Born and raised in New York City,
Elisa Crespo is a transgender
advocate and the first executive
director of the New Pride Agenda, a
statewide LGBTQ advocacy group in
New York.
Elisa took over at New Pride Agenda
earlier this year after mounting an historic
campaign for City Council in the Bronx.
Elisa was the first out transgender woman
of color to be on a ballot in New York
State and would have been the first out
transgender lawmaker in the state.
Elisa
Crespo
New Pride Agenda
In an interview with Gay City News last
year, Elisa said she was motivated to run
for City Council because she wanted
to address poverty and unemployment
in her local community, saying that she
“couldn’t sit idly by and not do anything
about it.”
Since joining NEW Pride Agenda,
Elisa has overseen the organization’s
advocacy efforts on issues such as ageappropriate
comprehensive sexual
education, the decriminalization of sex
work, and legislation that would require
utility companies to respect the names
and pronouns of its customers. Elisa has
also advocated for the need to improve
conditions for incarcerated transgender
individuals.
Previously, Elisa worked as the
education liaison for Bronx Borough
President Ruben Diaz, Jr. She also held
internships in the City Council and under
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.
Elisa graduated from John Jay College
of Criminal Justice.
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