Zaya Wade attended the Gender Liberation Movement's Liberation Dinner in Los Angeles, an event that centered trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive joy in a rare, intimate space. Hosted by Laverne Cox, Elliot Page, Sasha Colby, and Brian Michael Smith, the evening unfolded in West Adams and welcomed guests like Kiersey Clemons, Nori Reed, and Miranda July. Sponsored by the ACLU, the event began with a heartfelt conversation between Michelle Visage and her child, Leo Case, touching on identity, family, and resilience. Poet Bay Davis delivered a stirring performance that echoed the night's theme of self-affirmation and resistance. Attendees, including some who had recently been arrested during a D.C. protest against federal restrictions on gender-affirming care for youth, shared moments of reconnection and solidarity. A refined multi-course dinner by Devonn Charles Francis of Charles & Francis set the tone for celebration, even as conversations acknowledged the ongoing threats to trans lives. Dr. Morissa Ladinsky, a clinical professor of pediatrics at Stanford University, recalled a father who pawned his wedding ring to secure hormone care for his teen. "I'm often asked by adults of trans experience, 'What can I do?', and my answer is always the same: 'Keep being you,'" she said.
The unapologetic joy at the Gender Liberation Movement dinner stands in sharp contrast to the survival mode many trans people are forced into globally. In a world where Nigerian media often misrepresents gender diversity, the image of Zaya Wade moving freely among icons like Laverne Cox and Elliot Page offers quiet power. This wasn't just visibility—it was community as resistance, served with citrus salad and wine.
