For trans activist Liam Lipham, holding space for someone to be their whole self is more than an occupation, it's a duty. Growing up in small town Missouri, Lipham found little room to explore his identity without scrutiny, only to join the Navy’s “SeaBees” Construction Battalion right out of high school during the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” era.
“I actually had to sign papers when I joined, attesting that I was not LGBT – which is very wild to think about now.”
The combat veteran began his transition in 2015 and credits the self-realization of his identity to exposure through social media, stating, “I started learning about trans people … I saw all these people that were trans and thriving, living nice lives.”
And it's this lived experience that has led him to mentor trans youth with Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center, serve on the board of WPB Night Runners, and informed his work as a consultant to various states to address the common need of exposure and community to combat substance abuse.
“I really like to be invested in every community. No matter what kind of community it is, even if it's not my community. I love to be an ally. I'm here for people's individuality, and I want everybody to live their best lives and their best truth.”
This ethos is even followed in his recently published adult activity book, Brain Burners. “I want to … highlight different subcultures … I’ve made sure that I've involved communities that don't normally get highlighted or like taboo because nothing should be a taboo.” It's this unyielding belief in the transformative power of belonging that has earned Lipham a spot in this year’s Out & Proud.
Homepage: OUT & PROUD 2024
