Yasmeen Persad

Yasmeen Persad is a passionate community leader, advocating for the rights of and providing programming for trans and gender diverse people, particularly trans people of color, trans people living with and/or affected by HIV, trans newcomers, and trans women who are sex workers. As creator of the Trans Women HIV Research Initiative (TWIRI) at Women’s College Hospital, Persad has extensive experience conducting community-based participatory research with trans and gender diverse communities. Yasmeen has worked for more than 15 years with trans people of intersecting identities and experiences to create opportunities, reduce barriers, and increase access to health and social services across the province, country, and internationally. During her year with the QTRL, she plans to create a series of brief, strengths-based videos that aim to empower and encourage trans women of color to discuss their sexual health and speak about HIV in a positive light. The videos will discuss pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis (Prep and PEP), which, while widely available, are not accessible and inclusive of trans women’s voices. The videos will debunk myths around HIV and gender-affirming care, share information about HIV among trans women, and work to decrease social isolation in our community. The overarching goal of these videos will be to reduce both internalized shame and stigma among trans women of color, including trans women who are sex workers, who are often left behind in these conversations. Additionally, these videos can be shared with service providers to help reduce the stigma they may perpetuate.