Drag Story Hour and Fireside Chat
In a world where the existence of difference is under threat of prohibition by legislation, state leaders must build compassionate communities where room can be made for everybody’s story, regardless of their ability to tell it.
In this Feature Talk, Jonathan Hamilt of Drag Story Hour and the Trans Formations Project’s Alex Petrovnia, Sam Mendum-Purdy and Ace Sutherland will discuss their work and actions you can take for equity. Learn more about Drag Story Hour and the Trans Formations Project on their websites, linked above.
Jonathan Hamilt (he/him) is the Executive Director of Drag Story Hour and co-founder of the NYC Chapter in 2016. Hamilt is the first Executive Director of the organization, taking it from a loose string of a few state's events to a national 501 c 3 with an international chapter network. He has spoken at Harvard, Yale, the Medical Library Association, the American Library Association, Public Library Association, School Library Journal, and SXSWEDU Conference. His activism spreads outside the work with Drag Story as his Drag persona "Ona Louise" hosts drag charity bingos across NYC. Ona Louise's personal goal is healing her inner child by offering affirming and accepting programming for kids which teaches them that it's more than okay to be different and they are loved no matter what!
Alex Petrovnia (he/him) is the original founder of the Trans Formations Project and currently serves as the President and Executive Director. He is a vocal trans advocate, a biologist and a writer. He has a background writing and speaking about trans issues, transmasculinity, scientific and queer history and more. Alex is a multiply disabled, neurodivergent, bisexual trans man.
Sam Mendum-Purdy (she/her) is a founding member and Vice-President of the Trans Formations project. She leads the Record Keeping Team, and is in charge of the collection and organization of the data presented onto the Trans Formations website, as well as keeping all the information as up to date as possible. She has a strong background in human biology, political science, and philosophy, stemming in large part due to her own experiences as a disabled neurodivergent trans woman.
Ace Sutherland (they/them) is an activist based in New York City. They currently help lead Equality New York (EQNY) as the Director of Community Organizing. EQNY is the largest statewide advocacy organization rooted in Queer and Trans liberation.
In addition to their community organizing efforts, Ace is also a content creator who has worked with Adidas, Trans LifeLine, Pinterest, Color of Change, DreamHack, and many more to ensure that Black and trans folx feel included in the gaming space. Ace is also a Board Member for Trans Lifeline, an organization that serves transgender folx through a crisis hotline and microgrants.
They hold a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Buffalo State in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at the University at Albany.
Ace can be found on all social media via @a_typicalqueer.
