Transgender Day of Remembrance and Resilience (TDOR) is an annual observance on November 20 that honors the memory of the transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence. On Transgender Day of Remembrance, AIDS United remembers the transgender people whose lives through an unwavering commitment to supporting the development of new leaders through Transgender Leadership Initiative (TLI).
Founded in 2017, the Transgender Leadership Initiative (TLI) is a leadership development program created to support transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) leaders of color who are emerging as changemakers in their communities.
TLI’s mission is to strengthen the professional development, leadership capacity, and community-based services led by TGNC people. In 2024, TLI expanded its focus to more holistically support TGNC youth and TGNC people of color serving in community health worker roles.
“Investing in the leadership of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) people of color — especially youth — is an essential act of allyship. At a time when the current administration continues to target TGNC communities, we recognize that leadership development is both a protective factor and a pathway to power. Since launching AIDS United’s Transgender Leadership Initiative (TLI) in 2017, we’ve seen the impact of this commitment through the brilliance and resilience of our grantees.”
Today, AIDS United University has served as a trusted hub for 250 individuals to build their knowledge and care of TGNC communities through our Let’s Talk About Gender Training series, and access other publicly available resources at their fingertips.
TLI is preparing the next generation of healthcare and social service professionals to provide the life-affirming care that TGNC people of color deserve. Starting in January 2026, TLI will host a 4-part mental health and leadership webinar series for TGNC youth. Led by BIPOC TGNC mental health professionals, the series will cover topics such as taking care of your mental health, empowering peers, and leading with confidence.
For more information, about Transgender Leadership Initiative (TLI), contact Gabriel Glissmeyer, Program Manager of the Transgender Leadership Initiative at gglissmeyer@aidsunited.org