Ceyenne Doroshow,

Founder and Executive Director

Ceyenne Doroshow is a Black Trans activist, author, and the Founder and Executive Director of GLITS Inc. (Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society). Born and raised in Brooklyn, Ceyenne’s life has been shaped by the realities that so many Black Trans women face: homelessness, incarceration, police violence, health disparities, and exclusion from safe housing, employment, and healthcare. Having endured these systems of neglect and violence herself, she recognized that survival for her community required more than temporary aid — it demanded long-term solutions led by those directly impacted.

In 2015, she founded GLITS to meet these urgent needs with compassion, resources, and sustainability. Ceyenne and GLITS have since provided emergency housing for people escaping violence, asylum assistance for LGBTQIA+ immigrants fleeing persecution, reentry services for community members coming home from Rikers Island and other prisons, and leadership development for those ready to step into their own power. Her work also extends to public safety initiatives, including the Layleen Polanco Reentry Program and the Jacob Riis Beach Safety Ambassador Project, both of which offer models for de-escalation and community-based alternatives to policing.

Through every initiative, Ceyenne draws from her own experiences of being pushed to society’s margins. She has turned that pain into power, building networks of care that prioritize dignity and healing over punishment and neglect. Today, she is recognized not only for her fierce advocacy but also for her deep compassion, resilience, and vision for a future where Black Trans lives are secure, celebrated, and free.