The State of Intersex Organizing (2nd Edition) & The State of Trans Organizing (2nd Edition)

Ruth Baldacchino, Program Officer of the Intersex Human Rights Fund at the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, is from Malta and has extensive experience in community organising, international LGBTQI activism and LGBTQI research. They started their human rights work with the Malta LGBTIQ Rights Movement in 2002, where Ruth served on the Executive Committee for several years. Ruth is ILGA World Co-Secretary General (elected in 2014), and has served on a number of boards in the past years including IGLYO, ILGA-Europe and ILGA. Prior to joining Astraea, Ruth worked at the Maltese Ministry for Civil Liberties, where they were actively part of the process towards the passing of the groundbreaking Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics Act, and strategies/policies on trans and intersex students and migrants’ integration in Malta. They have been closely engaged with intersex activists, particularly through the co-facilitation and coordination of the International Intersex Fora. Ruth holds an M.A. in Women’s Studies from University College Dublin and a B.A. (Honours) in Sociology from University of Malta. They lecture Queer Studies and Sociology at the University of Malta.

Mauro Cabral Grinspan is an intersex and trans activist from Argentina, who serves as the Executive Director of GATE (Global Action of Trans Equality), and coordinates the GATE International Initiative on Depathologization. Before co-founding GATE, Mauro was part of Mulabi, Espacio Latinoamericano de Sexualidades y Géneros and, before that, he coordinated the trans and Intersex Area at the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (now Outright Action International). Mauro participated in the production of the Yogyakarta Principles, and also in the Yogyakarta+10 revision. Mauro is the editor of the series “Escrituras de la Intersexualidad en Castellano”, which includes the books Interdicciones and Desafueros (forthcoming). He played a key role in the process around the Argentinian Gender Identity Law approved in 2012 and, in 2015, he received the Bob Hepple Equality Award. Mauro holds a Superior Degree in History by the National University of Córdoba; his current research is focused on biotechnology and hospitality. Mauro has more than 20 years of experience in community organizing and political mobilization on trans, gender diverse and intersex issues.

Broden Giambrone, director of the International Trans Fund (ITF), is a trans activist with over fifteen years’ experience in community organising, activism and capacity building in trans communities. Before joining the ITF, Broden was the Chief Executive of Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) for six years. In this position, he took a leadership role in TENI’s high level advocacy and lobbying for the introduction of the Gender Recognition Act 2015, a legal recognition law based on self-determination. Broden also spearheaded TENI’s STAD (Stop Transphobia and Discrimination) campaign which documented violence and discrimination against trans people and raised awareness about transphobia. He is an experienced public speaker and has delivered presentations across the globe and has been published in numerous academic journals and media outlets. Broden has a long record of involvement and leadership in intersectional social justice campaigns related to issues of self-determination, bodily integrity and harm reduction. He holds a Master’s in Public Health (Health Promotion) from the University of Toronto, which focused on community development and policy development in the field of trans health.

Sarah Gunther is the Director of Philanthropic Partnerships at the Astraea Foundation, where she works to influence philanthropy to better resource LGBTQI and racial, economic and gender justice movements, and builds institutional partnerships with foundations and governments. Before taking up this role, Sarah was Director of Programs, where she oversaw $3.5 million annually to LGBTQI groups in over 60 countries and launched the Intersex Human Rights Fund. Prior to joining Astraea, Sarah led the Africa program at American Jewish World Service, where she also played a key role in developing AJWS’s global sexual rights strategies. A queer feminist with a decade of experience in social justice grantmaking, Sarah is passionate about getting resources in the hands of frontline LGBTQI activists and transforming philanthropy to align with their visions. She holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University and a M.A. from Columbia University.

Matthew Hart is the Director of Global Philanthropy Project. Founder and Principle of the Paris-based Lafayette Practice, Hart is the President of the Board of Directors of the Calamus Foundation (DE), and a Board member of Funders for LGBTQ Issues. Formerly, Hart has served as Senior Strategist for Europe for Funders Concerned about AIDS, and National Director for Public Engagement at Solutions for Progress. He has been a member of The Civil Marriage Collaborative, the community funding board of the Bread & Roses Fund, and the Philadelphia Cultural Fund; and Board Member of the Sustainable Business Network and The Leeway Foundation for Women and the Arts. A Jonathan Lax Academic Fellow, Hart received degrees in Urban Studies and Cultural Anthropology from Temple University.

Dave Scamell is Director of International Advocacy at American Jewish World Service, and oversees AJWS’s advocacy to influence international policy institutions, including the U.N., and international funding organizations. He has more than 14 years’ experience in human rights advocacy, policy and grantmaking, having worked with civil society to advance the rights of marginalized communities in 27 countries around the world. He holds a master’s in international human rights law from the University of Essex, as well as a bachelor’s in law and another in political science and international relations from the University of New South Wales.