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Presley Ann/Getty Images for Out.com
Naiymah A Sanchez attends The Out100 Party 2023 at NeueHouse Hollywood transgender activist Philadelphia
Presley Ann/Getty Images for Out.com
Out100 | Voices

This trans activist and Out100 alum is booked, busy, and ready to conquer the world

2023 honoree and Philadelphia activist Naiymah Sanchez on creating a bold path for trans liberation.

30 Years, 30 Stories: join us in celebrating the 30th anniversary of Out100 with our Voices essays, featuring powerful personal narratives from past honorees that have shaped the LGBTQ+ community. Unlock the Out100 Vault to explore additional stories and reflect on three decades of progress and resilience.


If you ask Naiymah Sanchez what it means to be a force of change, she'll tell you it's not something you actively set out to do but embody through your lived experiences.

Her voice is passionate and radically rooted in her love for her community.

While she was settling into her hotel stay in New York City, I spoke with Sanchez about what it means to be a trans advocate today. With a legacy spanning over a decade, this activist, educator, and organizer made it clear that the work is far from over.

But she's ready for every challenge that comes her way.

When Naiymah Sanchez was named to the Out100 in 2023, it reflected years of grassroots work that Sanchez poured into her beloved community. As someone deeply involved in trans rights, particularly in Philadelphia, where she worked extensively with organizations like the ACLU. Sanchez says the honor felt surreal. "You never imagine that your efforts will be nationally recognized," she reflects. "The work that you're doing is also your life."

Sanchez considers herself a radical educator, always aiming to empower her community by arming them with knowledge. "To be recognized as an educator, an agitator—it lets me know that I am making strides in the community," she says, her voice brimming with pride. The work isn't about recognition but making a tangible difference for her.

While being recognized on a national platform has had its perks—more interviews, more visibility—Sanchez is quick to point out the downside.

"There's a perception in the community that now, because you've made it to the national stage, you don't need to organize with us anymore," Naiymah says, adding that it's a misconception she actively pushes back against. "By my work isn't done yet."

She's determined to prove that through every panel, training, and legislative fight. Despite the visibility, Sanchez maintains her focus on the local level, where change is often the hardest to achieve but the most necessary. She continues her advocacy with the same passion and focus she's always had, determined to stay rooted in the community she serves.

When asked how the recognition of being part of the Out100 shaped her activism, Sanchez notes that it's made her advocacy more "digestible" to a broader audience. "As radical as I am," she chuckles, "I know there are ways to navigate this work in rooms that we don't traditionally have access to."

It's a delicate balance between staying true to the roots of her activism and finding ways to make it palatable to elected officials and business leaders. But at the end of the day, her message remains the same, whether in front of a local community group or on a national panel. Sanchez's focus remains on amplifying the voices of Black trans women, a group she believes is the backbone of the LGBTQ+ movement but continues to be marginalized.

"Black trans women have always led this movement," she affirms. "We deserve to have these spaces, and we deserve to be at the table where discussions and decisions are made."

Representation has always been at the forefront of Sanchez's work. She believes that having trans bodies, especially Black and Brown trans individuals, in leadership roles is essential to changing the narrative. "It's wonderful that organizations are starting to onboard more Black trans folks," she admits. "But you can't just have one." Emphasizing diversity needs to be more than a token gesture.

Sanchez sees herself as an expert not because of a degree—she proudly notes that she didn't go to college—but because of her lived experience. "I'm a doctor in my own experience," she says, noting that her expertise comes from the years she's spent navigating the world as a trans woman and using that experience to advise on policy. She's focused on ensuring that the next generation of trans advocates has the tools, knowledge, and representation to keep pushing the movement forward.

As a leader in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, Naiymah's work is never done. Whether it's advocating for comprehensive non-discrimination laws or pushing for the decriminalization of sex work, she remains laser-focused on policy changes that will improve the lives of queer and trans individuals.

"The goal is to get people out to vote and engaged," she says. "In Pennsylvania, we're on a two-year legislative cycle, so if we don't get these bills passed now, we'll have to start all over again."

In addition to her legislative work, Sanchez has been busy traveling the world, recently returning from a panel in Germany where she discussed the criminalization of sex work and its impact on HIV transmission in marginalized communities. "I'm booked and busy now," she says with a laugh, though it's clear that her schedule isn't slowing her down anytime soon.

As the Out100 celebrates its 30th anniversary, Naiymah reflects on what it means to be part of this influential group. "We don't do this work to be recognized, but it does feel good," she admits. "It feels good to be valued and seen."

For Naiymah Sanchez, being an Out100 honoree is a reminder that her work, while often grueling and thankless, is making a difference. But for her, the recognition isn't the end goal—it's just another step in the journey toward true equality and liberation.

See All 2023's Most Impactful and Influential LGBTQ+ People
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Magnus Hastings for Sandra Bernhard
Sandra Bernhard OUT100 voices
Magnus Hastings for Sandra Bernhard
Out100 | Voices

The bisexual comedy queen who is unfiltered, unstoppable, and always ahead of the curve

From the comedy stage to starring in hit shows like Roseanne and Pose, Sandra Bernhard reflects on her work and being part of the inaugural Out100 list.

30 Years, 30 Stories: join us in celebrating the 30th anniversary of Out100 with our Voices essays, featuring powerful personal narratives from past honorees that have shaped the LGBTQ+ community. Unlock the Out100 Vault to explore additional stories and reflect on three decades of progress and resilience.

I can't remember the first time I saw Sandra Bernhard on television. Still, I vividly remember how bold, brash, and ahead of the curve she was.

She brought that same energy to our chat. And with her unmistakable candor, Sandra reminisced about her storied career and what it means to be part of the LGBTQ+ community today.

In 1994, when Sandra was first named in the inaugural Out100 list, her world was different. "I was deep into it, living my life, performing a lot, doing a lot of live shows," she muses. "It was years and years before social media, so people could just be fresh and original and do their thing without the scrutiny and the microscope of today's world." She was also in the midst of her groundbreaking role on Roseanne as Nancy, the first recurring bisexual character on a major TV network.

"Roseanne was very adventurous and way ahead of the curve back then," she recalls. "We just wanted to do a character that was really fun and quirky." Though the character was groundbreaking in terms of bi-representation, Roseanne's Nancy was about existing beyond her queerness. "That's what I love about my work," Sandra affirms. "It's always assuming that everybody else is already caught up with us."

For Sandra, it wasn't about breaking barriers or pushing boundaries but about being herself. "I never felt like I was doing something heroic by being who I was," she says. "I was always out, always authentic."

That sense of authenticity has been a hallmark of Sandra's career, spanning over decades, and she has tackled roles in everything from cult comedies to serious dramas. Among her most recent roles was in the groundbreaking series Pose, covering the 1980s and early '90s New York City ballroom scene. Her character was one that Sandra brought her personal experiences to, seeing it all from the AIDS epidemic to the present-day battles for trans rights. "I've always tried to do roles that align with what I believe," she says. "For me, it wasn't about doing something special."

"Trans people are my family, people I love and have a total connection with."

Magnus Hastings for Sandra Bernhard

But Sandra is never one to rest on her laurels. She's set to appear in the second season of Disney's Percy Jackson and the Olympians. "It's always amazing to get another role," she says, relishing the opportunity to dive into a fantasy world. "I had to get my face molded for the show… They're making some insane contraption for me and Margaret Cho. I think we're all supposed to be one character. It's a whole other adventure!"

And there's more on the horizon. Sandra is gearing up for a series of performances, including her annual run at Joe's Pub in New York City, where she's known for her sharp wit, incisive commentary, and a knack for summing up the year's events. "I do this every year, a kind of marathon of shows," she explains. "I get to sum up the whole year, and there's so much happening politically."

And Sandra's thoughts on the political and cultural landscape are as sharp as ever.

Outside of her professional life, Sandra is surprisingly leveled. "I love doing day-to-day things," she shares, enjoying everything from shopping at the grocery store to cooking and doing laundry. "I love that insular feeling of being with family and doing things that ground me daily."

Reflecting on her place in the Out100 and what it means to be part of this legacy, Sandra is as thoughtful as ever. "It means so much," she says. I really just want to be a part of the grooviness, goodness, and creativity the LGBTQ+ community is constantly at the forefront of."

And for Sandra, that's what it's all about. Being part of something bigger, something transformative, and something real. She's a force of nature, a trailblazer, and, most importantly, a storyteller who's always ready to push the envelope just a little bit further.

As she says, "I'm halfway to my destination. So if you want to come along, just jump in the back seat."

See All 2023's Most Impactful and Influential LGBTQ+ People
Artists
Disruptors
Educators
Groundbreakers
Innovators
Storytellers

Marie-Adélina de la Ferrière

Marie-Adélina de la Ferrière is the Community Editor at equalpride, publisher of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, Plus, and Pride.com. A Haitian-American trans woman, she tirelessly champions voices from the LGBTQ+ community, creating a vibrant community engagement approach that infuses each story with a dynamic and innovative perspective. Like and follow her on social: @ageofadelina.

Marie-Adélina de la Ferrière is the Community Editor at equalpride, publisher of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, Plus, and Pride.com. A Haitian-American trans woman, she tirelessly champions voices from the LGBTQ+ community, creating a vibrant community engagement approach that infuses each story with a dynamic and innovative perspective. Like and follow her on social: @ageofadelina.