Panelists:
Aleksa Manila first appeared in 1998 on All Hollow’s Eve as “Alexis.” Since then she has been crowned Miss Gay Filipino (2001), La Femme Magnifique of Puget Sound (2002), and in 2003, the 40th Miss Gay Seattle, believed to be the oldest drag title west of the Mississippi, if not the world. Manila has traveled as an outspoken advocate, performance artist and community leader across North America. When not in face, ‘he’ educates the community and counsels clients as a Program Coordinator and Addictions Services Program Supervisor at Seattle Counseling Service.
Luzviminda Uzuri Carpenter, a Queer Mixed Race AfroPinxy, is an artist, educator, consultant, cultural worker, producer, community organizer, youth worker, and community strategist. Currently, she works as a Performance Studies teacher and Resident Artist at Seattle Girls School; as the Youth & Young Adult Program Coordinator & Anti-Oppression Consultant at Hollow Earth Radio as well as a Radio Host of #LuluNation + Crew every Tuesday from 7-9 pm discussing community issues from an LGBTQ of Color lens.
Calvin Gimpelevich is a trans writer and founding member of the Lion’s Main Art Collective for Queer and Trans Artists. His work has appeared in Glitterwolf, Cream City, The Collection, and Plentitude. His short story collection is forthcoming from Topside Press.
Marsha Botzer has served the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and progressive communities for over 40 years, as a founding member of Equality Washington, and on boards of Pride Foundation, Safe Schools, Lambert House, Seattle Counseling Service, and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. In 2015, Marsha was elected to the Martin Luther King County Labor Council, received both the Distinguished Scholar Award from Antioch University in Seattle and the Backbone Award from the National Secular Students Alliance.
