LaLa B. Zannell

Through her work with National Coalition of Anti- Violence Programs (NCAVP), she was instrumental on how the lives of trans women of color are talked about in the media today and worked with media outlets to change how the report on trans lives stories in the media. Having served as a former chair of the policy and working group committee for Communities United for Police Reform (CPR), LaLa was part of passing Intro 541 which addresses unconstitutional searches by the NYPD.

Alongside her policing work, she lobbied the NYC City Council for a policing bill and created the first Trans Discrimination Survey in New York City to collect data on trans people’s experiences in employment. The findings were released in City Hall Park alongside City Council officials and TGNC leaders.

LaLa is a gifted public speaker and speechwriter; she spoke at the White House for the first Women’s History Month briefing that included trans women, the last briefing on transgender people under the Obama administration, and testified at the first Congressional forum on violence against transgender people.

In 2015, she was featured on the Trans 100 list. She has also published her writing in USA Today, NBC News, Out Magazine, Ebony Magazine, Leisure Studies, and many other publications. Her many television appearances include The Samantha B Show, Democracy Now, Trevor Noah and more. She has been interviewed on various podcast such as Translash, The LGTBQ Nation, The Takeaway, Let’s Get Back to Queer, Marsha’s Plate and Politicly Re- Active.

She is a co-producer of her own feature film and documentary called LaLa’s World and has received numerous awards and government proclamations. LaLa is also an entrepreneur, having founded T Times Three Jewelry company led by Trans activist and author Cecila Gentili and fashion designer GoGo Graham, who are three trans women of color. LaLa currently leads the ACLU’s advocacy and organizing work to support and empower transgender and nonbinary people. Read Less ^