Our Work

Visibility Is Power: Trans Day of Visibility Rally at the Georgia Capitol

March 31, 2022 • Georgia State Capitol

On March 31, 2022, This Doesn’t Define Me proudly joined Representative Park Cannon’s office, TDOR ATL, Poder Unides and LGBTQ+ advocates from across the state for a historic Trans Day of Visibility Rally at the Georgia State Capitol.

This powerful day of celebration and resistance was made even more meaningful by the presence of Monica Helms, the visionary activist and creator of the transgender pride flag. Her words reminded us all of how far we’ve come—and how far we still have to go—in the fight for trans equality, safety, and joy.

Held on the Capitol steps, the rally created a vibrant space for trans voices to be uplifted and centered. Our founder, Bella Bautista, and other community leaders shared speeches that spoke to the strength, resilience, and brilliance of trans people across Georgia and the South. Flags waved, chants rang out, and the message was clear: Trans people are here, visible, and never backing down.

This event marked a turning point in trans visibility at the Capitol—not just in presence, but in power. And This Doesn’t Define Me will continue to show up, speak out, and stand proudly in our truth.

Constitution Day: Showing Up for Trans Georgians

January 13, 2025 • Georgia State Capitol

On Constitution Day, This Doesn’t Define Me joined ACLU of Georgia at the Georgia State Capitol for a powerful day of civic engagement, visibility, and solidarity. Together, we distributed copies of the U.S. Constitution to lawmakers—reminding them of the fundamental rights they are sworn to uphold, especially for Georgia’s most vulnerable communities.

As threats to trans rights continue to grow across the South, this symbolic action was more than tradition—it was a call to accountability.

From the Capitol, we marched to Liberty Plaza to join the “Show Up For Trans Georgians” rally, a statewide show of unity in defense of transgender youth and families. Alongside powerful partners including PFLAG, Lambda Legal, Southern Poverty Law Center, The Human Rights Campaign, and Action Fund, we lifted our voices in protest against anti-trans legislation and in celebration of our shared resistance.

Our founder, Bella Bautista, and other advocates led chants, held signs, and stood shoulder to shoulder with community members and allies demanding that Georgia’s trans youth be seen, protected, and celebrated—not targeted.

At This Doesn’t Define Me, we believe that the Constitution must protect all of us. And until it does, we will continue to show up, speak out, and fight for a future where equality is more than a promise—it’s a practice.

Leading with Pride: LGBTQ+ Public Leadership Summit

February 10, 2025 • Atlanta City Hall

On February 10, 2025, This Doesn’t Define Me participated in the LGBTQ+ Public Leadership Summit, hosted by the LGBTQ+ Victory Institute at Atlanta City Hall. The summit brought together LGBTQ+ leaders, elected officials, and changemakers from across Georgia to strategize, connect, and build collective power in the face of rising anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

The day-long event was a dynamic mix of panels, workshops, and networking sessions, all focused on increasing LGBTQ+ representation in government and ensuring our communities have a seat at every table where decisions are made. From rural organizers to city council members, the summit reflected the full spectrum of queer leadership in the South.

Our founder, Bella Bautista, joined discussions on how trans, immigrant, and youth-led advocacy is shaping the future of public service. Her presence reminded attendees that visibility is not just about representation—it’s about action, accountability, and justice.

Being in a room full of LGBTQ+ public servants and emerging leaders sent a powerful message: We are not just asking for change. We are leading it.

Centering Care: Health Equity Think Tank at the Georgia Capitol

February 26, 2025 • Georgia State Capitol

On February 26, 2025, This Doesn’t Define Me joined forces with The Global Trans Equity Project and Poder Unides to co-host the Georgia Capitol Health Equity Think Tank—a groundbreaking event focused on tackling systemic health care inequalities across the state.

Held inside the halls of the Georgia State Capitol, this collaborative space brought together lawmakers, healthcare professionals, advocates, and directly impacted community members to engage in deep conversations around access, affirmation, and equity in healthcare. The goal was clear: build actionable strategies to ensure that all Georgians—especially transgender people, veterans, immigrants, and people living with HIV—have access to quality, compassionate care.

As anti-trans legislation continues to threaten access to life-saving services, the Think Tank created a rare and necessary space where marginalized voices led the dialogue. Panels and breakout sessions focused on dismantling medical discrimination, expanding Medicaid, improving HIV care, and protecting gender-affirming healthcare at the policy level.

This Doesn’t Define Me was proud to co-lead this initiative and help shape a future where healthcare is not a privilege, but a right. This is how we build change—from the inside out, and with community at the center.

HIV Is Not A Crime: Centering Justice at the Georgia Capitol

February 28, 2025 • Georgia State Capitol

On February 28, 2025, This Doesn’t Define Me co-hosted a powerful day of advocacy and education at the Georgia State Capitol in recognition of HIV Is Not A Crime Day. In partnership with Representative Park Cannon’s office, the Health Not Prisons Collective, AIDS United, and The SERO Project, the event called for an end to the criminalization of people living with HIV—and for healthcare rooted in equity, science, and human dignity.

The event brought together advocates, lawmakers, healthcare providers, and people living with HIV to shed light on outdated and harmful HIV criminalization laws still in place across Georgia. Together, we shared lived experiences, policy solutions, and demands for justice, including modernizing laws that stigmatize and target marginalized communities—particularly Black, Brown, trans, and queer people.

Our founder, Bella Bautista, stood in solidarity with other speakers at Liberty Plaza, lifting up the urgent need to replace punishment with compassion and policing with public health. The message was clear: HIV is not a crime—ignorance is.

This Doesn’t Define Me remains committed to intersectional advocacy that connects trans justice, health equity, and the decriminalization of survival. Because liberation means leaving no one behind.

Pride to the Capitol: Showing Up and Speaking Out

Georgia State Capitol • March 4, 2025

On Crossover Day, one of the most critical days of Georgia’s legislative session, This Doesn’t Define Me stood proudly on the frontlines of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights at the Georgia State Capitol.

In collaboration with powerhouse organizations like the Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, Georgia Equality, Southern Poverty Law Center, Atlanta Pride, and ACLU of Georgia, we co-organized Pride to the Capitol—a large-scale rally and day of action to defend our communities and push back against a slate of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation introduced by Republican lawmakers.

Our founder and president, Bella Bautista, delivered a powerful speech at Liberty Plaza, energizing the crowd with a call to courage, solidarity, and unapologetic truth. She spoke not only as an organizer, but as a trans woman directly impacted by the harmful bills being debated inside the Capitol.

Following the rally, Bella joined Georgia lawmakers and fellow advocates inside the Capitol chambers, where they held space, chanted in protest, and made their presence known to those in power. It was a moment of bold defiance—trans and queer people standing shoulder to shoulder, demanding protection, dignity, and visibility under Georgia law.

Pride to the Capitol was more than a rally. It was a reminder that we are not guests in these halls—we are stakeholders, constituents, and leaders. And we’ll continue showing up, session after session, until every anti-LGBTQ+ bill is struck down and our communities are safe.

Marching Toward Freedom: World Pride in D.C.

National Trans Visibility March • Washington, D.C. • June 2025

During World Pride in Washington D.C., This Doesn’t Define Me proudly stood at the frontlines of history. Our founder and president, Bella Bautista, served as a Strategy Director for the National Trans Visibility March (NTVM)—a powerful movement demanding justice, liberation, and visibility for trans and nonbinary people across the globe.

The weekend began with the NTVM Pre-Rally at the historic Human Rights Campaign headquarters, where Bella took the stage and delivered a speech rooted in resistance, remembrance, and radical hope. Speaking to a packed crowd of organizers, youth, and elders, she lifted the stories of those too often pushed to the margins—trans immigrants, Black and Brown trans women, trans people living with HIV, and youth fighting to survive in hostile states.

From there, the march surged through the streets of D.C., joining the World Pride International Rally + March on Washington for Freedom, turning the nation’s capital into a living symbol of trans power and unity. Bella marched shoulder to shoulder with leaders from across the country, carrying not just a banner, but a movement.

In a time when trans rights are under attack, our presence in D.C. was more than symbolic—it was revolutionary. We are not just demanding visibility. We are claiming our future.

No Kings, No Silence: A Protest for Trans Liberation

June 29, 2025 • Marietta, Georgia

On a hot summer afternoon in Marietta, Georgia, over 1,000 people gathered in defiant unity to say one thing loud and clear: We will not be erased.

Organized by This Doesn’t Define Me, the No Kings Protest was a grassroots response to the rising wave of anti-trans legislation and violence targeting our communities—particularly in the South. What began as an idea between a few organizers quickly grew into a statewide mobilization of trans youth, artists, elders, families, and allies ready to reclaim space, visibility, and power.

Under the leadership of our founder Bella Bautista, the protest centered trans joy, resistance, and rage. Marchers moved through the streets of Marietta with handmade signs, megaphones, and matching shirts reading “NO KINGS”—a call to dismantle systems that uphold power through fear and control.

From the main stage, speakers shared stories of survival and demanded justice, while mutual aid stations provided water, food, healing kits, and resources for attendees. The event also featured live performances by queer and trans artists from across Georgia, turning protest into celebration.

The name “No Kings” isn’t just a slogan—it’s a rejection of hierarchies that tell us who gets to lead, live, or be free. We’re building a world where power is collective, and no one is disposable.

This protest was just the beginning.

From Passion to Action: Uplifting LGBTQ+ Youth with Brave Trails

Brave Trails Summer Camp • June 2025

At This Doesn’t Define Me, we believe that youth are not just the future—they are the now. That’s why we were honored to partner with Brave Trails, a leadership camp for LGBTQ+ youth, to help turn passion into action through advocacy, community building, and healing.

Our founder, Bella Bautista, served as a featured panelist during Brave Trails’ transformative workshop, “From Passion to Action: Turning Joy Into Advocacy.” Joined by fellow organizers and advocates from across the country, Bella spoke on the importance of reclaiming joy as a tool of resistance and encouraged campers to lead with authenticity and boldness—reminding them that advocacy can be rooted in healing, community, and self-love.

The workshop was a space of laughter, vulnerability, and truth-telling. From discussing organizing strategies to sharing lived experiences as a trans Latina activist in the South, Bella offered not only inspiration but real tools for youth to take home and activate in their own communities.

Brave Trails represents what This Doesn’t Define Me is all about—empowering the next generation of change makers to rise up, speak out, and know that their identities are not obstacles, but sources of strength.