Raquel Willis Explained

Raquel Willis
Birth Place:Augusta, Georgia, U.S.
Education:University of Georgia (BA)
Organization:Ms. Foundation for Women

Raquel Willis (born 1990/1991)[1] is an African American writer, editor, and transgender rights activist.[2] [3] She is a former national organizer for the Transgender Law Center and[4] the former executive editor of Out magazine.[5] [6] In 2020, Willis won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Magazine Article.[7] Her memoir, The Risk It Takes To Bloom, was published in November 2023.[8]

Early life and education

Willis was born and raised in Augusta, Georgia. She grew up in a Catholic family that encouraged volunteerism, stewardship, and giving back to the community. Her parents were both Sunday school teachers, and she attended church every weekend.[9]

As a child, Willis "was very conflicted" over her gender and sexuality. She was bullied at school and by kids in the neighborhood. As a teenager, she came out as gay, and eventually found acceptance from her peers and parents.[10]

Willis attended college at the University of Georgia, where she encountered more harassment for being gender non-conforming. She came to realize that she was a trans woman, and decided to transition. She worked with other students to counter discrimination based on gender identity. Willis graduated in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in journalism.[11]

Activism and career

Following graduation from UGA, Willis moved to Atlanta and began getting involved in activism with fellow transgender and gender non-conforming people of color. She later came to live in Oakland and work as a communications associate, then national organizer, for the Transgender Law Center.[12] [13]

Willis was one of the speakers at the 2017 Women's March in Washington, D.C.[14] [15] She later stated that though she was glad to be there, she felt that trans women were an "afterthought in the initial planning", and she was cut off by organizers when she tried to say this at the demonstration itself.[16] [17]

Willis has spoken out strongly on behalf of trans women. For example, she has criticized comments by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, when Adichie differentiated transgender women from cisgender women,[18] and Willis called for a boycott of The Breakfast Club radio show after comedian Lil Duval joked about killing trans women during an interview.[19] [20]

Willis designed the Black Trans Flag, a variation on the Transgender Pride Flag with a black instead of white stripe across the middle.[21]

Willis' writings have appeared in publications including The Huffington Post,[22] BuzzFeed,[23] and Autostraddle.[24] She also hosted The BGD Podcast with Raquel Willis.[25]

In December 2018, Willis was appointed as executive editor of Out magazine, becoming the first trans woman to lead the publication.[26] [27]

Willis, along with Neal Broverman, endorsed Elizabeth Warren in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries.[28] [29] Later that year in June 2020, Willis was announced as the new Director of Communications for the Ms. Foundation for Women. She held that role until January 2021.[30] [31]

Willis' memoir, The Risk It Takes To Bloom, was published in November 2023 by St. Martin's. During the Israel–Hamas war she attended an anti-war protest[32] and told AP in 2024 that "everyone is thinking about the genocide that is happening in Gaza and Palestine". In 2024, Willis was a grand marshal for the NYC Pride March.[33]

Work

Awards and recognition

Notes and References

  1. The Root 100 Most Influential African Americans 2017 . . September 19, 2017 . September 2017 . November 13, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191113110419/http://interactives.theroot.com/root-100-2017/ . live.
  2. Daniel. Ian. Ian Daniel and Trans Activist Raquel Willis on Elevating Trans Experiences. September 19, 2017. Vice. August 10, 2017. September 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170920045343/https://impact.vice.com/en_us/article/j55xyd/ian-daniel-and-trans-activist-raquel-willis-on-elevating-trans-experiences. live.
  3. Darville. Jordan. How Trump's Anti-Transgender Policy Goes Beyond Twitter, The Military, And The News Cycle. September 19, 2017. The Fader. July 26, 2017. July 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190706064445/https://www.thefader.com/2017/07/26/raquel-willis-trump-trans-military-interview. live.
  4. Web site: Raquel Willis. Transgender Law Center. September 19, 2017. September 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170920044752/https://transgenderlawcenter.org/about/staff-and-board/raquel-willis. live.
  5. Christian . Tanya A. . Transgender Activist Raquel Willis Appointed Executive Editor at Out Magazine . December 11, 2018 . Essence . December 10, 2018 . November 8, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191108092459/https://www.essence.com/news/transgender-activist-raquel-willis-appointed-executive-editor-out-magazine/ . live .
  6. Web site: 2020-07-08. Ms. Foundation for Women Announces Raquel Willis as New Director of Communications. 2020-12-31. Philanthropy New York. en.
  7. Web site: 2020-07-30. Pose, Schitt's Creek, Lil Nas X, Booksmart, The Rachel Maddow Show, Dolly Parton's Heartstrings, Raquel Willis among winners at the 31st Annual GLAAD Media Awards. 2020-12-31. GLAAD. en. 2020-12-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20201203171134/https://www.glaad.org/blog/pose-schitt%E2%80%99s-creek-lil-nas-x-booksmart-glaad-media-awards. live.
  8. Web site: Martin . Emily . August 11, 2023 . 15 LGBTQ+ Books We Can't Wait to Read This Fall . October 17, 2023 . . en-US.
  9. Web site: Willis. Raquel. Bio. Raquel Willis. September 19, 2017. September 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170920044547/http://www.raquelwillis.com/bio/. live.
  10. Web site: October 20, 2016. The Human Element: Raquel Willis on finding empowerment in her gender identity. September 19, 2017. Georgia Unites Against Discrimination. September 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170920045224/https://www.georgiaunites.org/raquel-willis/. live.
  11. News: Aaron. Darian. Atlanta trans activist Raquel Willis on gender identity, race on WABE. September 19, 2017. The Georgia Voice. November 11, 2015. August 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160804105050/http://thegavoice.com/atlanta-trans-activist-raquel-willis-on-gender-identity-race-on-wabe/. live.
  12. Web site: Chapin. Angelina. 2020-07-06. How I Get It Done: Writer and Activist Raquel Willis. 2020-12-31. The Cut. en-us. 2020-11-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20201130073512/https://www.thecut.com/2020/07/how-i-get-it-done-writer-and-activist-raquel-willis.html. live.
  13. Web site: Raquel Willis' Rise to Becoming a Leading Voice for Trans Rights. 2020-12-31. www.vice.com. 21 May 2018 . en. 2020-10-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20201025023449/https://www.vice.com/en/article/3k4bkk/raquel-willis-trans-rights-activism. live.
  14. News: Huge turnout for Women's March. September 19, 2017. MSNBC. January 22, 2017. September 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170920123731/http://www.msnbc.com/weekends-with-alex-witt/watch/huge-turnout-for-women-s-march-860261955655. live.
  15. News: Women's March on Washington. September 19, 2017. C-SPAN. January 21, 2017. September 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170920045835/https://www.c-span.org/video/?422332-1%2Fwomens-march-washington-protests-new-trump-administration. live.
  16. Book: Mukhopadhyay. Samhita. Harding. Kate. Nasty Women: Feminism, Resistance, and Revolution in Trump's America. 2017. Picador. 9781250155504. 201.
  17. Valentine. Claire. Beautiful People: Raquel Willis Is an Intersectional Transgender Activist Fighting for Authenticity. October 1, 2017. Paper. September 27, 2017. October 2, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171002072438/http://www.papermag.com/beautiful-people-raquel-willis-is-an-intersectional-transgender-activist-fighting-for-authenticity-2489490694.html. live.
  18. Pickens. Ashley. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Under Fire For "Trans Women Are Trans Women" Views. September 19, 2017. Vibe. March 13, 2017. September 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170920045003/https://www.vibe.com/2017/03/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie-trans-women/. live.
  19. Lil Duval Jokes About Murdering Transgender Women, Leads To 'The Breakfast Club' Boycott. September 19, 2017. Essence. July 31, 2017. September 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170920045141/http://www.essence.com/entertainment/lil-duval-the-breakfast-club-boycott-transphobia. live.
  20. Web site: Karlan. Sarah. People Call For A Boycott Of "The Breakfast Club" After A Guest Joked About Killing Trans Women. 2020-12-31. BuzzFeed. 31 July 2017 . en. 2020-05-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20200526192555/https://www.buzzfeed.com/skarlan/the-trans-community-is-not-ok-with-this-radio-shows-jokes. live.
  21. Web site: Willis. Raquel. I designed the Black Trans Flag to represent Black trans identity for #BlackTransLiberationTuesday.. August 23, 2016. September 19, 2017. Twitter. July 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200711071216/https://twitter.com/raquelwillis_/status/768105708545945600. live.
  22. Web site: Raquel Willis. The Huffington Post. September 19, 2017. February 24, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170224100124/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/raquel-willis. live.
  23. Web site: Raquel Willis. BuzzFeed. September 19, 2017. November 21, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171121041547/https://www.buzzfeed.com/raquelwillis. live.
  24. Web site: Raquel Willis. Autostraddle. September 19, 2017. September 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170920151358/https://www.autostraddle.com/author/roxxidevoe/. live.
  25. Web site: Podcast. Raquel Willis. September 19, 2017. September 20, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170920092532/http://www.raquelwillis.com/podcast/. live.
  26. News: Toone. Stephanie. Journal-Constitution. The Atlanta. Transgender activist Raquel Willis finds strength in telling stories of forgotten trans women. 2020-12-31. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. English. 2020-11-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20201124011941/https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/transgender-activist-willis-wants-tell-stories-those-forgotten/l7LzfLbt2In7pUk9PPDsIN/. live.
  27. Web site: Modarressy-Tehrani. Caroline. 2019-02-27. Raquel Willis On Making History As The First Trans Editor Of Out Magazine. 2020-12-31. HuffPost. en. 2019-10-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20191004024414/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/raquel-willis-out-first-trans-editor_n_5c746f1be4b03a10c230c2d5. live.
  28. Out, Advocate's Executive Editors Endorse Elizabeth Warren. Out. January 31, 2020. February 27, 2020. February 28, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200228031407/https://www.out.com/commentary/2020/1/31/out-advocates-executive-editors-endorse-elizabeth-warren. live.
  29. Web site: 2020-02-28. 'I felt seen for the first time': why trans activists are rallying behind Elizabeth Warren. 2020-12-31. the Guardian. en. 2020-12-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20201202141326/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/28/elizabeth-warren-trans-lgbtq-supporters. live.
  30. Web site: Ms. Foundation Names Trans Writer and Activist Raquel Willis as New Director of Communications. 2020-12-31. The Glow Up. 26 June 2020 . en-us. 2021-01-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210125084528/https://theglowup.theroot.com/ms-foundation-names-trans-writer-and-activist-raquel-w-1844180049. live.
  31. Web site: Why activist Raquel Willis believes in Black Trans Power. 2020-12-31. The Face. 16 July 2020 . en-gb. 2020-12-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20201204145046/https://theface.com/society/raquel-willis-black-trans-activist-ms-foundation-interview. live.
  32. News: Nayyar . Rhea . Hundreds of Activists Surround Statue of Liberty to Call for Gaza Ceasefire . 2 August 2024 . Hyperallergic . 6 November 2023.
  33. Web site: 2024-06-28 . As LGBTQ+ Pride’s crescendo approaches, tensions over war in Gaza expose rifts . 2024-08-02 . AP News . en.
  34. Web site: Sojourner Truth Leadership Circle – Auburn Seminary. 2020-12-31. en-US. 2021-01-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20210120223315/https://auburnseminary.org/stlc/. live.
  35. Web site: 2017-09-27. Beautiful People: Raquel Willis Is an Intersectional Transgender Activist Fighting for Authenticity. 2020-12-31. PAPER. en. 2020-10-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20201026075627/https://www.papermag.com/beautiful-people-raquel-willis-is-an-intersectional-transgender-activist-fighting-for-authenticity-2489490694.html. live.
  36. Web site: 2019-06-11. Raquel Willis, Writer and Activist, Executive Director, Out Magazine. 2020-12-31. KTLA. en-US. 2021-01-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210118134142/https://ktla.com/visionaries/lgbtq-visionaries/raquel-willis-writer-and-activist-executive-director-out-magazine/. live.
  37. Web site: Soros Equality Fellowship. 2020-12-31. www.opensocietyfoundations.org. en. 2020-11-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20201112013507/https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants/soros-equality-fellowship?fellow=raquel-willis. live.
  38. Web site: Open Society Foundations Announce 2018 Soros Equality Fellows. 2020-12-31. www.opensocietyfoundations.org. en. 2021-01-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20210131130453/https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/newsroom/open-society-foundations-announce-2018-soros-equality-fellows. live.
  39. News: 2018-09-13. Opinion Transgender Lives: Your Stories: Raquel Willis (Published 2018). en-US. The New York Times. 2020-12-31. 0362-4331.
  40. Web site: 2019-11-20. Introducing the Out100 Trans Obituaries Project. 2020-12-31. www.out.com. en. 2020-12-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20201228022620/https://www.out.com/print/2019/11/20/trans-obituaries-project. live.
  41. News: Why 'Out Magazine' Is Focusing Attention On The Deaths Of Transgender Women Of Color. 2020-12-31. NPR.org. en. 2020-10-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20201014220844/https://www.npr.org/2019/12/09/786469390/why-out-magazine-is-focusing-attention-on-the-deaths-of-transgender-women-of-col. live.
  42. Williams. Lauren N.. Arceneaux. Michael. Robertson. Regina R.. Sykes. Tanisha A.. De Luca. Vanessa K.. Christian. Tanya A.. ESSENCE Presents 'Woke 100 Women'. September 19, 2017. Essence. April 18, 2017. September 11, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170911024907/http://www.essence.com/news/woke-100-women. live.
  43. Web site: Office of Transgender Initiatives . How are you celebrating Trans Day of Visibility 3/31? . Twitter . December 11, 2018 . March 28, 2018.
  44. Web site: Antiracist Research and Policy Center . Announcing #TheFD200 Awardee! . Twitter . December 11, 2018 . November 15, 2018 . September 27, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200927201702/https://twitter.com/AntiracismCtr/status/1063151257622331392 . live .
  45. News: Padgett . Donald . 'Out,' 'Schitt's Creek,' Dolly Parton Win at GLAAD Media Awards . October 25, 2020 . . July 30, 2020 . August 14, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200814144622/https://www.out.com/media/2020/7/30/out-schitts-creek-dolly-parton-win-glaad-media-awards . live .
  46. Web site: Announcing Fast Company's second annual Queer 50 list. 2021-06-03. Fast Company. en-US.

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