Logo: Logo Young Leaders 2018- Juniperangelica
This feature was originally published by Logo.
“Young Leaders 2018: 6 Fearless LGBTQ Activists Who Refuse to Settle for the Status Quo
From Alaska to New York, these young activists are making waves in their local or campus communities.
In an era of constant political strife, often at the expense of some of the country’s most marginalized populations, young people nationwide are answering the call to stand up for their beliefs and advocate for their communities.
This year, we’ve teamed up with five major social justice groups—Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Point Foundation, The Trevor Project, and the Transgender Law Center—to spotlight six young LGBTQ activists working to make their local or campus communities safer, more equitable places for all.”
“Juniperangelica/Gia is a Chicana trans activist and a student at the University of California, Berkeley who runs TRUTH, a trans youth liberation project supported by the Transgender Law Center and GSA Network.
Who’s your activist role model?
I follow the lead and guidance of so many activists, from my trancestors like Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, to other badass trans women of color like Miss Major, Raquel Willis, and so many others. I find role models in the collective movements of our people and the lessons that are passed down through generations. We have a powerful history and powerful future ahead of us.
Describe the moment you knew you wanted to become an activist.
I don’t know if I’ve ever had a moment of “wanting” to be an activist; for me, it’s always been an action that I’ve felt no choice in. As a transgender Latina who has experienced poverty throughout childhood and is constantly radicalized while at school or in public, activism has been my source of building a future that I will be alive to experience.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell 13-year-old Juniperangelica to love herself a little more. I would say that the world moves fast, but I am faster. I would tell her to be nice to her body and learn to love her shape, color, voice, and so much more. I would also teach her how to understand that she doesn’t know everything and how to be okay with that fact. I would also tell her to start saving money now so she could attend every Beyoncé tour to come.
If you could Tweet at Donald Trump and you knew he’d read it, what would you write?
I wouldn’t waste any more time on him, or his unqualified and evil administration.”