The LGBTQ+ community in Washington, D.C. and across the country is mourning the loss of pioneering transgender activist SaVanna Wanzer, whose decades of advocacy helped transform visibility, support, and resources for Black transgender people in the nation’s capital. Wanzer passed away on April 24 at the age of 63 from natural causes, according to family members and community organizations.
For many in D.C.’s LGBTQ+ community, SaVanna Wanzer was more than an activist. She was considered an elder, mentor, organizer, and one of the driving forces behind creating spaces where transgender people — especially Black trans women — could feel seen, protected, and celebrated. She is widely credited with founding D.C. Trans Pride, D.C. Black Trans Pride, and the “May Is All About Trans” initiative, programs that became pillars of the city’s Pride season and advocacy work.
Organizations including the Human Rights Campaign, Capital Pride Alliance, and the Center for Black Equity released statements honoring her legacy. Leaders described Wanzer as a “trailblazer,” “icon,” and “D.C. legend” whose work ensured transgender voices were not pushed to the margins.
Wanzer’s advocacy stretched far beyond Pride events. She spent years supporting people living with HIV/AIDS and volunteered extensively with Whitman-Walker Health, where she served in volunteer and leadership roles for more than two decades. She was also connected to organizations such as the National Minority AIDS Council and Food & Friends, helping vulnerable community members access healthcare, meals, mentorship, and support systems.
According to reports, Wanzer herself had been living with multiple health challenges for years, including HIV, diabetes, and heart problems dating back to her teenage years. Rather than retreat from public life, she used those experiences to advocate for dignity, compassion, and equitable healthcare for marginalized communities.
Tributes poured in from activists, city leaders, and residents following news of her death. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser praised Wanzer’s decades of work ensuring transgender residents — particularly Black trans residents — were “visible and respected.” Others remembered her not only for her activism, but for her warmth, humor, and determination to push institutions to do better.
Friends and fellow advocates say the spaces SaVanna Wanzer fought to create will continue to serve future generations long after her passing. In a political climate where transgender rights remain under attack in many parts of the country, many see her legacy as a reminder of the importance of grassroots organizing, community care, and refusing to let vulnerable people be erased.
A celebration of Wanzer’s life is scheduled for May 17 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., a place deeply tied to the city’s transgender community and the early beginnings of Trans Pride programming she helped build.
