Alexander Lee

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Photograph of Alexander Lee

Alexander Lee is a transgender activist who has done tremendous work for the transgender community. Initially, he identified as a lesbian. However, after joining support groups at LYRIC in San Francisco, he realized that he was transgender. Through these groups, he was also exposed to critical issues within the trans community, such as racial tensions and socioeconomic differences. His political journey began when he joined TransAction, a group dedicated to combatting police violence against the transgender community. During this time, he began physically transitioning. He later earned his law degree, but only after the organization shut its doors. After earning his law degree, he founded the Transgender, Gender Variant, and Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP), a non-profit with the goal of freeing incarcerated transgender, gender variant, and intersex prisoners. The project also aims to shine a light on the abuses this community faces in prison.

Alexander has also made a name for himself as a filmmaker. One of his projects, A Night In the Woods, has received critical acclaim at the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival (Frameline) and the BFI London LGBT Film Festival. His most recent film, El Camino, further demonstrates his desire to unite communities through film while also exposing social injustices in the world. Today, he works at the UC Berkeley School of Law and resides in Oakland.

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  • Narrator: Alexander Lee
  • Date recorded: October 17th, 2015
  • Duration: 35m

When I was younger, I remember my parents trying to be “Oh no no we’ll do this for you. Listen to us, we know better” and I would always feel, okay maybe you do but I want the experience of trying it myself even if it ended up failing miserable.

I think one of my best role models is this woman named Miss Major Griffin Gracie who’s actually…