36 Gay City News Impact Awards 2020
HONOREE
JEVON MARTIN
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PRINCESS JANAE PLACE
In 2015, Jevon Martin embarked on a quest to make a difference in
the lives of local trans youth when he founded Princess Janae Place,
a Bronx-based LGBTQ social services organization that works to
stabilize housing for trans people in New York City.
That quest has indeed been an impactful one: Jevon, a trans man, has a staff of three full-time and two part-time
employees, including several tasked with connecting clients to housing options, primarily in the Bronx. Approximately
60 percent of Princess Janae Place’s clients are transgender in addition to many non-binary, gay, lesbian, and bisexual
folks who utilize the non-profi t’s offerings, which extend beyond the housing realm to also encompass legal, medical,
mental health, and recreational services. Almost 80 percent of clients are Black, while Asian Americans make up about
one-eighth of its caseload.
Jevon’s dedication to the needs of his clients was evident when he improvised and took on extra duties during the
turbulent emergence of the coronavirus pandemic. During an interview with Gay City News in late March, Jevon was in
the midst of hustling to connect clients in need to housing even as his organization had to temporarily close down due
to COVID-19. In one instance, he personally visited a youth getting by in the stairwell of an apartment building and got
him placed in a motel.
Jevon’s journey toward leadership of Princess Janae Place involved years of work as a mentor, an educator, an
advocate, and an infl uential house father in the ballroom community. He has played an active role in political circles,
standing up for issues like marriage equality and the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), which fi nally
brought comprehensive protections to transgender and non-binary New Yorkers last year.
As a leader and advocate in the community, Jevon wears many hats: He is a motivational speaker, grandparent,
co-producer, peer, and model, while also fi tting in time to spearhead workshops and seminars. He also juggles other
positions, such as his role serving on the Advisory Council of Equality New York, a statewide LGBTQ advocacy group.
Jevon is also involved in Theta Beta Chi, a fraternity that he said is the fi rst in the nation for trans men and has fostered
important kinships among Black transgender men in New York.
Jevon’s work and leadership in the community have garnered notable recognition over the years. Among his awards
include a 2019 Certifi cate of Excellence from Governor Andrew Cuomo, the 2016 Octavia St. Laurent Trans Activist
Award, and the Mr. Trans USA New York title in 2020.
Jevon is inspired by a simple motto: If not now, then when? If not me, then who? He reminds folks to be the change the
world needs today to make for a better tomorrow.