Black AIDS Institute Makes History by Tapping Trans Woman as Leader Posted in: Press

Toni Newman African-American transgender author and sex workers’ rights advocate After the abrupt departure of Raniyah Copeland as CEO of the storied Black AIDS Institute, the nonprofit hired a trans woman to take her place, at least temporarily. The 23-year-old organization announced today that Toni Newman, currently the interim CEO at the San Francisco-based LGBTQ+ organization LYRIC, will soon be BAI’s new interim CEO. BAI also announced Dr. Kemal M. Atkins will serve as its managing director “to help…

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Jack Dorsey #StartSmall Awards $500,000 to LYRIC Posted in: Press

12 July 2021 – San Francisco:  #StartSmall, Jack Dorsey’s philanthropic initiative, has donated $500,000 to LYRIC (www.lyric.org), the San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit dedicated to supporting marginalized LGBTQQ+ youth to build community, gain access to critical support services, and develop the life and leadership skills necessary to thrive. The grant, made possible by the CEO and co-founder of Twitter and Square, will help strengthen and expand supportive programming and safe spaces at LYRIC for its community of youth and their mentors to effectively…

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Former St. James ED tapped to lead LYRIC Posted in: News, Press

by John Ferrannini Assistant EditorMonday Oct 19, 2020 Toni Newman, the former leader of St. James Infirmary, has been selected as the new interim executive director of the Lavender Youth Recreation and Information Center in the Castro, according to an October 19 news release. “After an extensive interview process with the board of directors, LYRIC staff, and LYRIC youth, it became clear that Toni is the leader for LYRIC at this moment,” LYRIC board co-chairs Adam Leonard…

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LYRIC Names Toni Newman Interim Executive Director Posted in: Press

The Black Policy Lab: Join us on Wednesday, October 21, at noon
LYRIC Names Toni Newman Interim Executive Director 19 October 2020 – San Francisco, CA: Heading into a momentous election with direct impact on the lives and livelihoods of LGBTQI+ youth, San Francisco’s esteemed nonprofit LYRIC (www.lyric.org) has named Toni Newman as Interim Executive Director while Jodi L. Schwartz continues as President to oversee the ongoing capital campaign to expand LYRIC’s…

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Every True Pleasure: LGBTQ Tales of North Carolina Paperback featuring NC writers Posted in: Press

Some of North Carolina’s finest fiction and nonfiction writers come together in Every True Pleasure, including David Sedaris, Kelly Link, Allan Gurganus, Randall Kenan, and more. Within the volume—featuring writers who identify as gay, trans, bisexual, and straight—are stories and essays that view the full spectrum of contemporary life though an LGBTQ lens. These writers, all native or connected to North Carolina, show the multifaceted challenges and joys of LGBTQ life, including young love and…

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Toni Newman on Providing Judgment-Free Clinic Services for the Trans Community Posted in: Press

As the executive director of St. James Infirmary, Toni Newman works to provide judgment-free services for sex workers who are LGBTQ, people of color, homeless and those living within the intersection of those communities. Post submitted by former Editorial Producer, Print and Digital Media Rokia Hassanein As the executive director of St. James Infirmary, Toni Newman works to provide judgment-free services for sex workers who are LGBTQ, people of color, homeless and those living within…

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St. James Infirmary ED resigns to return to LA Posted in: Press

Toni Newman has resigned as the executive director of St. James Infirmary, effective February 25, to move back to Los Angeles. “I have been commuting from SF to LA for five years and I decided I wanted to go home to Los Angeles,” Newman wrote in an emailed statement to the Bay Area Reporter February 25. “I want to thank those who supported St. James Infirmary during my tenure and for all the support I…

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Coming Out Stories: Heart of a Woman Posted in: Press

I graduated from Wake Forest University in the 1980s and there I met the university’s first Reynolds Professor of American Studies, Dr. Maya Angelou. I read all of her works, and especially her poem “I Rise.” The poem moved me very much. It would be a decade later that I would understand my destiny.  I was living in Raleigh, North Carolina, in the 1990s and working in the North Carolina Community College System as an…

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Join Janet Mock, Me and Other Trans Women Writers Posted in: Press

Janet Mock, trans activist and author of the New York Times bestselling book Redefining Realness has gathered up a great group of trans women writers to celebrate Women’s History Month, talk about our craft, and interact with all of you this Wednesday, March 26! In on this conversation will be Toni Newman, Ryka Aoki, Janet Mock and me! It’s such a great honor for me to be included along with these great trans women authors.…

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