Every day during the month of June, we will be spotlighting our 2022 Logo30. This powerful series profiles ordinary and extraordinary people who show pride in unique and provocative ways. Visit the Logo30 homepage to view current and past honorees.

By Sam Manzella

Hope Giselle isn’t just hoping for a better future; she’s actively working to create it.

The activist, author, artist, and proud Black trans woman is the mind behind AllowMe, a nonprofit organization that pairs young LGBTQ people of color with established community leaders to foster personal and professional growth. Launching the organization this year is one of her proudest achievements, Giselle tells Logo.

“We have monthly chat sessions, and we talk through what it means to use your voice and build this social platform that then turns into something tangible,” she explains. “What does it look like to organize as a youth, or what does it look like to create a space for other kids at school? And I think I'm most proud of that because that's exactly what my mission was when I was in school: to always be the person that created this space.”

Although AllowMe is a relatively new venture, Giselle has been advocating for fellow LGBTQ people of color, especially Black trans women, for years. She grew up in Alabama, where there were hardly enough spaces or extracurricular programs “that supported Black kids, let alone Black queer kids.” As a college student at Alabama State University, she founded the school’s first LGBTQ student group. She went on to become the first openly trans woman to graduate with a BFA and an MFA in her alma mater’s history.

“Being able to curate these spaces and see the look on [kids’] faces as they're learning new ways to organize or use their voices and promote their own platforms just feels really nice,” she adds.

Learn more about Giselle and the rest of our inspiring 2022 Logo30 honorees in the video below.