Danni Askini

Projects & Organizations

A career of building institutions, coalitions, and programs that create lasting change — from local mutual aid to national policy infrastructure.

Current Projects

Current

Trans Pride Seattle

Founder & Executive Director

The largest transgender pride celebration in the Pacific Northwest, serving over 35,000 people. Founded in 2013 to center transgender voices, visibility, and community celebration in Seattle’s pride landscape.

Current

Gender Justice League

Founder & Executive Director

One of the Pacific Northwest’s most effective transgender rights organizations, with annual revenue exceeding $1.5M and programs serving over 1,000 people annually across 27 states. Home to the Community Security Program, a mutual aid initiative that has served 250+ survivors.

Current

Community Security Program

Program Director • Gender Justice League

A mutual aid and gender-based violence intervention program at Gender Justice League, providing emergency housing, crisis support, and safety planning to transgender and gender-diverse survivors. Has served 250+ survivors across 27 states.

Current

No Hate in Washington State

Coalition Leadership

A broad-based coalition defending Washington’s civil rights protections against discriminatory ballot initiatives — uniting 90+ organizations across the state to protect the rights and dignity of all Washingtonians.

SAFETY Act bill signing ceremony at the Washington State Capitol, 2025
SAFETY Act bill signing, Washington State Capitol, 2025

Past Projects & Coalitions

The Coalition for Inclusive Healthcare

Coalition Policy Lead

A coalition dedicated to expanding access to inclusive, affordable healthcare — fighting insurance exclusions, training providers, and advocating for comprehensive coverage that leaves no community behind.

National Safe Schools Roundtable

National Coalition Leadership

A national initiative bringing together educators, advocates, and policymakers to address school safety for LGBTQ+ youth — developing best practices, training materials, and policy frameworks adopted across multiple states.

National Association of GSA Networks

National Program Director

Built and directed a national program spanning 27 states with an 80-organization coalition focused on youth organizing, school safety, and LGBTQ+ student empowerment through Gender-Sexuality Alliance networks.

Washington Health Equity & Reproductive Rights Organization (HERRO)

Founding Member & Organizer

A Washington State organization at the intersection of health equity and reproductive justice — advocating for policies that protect reproductive autonomy and ensure equitable access to healthcare for all communities.

The SAFE (Safety and Access for Everyone) Coalition

Coalition Leadership • 2016–2018

A statewide coalition defending Washington’s non-discrimination protections during the “bathroom bill” era — uniting civil rights organizations, businesses, and faith communities to defeat discriminatory legislation and protect transgender Washingtonians’ access to public accommodations.

Youth Leadership Advisory Team (Maine)

Youth Leader • 1998–2004

An early leadership role that shaped Danni’s career trajectory — working within Maine’s youth advocacy infrastructure on LGBTQ+ issues, foster care policy, and civic engagement during the formative “Maine Won’t Discriminate” campaigns.

Outright Portland Youth Board of Directors

Board Member

Served on the board of one of Maine’s leading LGBTQ+ youth organizations, helping guide programming, fundraising, and organizational strategy to support queer and transgender young people in southern Maine.

Lambda Legal Youth in Foster Care Leadership Team

Founding Member

A pioneering initiative within Lambda Legal — one of the nation’s oldest and largest legal organizations dedicated to LGBTQ+ civil rights — elevating the voices and experiences of LGBTQ+ youth in the foster care system to inform impact litigation and policy advocacy.

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