Queer Heroes of America’s Territories

Activists and LGBT leaders in the American territories have to work even harder sometimes. Here are just a few leaders leading the good fight. Trans activist and educator, Dr. Vene Sele, has been a staple in the Samoan LGBT community for decades not only for her affable personality, but also her continuous fight for equality while expressing one of the traditional gender roles in Samoa, fa’afafine, which she told the Seattle Gay News is “men who dress, act, and do things as women.” As a coordinator for the feminist organization, Women’s Coalition of St. Troix, Lavonne Wise has been advocating for social justice and LGBT equality most of her adult life.