After 18 years leading the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), Mara Keisling is not renewing her contract, according to LGBTQ Nation.
Current Deputy Executive Director Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen will succeed her.
In a statement on the organization's website, Keisling said, in part, "While it is so hard to say goodbye to this organization that I love so much, I could not be happier that NCTE's board of directors has selected him to be the organization's next leader.
"When we founded NCTE in 2003, trans people didn't have a voice in Washington. As a trans person, I just knew that was wrong. It made me want to advocate for trans people and it made me want to empower others to be advocates and allies. Back then we all agreed that neither NCTE nor I should be the only representative of our community. And today there are many trans voices a part of important conversations.
"I am so proud when I reflect on what we have done together to pass federal legislation, advance better ID laws, increase health care access, and completely change how the government and society sees us.
"And together, we have established an LGBTQ movement that truly includes trans people and prioritizes our lives to this day."
Media outlets noted that, in 2019, NCTE dissolved its staff. NewNowNext.com reported that leaders offered buyout packages to all staff. The offer came after staffers wrote a letter demanding that Keisling and Deputy Executive Director Lisa Mottet resign within 18 months, citing a racial divide "between NCTE and leaders within the Black and brown trans communities."
On its website, NCTE has an update on what has happened since then, adding, "We know that racial justice is a journey, and change doesn't happen overnight." All the details are at transequality.org/about/racial-justice-and-social-justice-at-ncte .