ABOUT ME

I am an award winning and globally recognized author, activist, beauty explorer, brand ambassador and mother of 5. I was the first Black person to hold the position of Chair of the Human Rights Campaign Board, our nation’s largest LGBT organization. As a leading thought leader, I speak on topics of identity, gender, race, radical parenting, and personal freedom.

 

When my son announced at the age of 3 “Mama I’m not a girl. I’m a boy”, I set out to inform myself, and change the way my community understood gender. I chronicle that journey in my memoir, The Bold World: A Memoir of Family and Transformation - hailed by Alice Walker as “Marvelous”. Cosmopolitan Magazine filmed a mini documentary on my family in 2016 - reaching over 11 million views. That doc is now used by the state of NY for employee diversity training. In 2015, Family Circle Magazine named me the #1 Most Influential Mom.

 

My second book, Born Ready: The True Story of A Boy Named Penelope is an award winning children’s book that was gifted to all public schools in the state of Kansas. Awards include Notable Books for a Global Society Award, Cooperative Children’s Book Center’s Best-Of-The-Year List, and the KNEA Reading Circle Recommended List.

 

I’m also a long standing entrepreneur, co-founding two beauty companies and received Beauty Skin Expert of the Year awarded by Cosmopolitan Magazine. I co-own the live performance venue Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater.

 

As an Ambassador I’ve collaborated with numerous national and international brands to create impactful, inspiring messaging with an eye toward building stronger communities. Partners to note are: L’Oreal, GOOP, GAP, STRIPES by Naomi Watts, Old Navy, Clare Vivier Bloomingdales, Lord & Taylor, Lincoln Cars, Veronica Beard, A Piece Apart, Mother Denim, Milk Bar Store, OREO, and Framebridge.

 

Along with my Human Rights Campaign activism, I also work closely with Mount Sinai Hospital on several task forces in the areas of health disparities, transgender surgery, and genomics of trans identity. The United Nations has recognized me as a Champion of Change.

 

I live in Brooklyn, NY.