Victoria Von Blaque embodies more than just a name within the Transgender and sex worker rights movements, she’s a force of change, compassion, and perseverance. With over twenty years of experience, she has established herself as an advocate, consultant, and performer. Most importantly, she is dedicated to honoring the impactful legacy of her late mentor, Cecilia Gentili.

Cecilia Gentili was a groundbreaking activist who significantly advanced the rights of the transgender and sex work communities, particularly through her efforts to abolish the "Walking While Trans" law in New York City. Her untimely passing created a profound gap, but Victoria, who viewed Cecilia as a mentor, big sister, and dear friend, has committed herself to carry on Cecilia's vital work, envisioning a future where transgender individuals and sex workers can thrive without the threat of discrimination or criminalization.

As I sit here watching cartoons with my cat, smoking a joint, and reflecting on the holidays, the elections, and community, a quote from a kids' show called “Phineas and Ferb” sent me into a rabbit hole of why I love villains and antiheroes. The quote was, “A hero is a hero, but everybody loves a great villain.” As a Black, non-binary, Trans feminine person, my existence is often used as a scapegoat for ignorance and justifications of people's rage, without them knowing who I am and only being concerned with what I am. How long must all of my communities endure this? Let’s not forget that intersectionality is real; I’m not just fighting racism; I’m fighting sexism, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, and the list goes on. Like many people in marginalized communities that I share space with, all we want is to live a happy and free life. The reality is that most of us are surviving, and the few of us who are thriving are told we should be grateful for the bare minimum that many of our counterparts take for granted.