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Please contact Eliel Cruz at eliel@genderlib.org for all media inquiries.
Raquel Willis on How the Democrats Are Failing Trans People, Mother Jones, March 2025
Raquel Willis knows that her power lies in her voice. From her home state of Georgia to the streets of New York City and the steps of Congress, Willis has used her voice to uplift trans people’s stories, whether it be as a journalist or leader of the Gender Liberation Movement, a national organization officially formed in January of this year, but was born out of 2020 and 2021 protests against anti-transgender discrimination to advocate for abortion rights and gender-affirming care. Her work, she says, is rooted in a fundamental belief in bodily autonomy and the self-determination of all people—the idea that “we all deserve the right to be the drivers of our own destinies.”
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Get Ready With Raquel Willis for Time's Women of the Year Gala, In Style, March 2025
Raquel Willis knows how to make an impact. The writer, activist, and speaker has made a career off of pushing for change in everything from our government to media institutions and society at large. Now, after making history for her activism, she is making history for being herself—Willis was just honored as one of Time's Women of the Year for 2025 as only the second woman of her experience to earn the title.
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Anti-trans bathroom bills are back—and more extreme, XTRA, March 2025
Jay Saper was one of 15 people arrested at the U.S. Capitol Building in December for protesting a bathroom bantargeting trans people. But for Saper, the sit-in was about more than facility access. “Politicians have regarded trans people as disposable,” Saper tells Xtra, “and when that happens, they can advance a broader set of policies that completely eliminate everything that we have fought for.”
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Raquel Willis’s Fearless Fight for Bodily Autonomy, TIME: Women Of The Year, February 2025
“Raquel Willis isn’t afraid to take risks. She has organized large-scale marches to protest violence against Black trans lives and rallied outside the Supreme Court to support the trans youth at the center of the ongoing case U.S. v. Skrmetti,which will decide whether gender-affirming health care bans for minors are constitutional. Last December, Willis was arrested at the Capitol for staging a bathroom sit-in in defiance of a proposal to ban trans women from women’s restrooms on federal property. The title of her 2023 memoir, The Risk It Takes to Bloom, underlines her fearlessness.
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Scenes from Saturday’s Rally for Trans Youth In New York City, VOGUE, February 2025
“Hi! My name’s Naim, and I am almost 12. I enjoy musical theater, acting in musicals, and I love cosplay too.”
So began one of the featured speakers at Saturday’s Rise Up for Trans Youth Rally, an event that drew thousands of people to New York City’s Union Square. Naim continued: “Today I am here, even though this is challenging, because I want other people to know that they cannot tell us trans kids who we should be. We deserve to figure that out ourselves…without other people trying to control us. We are humans. We are entitled to as many human rights as anyone else.”
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New Yorkers Rally to Support Trans Youth, PAPER, February 2025
Over the weekend, thousands of protesters filled Union Square in Manhattan for The Rise Up For Trans Youth rally in response to recent executive orders under President Trump.
In a matter of weeks, his administration has rolled back rights for trans people in the United States, from taking them off the LGBTQ+ acronym on federal websites to banning trans athletes from women’s sports and attempting to restrict gender-affirming care for citizens under 19 years old.
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Amid Concern Over Trump Order, New Yorkers Rally to Support Trans Youth, New York Times, February 2025
Eliel Cruz, a founder of the Gender Liberation Movement, one of the rally’s organizers, said that he hoped the demonstration would show trans children and young people that there was a community of New Yorkers who cared about them and who saw them “as they are.”
“The few people in power currently who are trying to demonize them and take away their health care are not the majority of people,” Mr. Cruz said.
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Trans Activist Raquel Willis Offers Thoughts on Organizing, Strength and Hope in this Moment, Ms Magazine, February 2025
Willis is a fierce advocate “dedicated to collective liberation,” especially for Black trans people. A journalist, author and media strategist, she is also a co-founder of Gender Liberation Movement, an executive producer with iHeartMedia’s first-ever LGBTQ+ podcast network, Outspoken, and the host of Afterlives and Queer Chronicles.
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Activist discusses impact Trump executive order will have on transgender athletes, ABC NEWS, February 2025
Raquel Willis, co-founder of the Gender Liberation Movement, reacts to President Donald Trump's executive order banning transgender athletes in women's sports.
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Trump administration to acknowledge only a person’s gender assigned at birth, officials say, ABC NEWS, February 2025
JTrump targets gender rights on Day 1 ABC News’ Linsey Davis speaks to author and transgender rights activist Raquel Willis about Trump’s executive actions directed against the LGBTQ+ community.
Trump’s impact on the transgender community includes ‘a lot of devastation’: Activist, ABC NEWS, February 2025
Journalist and transgender activist Raquel Willis reacts to President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting transgender people.
The fight for trans rights is beyond the ‘visibility era’: ‘This moment calls for radical defiance’, Pink News, January 2025
For activist Raquel Willis, co-founder of the Gender Liberation Movement alongside Eliel Cruz, the fight for trans rights and universal bodily autonomy has to move past the visibility era to be truly impactful.
“This idea of simply using visibility as a means to bring about the kind of culture and society that’s going to receive trans folks with the respects that we deserve is over,” she told PinkNews, “and so we have to be thinking in new ways about how to protect ourselves, our voices, our histories and our brilliance without relying on a lot of the institutions that have really pushed the visibility vehicle.”
Dear Trans Kids, You Don't Need the Government's Permission to Exist, Teen Vogue , January 2025
Dear trans and nonbinary youth,
With the 2025 inauguration of Donald Trump, our community has witnessed the culmination of a yearslong attack on our truths and our lives. We are forced to reckon with the fact that millions of Americans elected a xenophobic leader with seemingly autocratic ambitions, one who seems hell-bent on making people on the margins disappear. There are many lessons to glean from this political moment, but one stands out: When hate is allowed to stand with inadequate resistance, it festers and grows.
THESE TRANS-RIGHTS ADVOCATES AREN’T WAITING FOR DEMS TO SAVE THEM, Rolling Stone, January 2025
As Democrats struggle to find their footing in the aftermath of a decisive defeat in November’s election, one group of advocates is hoping to take the lead in the fight to protect the trans community, as well as any American hoping to protect their right to bodily autonomy. On Thursday, the Gender Liberation Movement (GLM) — a collective of organizers, activists, and volunteers who have been making waves on Capitol Hill — announced their launch as a national organization. In an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone, Gender Liberation Movement Co-Founders Raquel Willis and Eliel Cruz spoke about the new group, and what they hope to accomplish in the Trump era.
Why aren’t more politicians condemning Nancy Mace’s vicious anti-trans stunts? The Guadrian, December 2024
We held these histories in our hearts as we raised our voices together: “Democrats grow a spine, trans lives are on the line.” Capitol police tightened handcuffs around our wrists and hauled 15 of us off to jail.
Mace followed along to the US Capitol police headquarters. With a megaphone magnifying her hate, she hurled anti-trans slurs at us while we sat locked in our cells. So far, only a single member of Congress, the representative Maxwell Frost, has condemned her abhorrent hate speech.
Activist Raquel Willis believes Democrats have abandoned trans people, The Independent, December 2024
In November, House Republicans led by Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina “welcomed” their incoming colleague Sarah McBride — the first openly trans person elected to Congress — with a ban on trans people using the bathroom of their gender identity on Capitol Hill. Mace has since introduced a bill that would apply this ban to museums, national parks, and other federal property across the country.
Trans Rights Organizers Say Democrats Are Using Trump as a ‘Scapegoat’ for Their Own Inaction, Jezebel, December 2024
In November, House Republicans led by Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina “welcomed” their incoming colleague Sarah McBride — the first openly trans person elected to Congress — with a ban on trans people using the bathroom of their gender identity on Capitol Hill. Mace has since introduced a bill that would apply this ban to museums, national parks, and other federal property across the country.
Chelsea Manning and others arrested for protesting Republican trans bathroom ban, Attitude, December 2024
Chelsea Manning, the trans former US Army intelligence analyst turned infamous whistleblower, was part of a group of protestors arrested yesterday for advocating for trans rights in the US Capitol.
The protest took place outside House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office after he supported a GOP-led resolution to ban transgender women from using women’s bathrooms at the US Capitol.
Trans veteran Chelsea Manning arrested following US Capitol bathroom protest, Pink News, December 2024
Trans veteran Chelsea Manning has been arrested in the US Congress after protesting a policy that bans trans women from women’s bathrooms.
Chelsea Manning arrested in Congress for protesting against transgender bathroom ban, The Independent, December 2024
Former US Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning has been arrested in the halls of Congress for protesting against a ban on transgender women using women's bathrooms.
BREAKING: Chelsea Manning and Raquel Willis among 15 arrested, The Advocate, December 2024
Capitol Police Arrest Transgender Advocates at “Bathroom Sit-In” Protest, Democracy Now, December 2024
On Capitol Hill, police arrested over a dozen transgender advocates, including Chelsea Manning, as they staged a “bathroom sit-in” protest at a congressional restroom near the offices of House Speaker Mike Johnson and Congressmember Nancy Mace.
Protests against anti-trans bathroom policy lead to more than a dozen arrests, Washington Blade, December 2024
Roughly 15 demonstrators were arrested in a House building Thursday amid a protest against Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) recent bathroom and facility ban affecting transgender and nonbinary people on Capitol Hill.
Trans rights activists arrested in House building during bathroom ban protest, Axios, December 2024
Roughly 15 demonstrators were arrested in a House building Thursday amid a protest against Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-La.) recent bathroom and facility ban affecting transgender and nonbinary people on Capitol Hill.
Trans rights activists protest Capitol bathroom ban, The Hill, December 2024
Transgender rights activists including Chelsea Manning, a former U.S. army intelligence analyst and whistleblower, took to Capitol Hill on Thursday in protest of a new policy barring trans people from using single-sex facilities on the House side of the Capitol complex that match their gender identity.
Transgender advocates stage a sit-in protest at a U.S. Capitol bathroom, NBC, December 2024
More than two dozen transgender people and their allies staged a sit-in at a U.S. Capitol bathroom Thursday to protest a proposed policy that would prohibit the country’s first openly trans member of Congress from using the women’s restrooms in the building.
Chelsea Manning, trans rights activists protest at Capitol, GOP lawmaker uses slur, USA Today, December 2024
Chelsea Manning, the former U.S. Army Soldier and WikiLeaks whistleblower, joined a group of transgender rights activists staging a sit-in protest Thursday at a bathroom near Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) office, objecting to the Republican-led effort to ban transgender women from using the Capitol women’s bathrooms.
Activists Occupied Bathrooms in the US Capitol to Protest the Trans Ban, Mother Jones, December 2024
Protesters took to the US Capitol bathrooms across from House Speaker MikeJohnson’s office on Thursday to protest the recently enacted policy banning trans people from accessing bathrooms that align with their gender identity. Just a day after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that may upend gender-affirming care for children and adults across the United States, dozens of trans people and their allies raised banners demanding Congress “stop pissing on our rights” and urging supporters to “flush bathroom bigotry.”
Trans Rights Activists Stage Protest In Bathroom Next To Mike Johnson’s Office, HuffPost, December 2024
More than a dozen transgender rights activists were arrested Thursday after staging a protest in a women’s bathroom right next to the office of Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who recently imposed a ban on transgender and nonbinary people using bathrooms in the House that align with their gender identity.
Demonstrators arrested outside Speaker Johnson’s office for protesting bathroom ban, Washington Post, December 2024
At around noon, a group of trans rights activists, organized by the Gender Liberation Movement, took over a bathroom across from Johnson’s office in the Cannon House Office Building, chanting “Bathroom bigotry’s got to go” and “Our bodies are no debate.
Trans Activists Arrested For Occupying Bathroom Outside Mike Johnson's Office, Teen Vogue, December 2024
Two weeks after Capitol Hill exploded over Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) pushing to ban trans people from using the correct bathrooms on federal property, approximately 15 activists were arrested for protesting the policy by “sitting-in” in a women’s bathroom across from Johnson’s Congressional office, according to event organizers.
Trans activists stage bathroom sit-in at Capitol Hill, 19th NEWS, December 2024
Transgender activists staged a sit-in on Thursday inside the women’s bathroom closest to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office on Capitol Hill, to protest Republican-led efforts to keep transgender people from using restrooms that match their gender identity.
Chelsea Manning and others arrested outside Speaker Johnson’s office in protest for transgender rights, CNN, December 2024
Chelsea Manning, the former Army intelligence analyst behind one of the largest leaks of classified information in history, was among a group of activists arrested Thursday outside of House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office after taking part in a protest advocating for transgender rights.
“We’re Just Supporting Our Kid the Best We Know How”: Meet the Families Who Traveled to D.C. to Stand Up for Gender-Affirming Care, VOGUE, December 2024
After the oral arguments were presented, a community hangout took place at the local D.C. spot As You Are. There, the Gender Liberation Movement, an emergent organization dedicated to bodily autonomy and self-determination for all, invited families and their trans children (many of whom traveled cross-country to protest the hearing) to get their portraits taken.
50 images from the Gender Liberation March that say ‘F You’ to Project 2025, The Advocate, September 2024
We're here, we're queer, and we will not be ruled by existential fear.
Sometimes joy is our most powerful weapon.
At least two thousand protestors filled the streets of Washington, D.C., on Saturday for the Gender Liberation March, in which they not only demanded access to abortion and gender-affirming care, but also celebrated their identities and communities.
The inaugural Gender Liberation March linked the fights for reproductive and transgender rights, The 19th, September 2024
Under Pride flags, Black Lives Matter flags and Palestinian flags, thousands of LGBTQ+ people and their loved ones danced and chanted through the inaugural Gender Liberation March in Washington, D.C., on Saturday to send one unifying message: that fights for reproductive rights and transgender rights are inextricably linked.
Gender Liberation March Rallies for Queer Joy in DC, Paper Magazine, September 2024
The Gender Liberation March descended on Washington D.C. this Saturday, rallying more than two thousand protestors at the headquarters of the Heritage Foundation, the architects of Project 2025. Their goal? “Defend access to abortion, gender affirming care, and the lives that we deserve,” said Raquel Willis…
Hundreds rally, march to Supreme Court in D.C.’s first Gender Liberation March, Georgetown Voice, September 2024
Travelers at Union Station were greeted with chanting, dancing, cheering, and marching on Sept. 14 as over 500 demonstrators gathered for D.C.’s first Gender Liberation March at Columbus Circle.
The march was co-founded by writer and activist Raquel Willis and organizer Eliel Cruz…
Thousands of trans protestors hold a dance party outside of the Heritage Foundation, LGBTQ Nation, September 2024
Two thousand people marched in the Gender Liberation March on Washington D.C. last Saturday, ending up right in front of the conservative Heritage Foundation, the organization responsible for Project 2025.
Marchers voiced their opposition to Project 2025…
Gender liberation march on Washington DC demands bodily autonomy, Fight Back! News, September 2024
On Saturday, September 14, hundreds of activists from across the country gathered at Union Station lawn for the Gender Liberation March. The action brought into coalition local organizations, East coast regional groups, and national forces from the queer liberation, reproductive justice, feminist and Black liberation movements.
Trans Protesters Held a Fully DJed Dance Party and Ball Outside the Heritage Foundation, Them, September 2024
At least two thousand people marched on Washington, D.C. on Saturday, September 14 as part of the historic Gender Liberation March, demanding bodily autonomy in the form of gender-affirming healthcare and reproductive justice.
Gender Liberation March Brings Elliot Page, Miss Major, Peppermint, LGBTQ+ Youth to Washington D.C., Teen Vogue, September 2024
Teen Vogue spoke to march co-organizer Raquel Willis and youth attendees about the threat of Project 2025, the presidential election, and being trans in America.
Gender Liberation March participants rally for bodily autonomy outside Supreme Court, Heritage Foundation, Washington Blade, September 2024
Upwards of 1,000 people gathered in D.C. on Saturday for the first-ever Gender Liberation March, rallying for bodily autonomy and self-determination outside the U.S. Supreme Court and the Heritage Foundation headquarters.
The march brought together advocates for transgender, LGBTQ, feminist, and reproductive rights…
Why abortion and trans rights activists have found common cause, Time Magazine, September 2024
For Lizette Trujillo, there were multiple reasons it was worth making the 2,000 mile-trip from Tucson, Ariz. to the nation’s capital for the Gender Liberation March to fight for bodily autonomy.
“It's really important because, yes, I'm the mother of a transgender child, but I [also] had an abortion at 22, had a miscarriage at 40. Having bodily autonomy…
DC Gender Liberation March calls attention to anti-LGBTQ+ bills [video], WASU9, September 2024
The goal was to call attention to more than 600 anti-LGBTQ legislative bills, including a Supreme Court case on medical treatment for transgender youth.
Thousands expected to attend Gender Liberation March in DC [video], ABC News, September 2024
This will be the first Gender Liberation March in the nation’s capital. The event comes as the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up the case challenging Tennessee’s ban on gender affirming care.
Gender Liberation March will take to the streets to protest a second Trump presidency, HuffPost, September 2024
Daniel Trujillo’s first month of junior year has been a “cakewalk.”
He’s in two different jazz bands and is a member of his school’s chapter of March for Our Lives chapter, a student-led organization promoting gun control. He dreams of studying music in college.
But getting there has not been easy for Daniel and his family ― especially in Arizona, where a barrage of anti-LGBTQ+…
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The inaugural Gender Liberation March features Elliot Page, Miss Major, and more trans icons, Them, September 2024
Thousands of people are expected to protest outside of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Heritage Foundation headquarters on Saturday as part of the first Gender Liberation March.
The march will unite abortion rights, transgender, LGBTQ, and feminist…
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Thousands expected to participate in Gender Liberation March in DC, Washington Blade, September 2024
Thousands of people are expected to protest outside of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Heritage Foundation headquarters on Saturday as part of the first Gender Liberation March.
The march will unite abortion rights, transgender, LGBTQ, and feminist…
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The Gender Revolutionary Principles of Raquel Willis, Metro Weekly, August 2024
“I think people can be very performative, and we live in a time where it can be about the clicks and engagements and impressions, and people will say the most volatile things to get attention,” says Raquel Willis. “And attention can feel like power, but it’s very short-lived and finite.”
Willis is a core team member of the Gender Liberation Movement, the organizers…
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Inside the massive protest against Project 2025 and anti-trans laws coming to D.C., The Advocate, August 2024
It isn’t just transgender people’s rights at stake.
That’s the message organizers are emphasizing as September 14 approaches, when the streets of Washington, D.C. will be flooded with protestors turning out for the Gender Liberation March…
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17 impactful images of the Gender Liberation Movement's marches, The Advocate, August 2024
Fighting for our future! The Gender Liberation Movement is hosting its Gender Liberation March on September 14th in Washington, DC, championing rights and access to abortion and gender-affirming care. With much at stake in the upcoming U.S. elections…
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“There Is a Better World Out There:” Why The Gender Liberation Movement Is Marching on Washington, Them, August 2024
LGBTQ+ advocates and reproductive justice organizers are coming together for an unprecedented demonstration next month in support of bodily autonomy for everyone. Scheduled for September 14 in Washington, D.C., Gender Liberation March…
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