ASHLEE MARIE PRESTON

First black trans magazine editor-in-chief & activist

By channeling her trauma with sexual assault, homelessness and substance abuse, Ashlee Marie Preston has become a trans leader in advocating for LGBTQ+ and other disenfranchised populations.

Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Preston experienced a difficult childhood. Because attitudes in her community and across the country regarding transitioning were largely regressive, she was constantly challenged making sense of her identity. At age 19, she left the Commonwealth for the West Coast. Settling in Los Angeles, she developed an addiction to drugs as she sought to cope with trauma arising from sexual assault and the alienation she felt on personal and systemic levels. 

She would eventually navigate through these hardships to become an activist for LGBTQ+ rights. She rose to fame in 2017 when she publicly confronted recently transitioned Caitlyn Jenner for her outward support for then-President Trump. Many in the trans community celebrated Preston’s courage. The publicity generated from this event resulted in several opportunities for her, including writing spots for publications like Teen Vogue and Vice. 

In 2017, she was the first trans woman to accept a position as a leading magazine editor-and-chief at Wear Your Voice, a feminist publication known for its social justice advocacy.