Lorrainne Sade Baskerville

Lorrainne Sade Baskerville is an American social worker, activist, and trans woman best known for founding transgender advocacy group transGENESIS.

Born in Chicago, Baskerville was the eldest of seven children. In the 1970s, she became familiar with sex workers’ conditions and laws prohibiting wearing female clothing. When AIDS struck a member of her family in the mid-1980s, Baskerville began to volunteer at Howard Brown Health Center and Horizons Community Services. She eventually became an HIV/AIDS case manager.

In 1994 she earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from Northeastern Illinois University. Baskerville foundedtransGENESIS to address issues of gender identity, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, sex work, harm reduction, and self-empowerment. Programs have included T-PASS (Trans-People Advocating Safer Sex), a weekly drop-in program for youth and young adults, called TransDiva, and a peer-led transgender support and discussion group.

In 1997, Baskerville received the first Georgia Black Award for service to the transgender community. She chaired the Youth Events Committee for the Chicago Black Pride 2000 conference. She was selected by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and the 13th International AIDS Conference to lead a panel on transgender issues.

In 2000 Baskerville was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.

In 2001, Baskerville received a Certificate for Recognition for Professional Leadership from Judy Baar Topinka, Illinois State Treasurer, and a Certificate of Recognition for Community Activism from Cook County (IL) State's Attorney, Richard A. Devine. In 2002 Baskerville was appointed to the Executive Committee of the National Coalition for LGBT Health.

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