PERSON: Elle Hearns

GetEQUAL

Coordinator

Elle Hearns is a black, trans, freedom fighter who hails from Columbus, Ohio. In 2014, after the murders of Cemia Dove, Brittney Nicole Kidd-Stergis,Tiffany Edwards, and Betty Skinner who were all trans women in her home state, Elle turned her pain into action by organizing other black trans women from Ohio to have safe spaces to build and collaborate on ways to better their lives. Elle has led international conversations centered on the importance of black trans women leading their own causes and using their own voices through her work formerly with TWOCC (which she is no longer affiliated). She is now the Central Region Coordinator for GetEQUAL for which she was appointed in early 2015. Elle is a strategic partner of #BlackLivesMatter and works collaboratively with the co-founders and all of its chapters.Through her work with GetEQUAL, Elle has been committed to making sure that marginalized voices, especially those of black trans women, are centered and reflected in the organization’s efforts towards full federal and social equality. Elle has been a part of many historical firsts including collaborating on organizing the first international retreat for #BlackLivesMatter, organizing the first GetEQUAL Central Region Convening for 22 queer, trans activists/organizers, and has lent her hand to the world of writing and editing with her work featured most recently on Ebony.com.