About | Alliance for Gender Diversity

WHO

Robyn Mallery, Board President and Director Alliance for Gender Diversity was imagined by its founder, Robyn Mallery. Mallery (they/he) worked for an art nonprofit in San Francisco, Chinatown called Chinatown Media and Arts Collaborative (CMAC) and its place-based cultural center, Edge on the Square. It was here, combined with their studies in Art History at the Academy of Art University, that he discovered the real influence that art has in the everyday lives of those who experience the artwork. Art always has an impact, seen or unseen, they learned. Working onsite, Mallery saw a community he was not a part of - the AAPI community - come to life. They saw the significance in using art as a vehicle to shift ideas and the perception of a people into a positive, inclusive and investigative light. It was here that Mallery became determined to do the same for his own community of Transgender, Genderqueer, Intersex, and Nonbinary + individuals. Mallery is now a Museum Studies graduate, which has allowed him to learn from museum professionals and develop this project further.

Persephone Soledad, Board Secretary and DirectorPersephone Mae is best known for their boots-on-the-ground community-building skills. They dedicate their time and energy to building meaningful and lasting relationships with members of the LGBTQ+ community, and they strive to create a home-like space everywhere they go. Persephone's ability to keep their thumb on the pulse of social media allows them to constantly stay connected in a way only they could emulate. Reaching out to people and bringing them together is their passion. Persephone aims to make real and meaningful connections wherever they go and grow, hoping to make this world we live in a better place, together.

Other board member(s) are not shown here due to safety concerns. These members are listed in official legal paperwork.

WHAT

The California Aggregation for Gender Diversity exists to build community, provide resources, and educate the public on Transgender, Genderqueer, Intersex, and Nonbinary (TGIN+) topics through history and art programming.
In the "+" we recognize Hijra, Two-Spirit, Fa’afafine, Māhū, Fakaleiti, Muxe, Wíŋkte, Nádleeh, Ininiikaazo, Bakla, Ashtime, Mashoga, Quariwarmi, Tida Wena, Whakawahine, Travesti, Xanith, X-Jenda, Calabai/Calalai/Bissu, Kathoey, Mak Nyah, Burrnesha, Femminiello, Alyha/Hwame, Biza’ah, Lhamana, Nadleeh, Waria, Ninauposkitzipxpe, Mukhannathun, Aravani, Dhurani, Jagakappa, Khawaja Sira, Kothi, Metis, Ombodhu, Rupantarkami, Acaults, Agender, Bigender, Genderfluid, Demigender, Pangender, and all other Third Gender individuals and plurals.
Our small but mighty team imagines a place in which we can proudly celebrate our worldwide community together. With an ambitious plan to build or purchase a brick and mortar museum space in the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area, we want to hit the ground running with interim programming like workshops, hangouts, and our signature event: an annual TGIN+ art exhibition.
Our goal is for the museum to become a staple in the community it serves for events, film screenings, education, speaking programs, research, art, and meetings, and much more. We want the building itself to signify a dramatic shift in the narrative about TGIN+ people and how we exist in society.
Recently, our focus has shifted from California based to nationwide as attacks on our community have escalated. We still have a long-term goal of building the museum, but our immediate efforts are focused on the safety and wellbeing of our community.

WHY

There is a longstanding history of large communities of people being seen as threats in which the narrative ultimately becomes "Us or Them". It is unfortunate that it happens at all - racism is increasing at an alarming rate, for example - and we are deeply saddened that it continues to find its way into our community of TGIN+ individuals as well. We recognize many striking statistics including the rate of suicide among trans youth skyrocketing, the legality of forced genital reassignment on newborn intersex children, the ongoing healthcare access restrictions both related AND unrelated to transgender care, the bans on TGIN+ individuals participating in sports, and the continued legality of conversion therapy in many places worldwide. These are topics that affect so many of us, and we grieve in solidarity when it does not affect us directly.

Though all of these truly awful things are happening, the rise of social media has given us a voice and a way to connect with one another. We continue to grow in solidarity and build community and resources. This project is past due and it is time to put these resources and the fiery passions within us to good use.

HOW

Identified Problems:
1. Gender diverse individuals around the world are facing discrimination and hatred at an increasing and alarming rate. These acts of discrimination and hatred affect housing, education, employment, mental health, healthcare, relationships, extracurricular activities, and even simple existence. Additionally, we see a criminalization, fetishization, stigmatization, and dehumanization of our bodies and our identities due to ongoing stereotyping, misinformation (intentional or otherwise), and general lack of education on the true diversity of both gender identity and biological sex.
2. Accepting friends, families, coworkers, and aquaintances of gender diverse people often don't know where to go or who to trust for information, but truly care and want to learn more about the TGIN+ person they know. Furthermore, some close family and friends may need a safe space to discuss and work through their own emotions regarding their loved one's identity.
3. Gender diverse people need a space that honors OUR history across thousands of years all around the world. We need a place that celebrates us, uplifts us, provides us with resources, gives us a sense of community, and brings us joy. Our Theory of Change: We believe that by creating a welcoming educational and creative space, we can be a part of the solution for all of these problems. Our Museum of History and Art will be the very first of its kind in North America to specifically focus on Trans, Genderqueer, Intersex, and Nonbinary + history and programming. Specific programs we are working to incorporate include a library of online and physical literature, in-person assistance in locating TGIN+ related resources, in-person and online events to spread joy and build community, and a visible and accessible to the public archive of TGIN+ history worldwide.
Additionally, we want to work with local organizations to host support groups, facilitate and organize research, hold meetings/workshops, and so much more that we can't wait to share. Those who visit our space will be encouraged to ask questions openly, which we believe will lead to a fundamental change in perception of our community.

OUR VALUES

While our focus lies in supporting the TGIN+ community, we hold strong beliefs that inform our programming and voice. We do not position ourselves as a political organization and we do not believe that the below should be up for political debate.
We believe that Transgender, Genderqueer, Intersex, and Non-binary people deserve the same inalienable rights as any other person.
We believe that basic human rights should include - The right to standard and specialized healthcare without accruing life-destroying amounts of debt. - The right to reasonable access to clean water and nutritious food. - The right to a fully accessible world for those with disabilities; not an afterthought. - The right to a livable wage, regardless of occupation.- The right to feel safe in your environment. - The right to stable housing. - The right to complete bodily autonomy without outside influence and opinion.
We believe in the healing, therapeutic powers of art. We also believe art is a valid, non-violent expression of our core beliefs.
Black Lives Matter.
We recognize the importance of intersectionality and understand that marginalized communities are often inseparable.
We believe consent extends beyond the bedroom and includes permission for any physical contact.
We believe in empowering the youth.
We stand with Ukraine. We stand with Palestine. We stand with Congo. We stand with Sudan. We stand with Iran.
F*ck ICE.
We believe in the right to accessible language.
We believe in the right to accessible education including schooling, news, sex education, and all other forms of knowledge. Our definition of accessible means accessible to ALL, including those who are disabled, neurodivergent, impoverished, socially marginalized, and all others who may face additional challenges when seeking education.
We support everyone's right to practice their beliefs, with the exception of practices that are violent or harmful towards humans, animals, or nature.
This is not an exhaustive list, nor is it tiered by importance. These values run strong throughout our programming and team. If you have an experience with a team member that does not seem to align with these values, please let us know.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

CAGD has yet to find a permanent space for our museum, however we would like to acknowledge that as an organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area, we exist on stolen land. This land, before it was taken by colonizers, belonged to the Ohlone, Miwok, Muwekma, and Confederated Villages of Lisjan. An acknowledgement of stolen land does not undo the deplorable actions of the colonizers, but it does aid a small part in addressing the issue. We hope that as we grow, we are able to take more action towards justice for these Indigenous peoples. The United States violently seized more than 1.5 billion acres of land from Indigenous peoples between 1776 and 1887. Learn more and determine whose land you are on here.