The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) & the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) officially announced their intent to merge & create a new organization called Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE). Once the merger takes effect Andrea “Andy” Hong Marra, executive director of TLDEF & Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, executive director of NCTE will lead the new organization as CEO & Executive Director. Marra stated, “With double the resources, expertise & fearless commitment to justice, we will be a powerful national organization to lead the next chapter of the transgender rights movement. Advocates for Trans Equality will show exactly what can be materially achieved when trans advocates come together & seek nothing less than equality for trans people in America.” Heng-Lehtinen concluded, “NCTE & TLDEF already have a long history of partnering to fight for the legal rights & protection of transgender people. Even though we’ve achieved many victories over that time, it feels like it was just a warm-up for the journey ahead. With a record number of attacks on trans people & trans rights, now is the time to unite & use our combined power & influence to advance trans equality in bigger & bolder ways than our organizations could alone.” By combining strengths into a single entity Advocates for Trans Equality will be a highly influential & effective voice ensuring that trans experiences & perspectives guide the national movement for trans rights. Advocates for Trans Equality will house both a 501(c)3 organization that focuses on litigation and public education and a 501(c)4 that will influence policy to fight for transgender equality at local, state & federal levels.
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