According to the Trans 100 website, nominations for inclusion on the 2015 list are open until Friday, Jan. 16, 2015. The Trans 100 was started in 2012 by Chicago activist and writer Jen Richards and Antonia E. D'orsay, executive director of This is H.O.W. in Phoenix, Arizona.
In a 2014 interview with Windy City Times, Richards stressed that the Trans 100 is not a competition. "It's not a top 100 list, it's not a best-of list or a popularity contest," she said. "It's a sampling of the kind of work we've done in our community. It's meant to give you a sense of the diversity and range of the people in our community and the kind of projects they've undertaken."
The website notes that all nominees must self-identify as trans, be actively working to improve the lives of trans people, live in the United States and not previously have appeared on the Trans 100. Organizers are encouraging the nomination of individuals who are doing work that is unsung and/or unseen, working in areas of multiple intersections of power and privilege and living outside of major population centers.
"The Trans 100 places special consideration on those working in the areas of ostracism elimination, stigma reduction, poverty reduction, furthering the social and economic development of the trans community, and building infrastructure within the trans community," the website states.
In 2014, the list included photographer Amos Mac, entrepreneur and artist Angelica Ross, comedienne Bailey Jay, advocate Brynn Tannehill, model Carmen Carrera, attorney Chase Strangio, Mixed Martial Arts ( MMA ) champion Fallon Fox, activist Jamison Green, athlete and advocate Kye Allums, filmmaker Lana Wachowski, musician Laura Jane Grace, Minister Louis Mitchell, advocate Precious Davis, healthcare consultant and advocate Riley Johnson, GLAAD Senior Media Strategist Tiq Milan and advocate Z Jae Williams, among others.
The 2015 list will be released to coincide with the International Trans Day of Visibility on March 31.
The Trans 100 nomination form can be found at thetrans100.com/nominations/ .
Those with questions about the nomination form are encouraged to contact 2015 Trans 100 Co-Director Rebecca Kling at rebecca@rebeccakling.com .
Prior lists can be downloaded at thetrans100.com/download/ .
Windy City Times coverage of the 2014 Trans 100 can be found at www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/2014-Trans-100-list-unveiled-to-celebration/46806.html .