The National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund is the political action arm of the National Center for Transgender Equality. It was founded in 2017 to oppose Trump administration rollbacks of social-liberal legal policies established by the Obama administration’s regulatory guidance. ¹

Political Activity

The Action Fund endorsed a number of candidates in 2017 and 2018 and engaged in direct campaigning. ²³ It also provided a voter guide aimed at transgender individuals. ⁴

Among its many political and policy initiatives, the Action Fund hired a PR firm in early 2019 to engage on its initiatives related to REAL ID, allowing gender-confused Americans to serve in the military, and The Equality Act. ⁵

The Action Fund was credited for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-NY) proposal to force health insurers to cover hormone and surgery related to attempts to change gender. ⁶

Funding and Finances

It raised $163,004 in 2017 and spent $62,772 that year. ⁷

People

Mara Keisling is the executive director of the Action Fund. Keisling also serves as executive director and founded the original center in 2003. ⁸¹ Keisling was born male and now identifies as a woman. ⁹

In May 2019, Keisling told The New Republic that her organization and other groups which represent transgender activists are focusing on stopping President Donald Trump’s agenda and stopping him from being re-elected. ¹⁰

Attorney Alexander Garnick is president of the Action Fund and a board member of the Center. ¹¹

1. National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund, About Us, Accessed August 1, 2019. https://www.ncteactionfund.org/about/
2. National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund, Endorsements, Accessed August 1, 2019. https://www.ncteactionfund.org/issues/endorsements/
3. Chris Johnson, “National trans group launches political arm for impact on elections,” October 3, 2017. Accessed August 1, 2019. https://www.washingtonblade.com/2017/10/03/natl-trans-group-launches-political-arm-impact-elections/
4. Transform the vote, Voting while trans, Accessed August 1, 2019. https://transformthevote.org/voting
5. Jon Gingerich, “Advocacy group appoints lobbyists in fight for trans rights,” January 9, 2019. Accessed August 1, 2019. https://www.odwyerpr.com/story/public/11854/2019-01-09/advocacy-group-appoints-lobbyists-fight-for-trans-rights.html
6. Katelyn Burns, “I’m trans. The 2020 candidates don’t know how to pander to me.” July 2, 2019. Accessed August 3, 2019. https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/07/02/2020-debates-trans-issues-227257
7. National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund, 2017 990, Accessed August 1, 2019. https://www.ncteactionfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/NCTE-Action-Fund-2017-990-Public-Copy.pdf
8. National Center for Transgender Equality, Mara Keisling, Accessed August 1, 2019. https://transequality.org/about/people/mara-keisling
9. Sunnivie Brydum, “Exclusive: Mara Keisling’s first interview after North Carolina arrest,” April 26, 2016. Accessed August 1, 2019. https://www.advocate.com/transgender/2016/4/26/exclusive-mara-keislings-first-interview-after-north-carolina-arrest
10. Casey Quinlan, “The Democrats’ neglect of transgender rights,” May 28, 2019. Accessed August 1, 2019. https://newrepublic.com/article/154002/democrats-neglect-transgender-rights
11. National Center for Transgender Equality, Alex Garnick, Accessed August 1, 2019. https://transequality.org/about/people/alex-garnick