Meet Pa. Trans Activist Daye Lily Pope
Daye Lily Pope
There’s a new voice in Pennsylvania engaged in the fight for LGBT rights. Daye Lily Pope is a young woman who has the title Transgender Rights Organizer at Equality Pennsylvania. Equality PA is a state-wide organization working to assist LGBT people. We had the opportunity to interview Ms. Pope and asked her to define her organization’s mission.
DLP: Equality Pennsylvania’s mission is to advance equality and opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Pennsylvanians through advocacy and community building.
TGF: Is the organization active state-wide?
DLP: Yes! Equality Pennsylvania is actually the largest statewide organization advocating for the LGBT community in Pennsylvania. We host events and connect with members of the community all over the Keystone State.
TGF: Can you tell us what the Transgender Rights Organizer does?
DLP: As the Transgender Rights Organizer, I’m honored to work with my fellow trans folks across Pa. to build community, take part in meaningful events, promote transgender acceptance, and push for the passage of the Pa. Fairness Act, a piece of legislation currently being considered which will update our nondiscrimination laws so no one can be fired, evicted, or denied service based on who they are or who they love.
TGF: Do you interact with other rights groups both in Pa. and around the country?
DLP: We have great collaborative relationships with many different groups around the state and even country, such as the National Center for Transgender Equality, Keystone Progress, and local Pride committees.
TGF: How did you get your position as the Transgender Rights Organizer?
DLP: I’ve been involved in political and community organizing for a couple of years now, and wanted to use that experience to help my own community, so when an old mentor of mine suggested me and I was able to apply to this position, I knew I’d love to get to work right away.
TGF: What are some of the initiatives you hope to implement in 2016?
DLP: 2016 will be a big year for the state of Pennsylvania! Soon we will be bringing people together to show legislators just how important it is that they pass the Pa. Fairness Act with multiple events around the state. These will be lobby days, potentially rallies and town hall meetings, and we’ll be reaching out to folks through every means we have — in person, phone, email, even social media if we have to! We know that a large showing of people power will grab the attention of legislators and media and help us advance the legislation we need to be protected.
We are also putting a plan in place to begin helping trans folks get the competent health care we deserve. This is likely going to look like playing a role in training health care providers — EMTs, PCPs, nurses, hospital staff on working with the transgender community respectfully and competently.
TGF: Any final thoughts for TGForum’s readers?
DLP: I can’t do it alone! I hope you’ll join me in making Pennsylvania a wonderful state for our community to live in. You can get involved by emailing me. The more the merrier!
You can also reach Ms. Pope at her Equality PA office number: 267-329-3142.
Category: Transgender Community News
About the Author (Author Profile)
Angela Gardner is a founding member of The Renaissance Transgender Assoc., Inc., former editor of its newsletter and magazine, Transgender Community News. She was the Diva of Dish for TGF in the late 1990s and Editor of LadyLike magazine until its untimely demise. She has appeared in film and television shows portraying TG characters, as well as representing Renaissance on numerous talk shows.Subscribe
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