Los Angeles, CA - The San Francisco-based Transgender Law Center (TLC) recently welcomed Alexis Rivera as its first policy advocate. At the same time the firm welcomed Lisa Rae Dummer, an attorney specializing in benefits, as its new board chair. These two announcements signal the beginning of a year of change as the agency wraps up five years of making California a state in which everyone can fully and freely express their gender identity.

Rivera comes to TLC after years of working on issues related to transgender youth and HIV education and prevention; most recently for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

“I am truly honored and blessed to start this new challenge and to work on policy at a state-wide level,” Rivera said in a release. “Our communities urgently need better policies regarding access to health care, education, and public accommodations and I'm excited to dive right in.”

“If you only knew how much trouble we are in for stealing Alexis from L.A.,” joked TLC Deputy Director Cecilia Chung. “Everyone who has worked with her, including us, is incredibly impressed with her past accomplishments and believes passionately in her potential. And having her on TLC’s staff only increases our ability to truly serve the needs of a statewide community.”

Dummer, unanimously voted board chair in February, is an active member of Transgender San Francisco and joined TLC’s board in 2006.

“I am honored that the Board has shown such confidence in me as we continue to move the organization forward," Dummer said. “TLC has quickly grown into a vital community institution and the entire Board is thrilled with the opportunities we have over the next five years to transform the way California recognizes and affirms our community.”

“Lisa is exactly the right person at the right time to lead TLC’s Board in their continued growth and development,” TLC Director Christopher Daley said. “And, her work ethic and experience will be strong assets to the organization as we bring on our first executive director this summer.”