⚠️ Two 2026 ballot initiatives threaten Washington students with forced outings, invasive exams, and restricted access to help. Join the fight →

Our Mission

Built for
This Fight.

Gender Justice League Action is a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization founded in 2026 to advance the civil rights, human rights, dignity, and safety of Two-Spirit, transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people, and women, in Washington State and nationally.

We engage in the full spectrum of civic advocacy — direct lobbying, ballot measure campaigns, public education, community organizing, and candidate endorsements — to build durable political power for communities that have too often been forced to defend their basic rights against well-funded opposition.

We were built for this fight.

Our Story

Two Decades of
Winning in Washington

For over a decade, our sister organization Gender Justice League has been at the center of transgender civil rights advocacy in Washington State — winning protections across 32+ state legislatures, testifying before the United Nations Human Rights Council, and building the state's most prominent annual Trans Pride celebration.

Gender Justice League Action was created in 2026 to expand that advocacy into the full arena of electoral and legislative power — the spaces where civil rights are ultimately won or lost.

As hundreds of anti-transgender bills have flooded state legislatures across the country and ballot initiatives have emerged as a tool to target LGBTQ+ students and roll back hard-won protections, we recognized that defending civil rights requires every tool available under the law.

GJLA gives our movement those tools.

Year One Priority

No Hate in WA State — 2026 Ballot Campaign

Our first major campaign opposes two 2026 ballot initiatives — IL26-001 and IL26-638 — that would force schools to out LGBTQ+ students, mandate invasive genital exams for girls in sports, and restrict students' access to help.

Learn About the Campaign

Our Values

What Guides
Our Work

Leadership

Board of Directors

GJLA is governed by an independent board of directors committed to the organization's mission, accountability, and long-term impact.

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Danni Askini

Executive Director

Founding Executive Director of Gender Justice League and a 25-year veteran of civil rights advocacy. Danni has led successful campaigns to expand healthcare access, ban conversion therapy, defeat anti-trans ballot measures, and pass landmark legislation in Washington State. She has testified before the United Nations Human Rights Council on transgender rights and has been featured on KUOW, in the Washington State Standard, and in national media. Danni splits her time between Seattle and Washington, DC.

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Sophia Lee

Board Chair

A Korean American transgender woman and full stack developer at Microsoft, Sophia has been a force in Washington State trans rights since 2016. As Board Chair of Gender Justice League, she helped defeat anti-trans bathroom bills as part of Washington Won't Discriminate and shaped policy on reproductive access for transgender people. She brings a decade of leadership at the intersection of technology and civil rights advocacy.

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Meredith Matthews

Board Secretary

A proud Gullah Geechee woman from South Carolina, Meredith serves as a Survivor Advocate with Gender Justice League's Community Security Program, supporting trans survivors of violence and crime. She brings direct service experience and a deep commitment to community safety to GJLA's governance.

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Elayne Wylie

Board Treasurer

A co-founder of Gender Justice League and its first Board Chair, Elayne has been a leader in trans advocacy since 2007. She previously served as GJL's Executive Director, produced eleven Trans Pride Seattle events, and has held leadership roles at Ingersoll Gender Center, Out & Equal Seattle, and Camp Ten Trees. An award-winning filmmaker, Elayne also consults on workplace equality, healthcare parity, and social justice.

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Kyle Sanchez

Board Member

Kyle brings community organizing experience and a commitment to intersectional justice to GJLA's board. A dedicated advocate for LGBTQ+ communities in Washington State, Kyle works to ensure that the organization's mission reaches and reflects the communities it serves.

Our Sister Organization

Gender Justice League

Gender Justice League Action is the advocacy and electoral partner of Gender Justice League, Washington State's leading transgender civil rights organization.

The two organizations are legally independent, governed by separate boards, and maintain separate finances — united by a common mission and community.

Contributions to Gender Justice League Action are not tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Key Distinction

GJLA (501(c)(4)) — Can engage in direct political advocacy, ballot campaigns, candidate endorsements, and lobbying without restriction. Contributions are not tax-deductible.

GJL (501(c)(3)) — Public charity focused on education and community programs. Contributions are tax-deductible. Political activity is restricted.

Join Us

Ready to Fight?

There's a role for everyone in this campaign. Whether you sign, volunteer, donate, or just spread the word — your action matters.