight with drinks and laughter, we are “The Power of Four”. Each one of us holds a sacred principle that fuels our collective spirit:

Love, embodied in the soft strength of Latonia’s embrace. Harmony, alive in Chastity’s leadership and spiritual grounding. Joy, ever-present in Nasia’s fire, resilience, and laughter. Wisdom, rooted in Javannah’s vision, purpose, and grace.

Together, we are not just a sisterhood, we are an intention. A prayer answered. A resistance to the idea that Black Trans Women must always fight alone. We are rest. We are healing. We are family. The Sisters of Eternal Essence exists not only to uplift one another, but to pour that same medicine back into our communities. In a world determined to erase us, we choose to thrive, to nurture, and to create sanctuaries of belonging where Trans people are seen in their full divinity.

This is just our beginning.

Love “Love” Latonia

Love Latonia

Pronouns: She, Her, Hers & Goddess

Founder/Executive Director, Awakening Love

Email: awakeninglove@gracehousems.org

Love Latonia is a multi-talented and multifaceted two-spirit woman of trans experience, serving as the Executive Director of Awakening Love, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the transgender and gender nonconforming community of Mississippi

In 2016, Love began her career as an HIV Prevention Counselor/Tester with Brotherhood Inc., where she recognized the transformative power of her personal narrative This experience ignited her passion for community service and solidified her commitment to enhancing the lives of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals. Since then, her accomplishments have continued to flourish, including roles as a Life Coach, Transformational Speaker, and Retention Specialist with Crescent Care.

Additionally, she served as a Program Specialist for the CARE4WOMEN program at CARE4ME Services and graduated from Monica Roberts Freedom School’s “Owning Our Power” Black Leadership Cohort Notably, she became the first trans woman nominated for the prestigious Cinderella Awards.

Currently residing in Jackson, Mississippi, Love founded and directs Awakening Love, an organization that provides holistic health services, leadership development, and resources tailored to the transgender and gender non-conforming community In her spare time, she prioritizes self-care and personal growth, cherishes time with her chosen family, and showcases her talents as an illusionist and performance artist.

Through her resilience, passion, and unwavering dedication, Love serves as a beacon of hope and positivity, impacting countless lives for the better. She firmly believes that even in the most challenging times, leading with love illuminates the path to freedom.

Chastity Bowick is an award-winning activist, civil rights leader, and transgender health advocate She led the Transgender Emergency Fund of Massachusetts INC (TEF) for seven years, which is the leading crisis agency for transgender communities in Massachusetts. During her time at TEF she spearheaded the opening of the first Trangender transitional home in New England In January 2023, Ms Bowick launched Chastity’s Consulting & Talent Group, LLC (CCTG). CCTG’s vision is to uplift and guide the transgender and GNC communities, ensuring they have equal protections and opportunities while educating service providers on the needs and wants of the community.

Chastity is currently a board member at the Boston Women’s Fund, LGBTQ Senior Housing, the MA Commission on LGBTQ Youth, and Boston Pride 4 the People. In 2025, she became the Board President of Marsha P Johnson Institute Born and raised in Rochester, NY, she began her transition at 18 when she moved to Boston to safely pursue her gender affirmation process After surviving domestic violence, homelessness, and survival sex work, she proudly obtained a Master’s Certificate in Non-Profit Human Services Management from Clark University Chastity “Harmony” Bowick Prior to her work with TEF and Trans Resistance MA, Chastity served as a board member of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (2014-2018), an organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression. She also led transgender health programming at AIDS Project Worcester, where many of the support groups and health navigation models she founded were the first of their kind in the city.

Because of her trailblazing work and commitment to strengthening marginalized communities, Chastity received the 2016 Belinda Dunn Award at the 27th Annual Bayard Rustin Community Breakfast She later became the Program Coordinator of TransCEND (Transgender Care and Education Needs Diversity) at AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, a program dedicated to uplifting transgender communities in Greater Boston through health navigation, peer support groups, and social events.

Chastity has received numerous accolades for her dedication to community activism, including the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth 2018 Advancing Equity Award, the 2018 PrEP for Pride Community Service Award (Fenway Health and Lee Entertainment), the 2020 Audre Lorde Trailblazer Award (Fenway Health), The History Project’s 2020 Lavender Rhino Award, and the 2020 Transgender Day of Remembrance Resiliency Award (Trans Resistance MA) Get Konnected also named her one of the 25 Most Influential LGBTQ+ People of Color in Greater Boston in 2020. In 2021, she received Mass Now’s Feminist in Action Award and the Bay State Stonewall Democrats Holly Ryan Spirit of Community Award. More recent honors include the 2022 Ad Equity Project LGBTQIA+ Champion Award, the Black Trans Advocacy Conference 2023 Leader Award, the Harvard University Trans Community 2023 Activist of the Year Award,Massachusetts Official Citation 2024 for Extraordinary Service to Transgender communities across Massachusetts and Marsha P Johnson 2024 Revival of Love Icon Award “I feel the most important thing I can do is help to empower and uplift the voices of transgender individuals in our community through support and advocacy,” Chastity often says. “We are doing some great things to move our community forward right here where we live I hope to see the transgender community in Massachusetts spread its wings and become a force that helps shape the national Transgender Rights Movement. There’s so much more work that needs to be done.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chastity responded to the needs of her community by launching a groundbreaking nutritional program through TEF, providing fresh produce boxes to low-income transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals across the state. TEF partnered with the American Heart Association and About Fresh to sustain this initiative, which continues to operate today. She remains dedicated to providing services for transgender & women survivors of homelessness, domestic violence, drug use, sexual assault, and survival sex work.

Meet the

Nasia Crosby is a dynamic force bridging the worlds of art, science, and social impact

A Georgia State University alumna, Nasia originally pursued a path in science education, driven by a passion for making complex knowledge accessible and engaging. However, during her time in academia, she also discovered a deep love for entertainment and creative expression, a calling that has now spanned over a decade.

For more than 10 years, Nasia has cultivated a multidisciplinary career as a performer and creative professional, mastering skills in DJing, video editing, sewing, and makeup artistry Her artistry is not just performative, it is political. At the height of rising anti-drag legislation in Texas, Nasia mobilized community support, raising and directly redistributing over $11,000 to Texas-based entertainers impacted by drag bans or the threat thereof Her advocacy extended beyond human communities as well. She successfully spearheaded a partnership that provided discounted veterinary vaccinations for pet owners living below the poverty line.

Nasia's dedication to equity and justice transcends her creative pursuits As a trusted consultant for numerous grassroots and nonprofit organizations, she brings expertise in grant writing, structural strategy, and policy development. Her efforts consistently aim to remove barriers and connect marginalized communities to vital care and resources, even while she navigates a career in the for-profit sector.

Her academic and professional development is equally impressive. Nasia holds certifications in PMP Foundations and AI for Writing, and is a proud graduate of the Monica Roberts Freedom School. She also served as a Senior Fellow with the Third Wave Fund, a position recognizing her commitment to intersectional grassroots leadership and sustainable movement-building

Looking ahead, Nasia is pursuing a bachelor’s degree alongside training in phlebotomy and Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT), driven by a continued commitment to be of service to her community, particularly those at the intersections of economic injustice, queerness, and racial identity

Whether behind a turntable, at a policy table, or in the community clinic, Nasia Crosby stands as a powerful example of what it means to blend creativity, compassion, and strategy in pursuit of a more just world

Nasia “Joy” Crosby

Meet the

Javannah J Davis is an award-winning advocate, activist, and seasoned healthcare professional with over two decades of experience as a community health nurse, including extensive work supporting LGBTQ+ youth and underserved populations. Her multidimensional career reflects her passion for healing and justice from direct care and public health to media, ministry, and movement building. A theatrical actress, content creator, and multiple publishings as a selfpublished author, Javannah uses every platform available to elevate the voices and experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community. Through her column in Blaque/Out Magazine ‘Living in the Light’ , she shares knowledge, compassion, lived experience, and spiritual encouragement to LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies navigating life, identity, and resilience.

She is the Founder and President of W A VE Women Inc , a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and one of the only Black Trans female-led organizations in Western and Central New York, dedicated to advocacy, mutual aid, and resource access for Black and Brown Trans and GNC people She also serves as CEO/Owner of Linjé Enterprises LLC, where she continues to lead with innovation and care-centered values Javannah holds leadership and advisory roles across the region, including

membership in the Community Initiative for United Way, the University of Rochester’s Community Advisory Board, participant in Metro Justice of NY, and a Geva Theatre engagement committee member

In 2025, Javannah was appointed Lead Physical Health Consultant for the New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG) Transformative Health & Wellness Summit, where she brings her clinical expertise and equity-driven approach to statewide conversations on Trans and GNC healthcare access. Currently, she is working alongside collaborators to launch the first Trans-owned and operated LGBTQ+ health clinic in New York State an initiative rooted in her unwavering commitment to community-based, culturally competent, and affirming care for all.

Javannah is also a graduate of the 2025 Monica Roberts Freedom School Black Trans Leadership Cohort. Her tireless advocacy has earned widespread recognition. In 2023 and 2024, she was named among The Power 50 LGBTQ+ Business Leaders by the Rochester Business Journal for her transformative work through WAVE Women Inc She is also a two-time recipient of the Honorary Fatima Woods Award (2018, 2021), presented by Next Generation Men of Transition (NGMT), Roc Black Pride, and Blaque/Out Magazine, for her powerful contributions to the Rochester community Most recently, she was honored with the 2024 Monica Roberts Advocacy Award by the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (BTAC), in recognition of her continued leadership, visibility, and trailblazing service as a Black Trans advocate. She is also the 2025 HRC (Human Rights Campaign) Community Partner Award.

Javannah J. Davis is not only a force in healthcare and advocacy she is a vessel of love, healing, and visionary change for generations to come

Javannah “Wisdom” Davis

JAVANNAH DAVIS JJASMEEND20

In a world that often demands our resilience but rarely offers us rest, the Sisters of Eternal Essence emerges as a sanctuary; a transformative space born from love, led by purpose, and sustained by the sacred bond between Transgender/GNC people across the country. Rooted in the wisdom of our ancestors and the brilliance of our lived experiences, this collective exists to offer something our community has long been denied: peace, healing, and radical joy.

Our mission is clear and unwavering; to unite Trans/GNC individuals in a safe and affirming environment that celebrates harmony, joy, wisdom, and love. Unlike traditional gatherings centered on institutional hierarchy or professional gain, this convening will be grounded in community care, free from the constant pressure of survival. With all costs for travel, lodging, and meals covered, our intention is simple but revolutionary: to create a space where Trans and GNC people can gather to laugh, to heal, to share, and to just be!

At a time when Black and Brown Trans women and femmes continue to bear the brunt of systemic injustice, the Sisters of Eternal Essence offers more than an event, we strive to offer liberation. Through peer-led skill sharing, shared meals, and moments of rest, we are building a future rooted not in scarcity or fear, but in abundance, affirmation, and community-led wisdom This is not just a gathering This is a reclamation We look forward to welcoming you to, “The Family Gathering”

TS Madison TS Madison STARTERHOUSE

I had the immense joy and honor of visiting the TS Madison Starter House in March of this year as a BlaqueOut Magazine media partner It was a sacred space rooted in visibility, empowerment, and unapologetic Black Trans brilliance. From the moment I stepped foot inside, I was overwhelmed with warmth, laughter, and the unmistakable presence of love that only a home built on truth and authenticity can offer

TS Madison, an icon in her own right, has long been a trailblazer in media, advocacy, and entertainment, boldly occupying space in a world that has tried to erase her. Her previous home, affectionately called the Starter House, is not just a residence; it is a beacon of hope, a sanctuary of possibility, and a launchpad for Trans excellence. To stand in that space was to feel legacy pressing against your skin, reminding you that we are not only survivors, we are creators, leaders, and revolutionaries

What made this visit even more meaningful was the reflection it prompted. As I looked around the room filled with Black LGBTQIA+ powerhouses, each of us carrying stories of struggle, survival, and self-affirmation, I was reminded that we are living proof of what happens when we refuse to be erased. TS Madison has never waited for permission. She built her own table and then made sure there were enough chairs for all of us. That’s the spirit I carry with me now; building, lifting, and making space for the next generation of Black Trans excellence.

Thank you, TS Madison, Thank you, Dominique Morgan, Thank you, Monroe Alise for your grace, your fire, and your unwavering commitment to this project And to every Trans sister and brother reading this, your light belongs in every room Don’t just enter into it Blind them with your shine

2024

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