Meet the 2024 Class of HRC Youth Ambassadors

by Valentine Lynch

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Youth Well-Being Program is pleased to announce the 2024 class of HRC Youth Ambassadors: Phi, Lily, Louise, Sai, Billy, Ray, Rehman, Kiki, Eris, and Hildie.

Four members of the cohort will begin their first year as Youth Ambassadors: Phi, Lily, Louise, and Sai, while Billy, Ray, Rehman, Kiki, Eris, and Hildie were named Youth Ambassadors in 2023.

We would like to thank Kei, Adrian, Katie, and Mya for their service as Youth Ambassadors in the previous cohort.

Meet The Youth Ambassadors

Phi (they/them) | Missouri

Phi is a 18 year old Vietnamese and Indian American, neurodivergent, and queer student activist, artist, and organizer. With a passion for domestic and international affairs, Phi has worked on various political campaigns, led debate and civics programs at The Fremont Debate Academy, and founded the international activism nonprofit Redefine Z. As the President of their competitive speech team, Phi steps onto state and national stages, sharing stories, experiences, and rhetoric about their identity–a passion that won them a national championship. Beyond competition, their speaking has been acknowledged by the city council, local politicians, Tri-city leaders, and even the Mayor. Working with LGBTQ+ groups like It Gets Better, they tell stories through art, workshops, and have been featured by 19th News and twitch streams. They even have two comics based off them! Phi’s own nonprofit, has rallied over 300 youth activists across 4 countries to spearhead rallies, storytelling galleries, donation drives, and even the largest mural on their school campus. Phi’s greatest joy is knowing that their story can help others.

Lily (she/her) | Western Massachusetts

Lily is a 19 year old transfeminine activist, writer, and leader who is passionate about working towards intersectional trans equity. She cares deeply about movements for Palestinian self-determination, gender-affirming care accessibility, racial justice, decarceration, and mutual aid. Lily enters the Human Rights Campaign’s Youth Ambassador program inspired by the work done by past and present Ambassadors. Her own past and present work includes founding the National Transgender Leadership Conference Committee (NTLCC), an emerging public service nonprofit; becoming the first openly transgender woman elected to a class presidency and a student government executive seat at Mount Holyoke College; and creating TGNC10, a yearlong programming series uplifting trans and gender nonconforming voices and commemorating the 10-year anniversary of a gender-inclusive admissions policy at Mount Holyoke College. In her spare time, Lily enjoys taking long walks with her friends, baking treats, and brewing teas.

Louise (any/all) | Utah

Louise Olivia is a 16 year old activist, musician, and writer from Utah. Louise first began her activist journey when she co-organized a walkout at her school protesting legislation threatening queer kids in her state. The success of the walkout inspired her to explore the youth activism space in Utah, and soon after she joined Utah Youth Environmental Solutions as an organizer. Louise discovered the power of storytelling in changemaking, and started combining her love of words with her advocacy. She began writing to demand protections on the Great Salt Lake, a natural marvel in Utah that is facing ecological disaster. Since beginning her career as an activist, Louise has worked with many youth led organizations, across many disciplines. She is currently a creative fellow with the LOG OFF movement, the Head of Research and Analysis for Engage Politica, and a writer for multiple publications. In her free time, Louise can be found competing on her school's debate team, playing in her rock band, or hanging out with her silkie chicken, Clementine.

Sai (he/they) | Tennessee

Sai is a 15 year old biracial gender non-conforming activist who lives in Tennessee. When anti-trans legislation flooded their state, their passion for advocacy was sparked and they joined the ACLU PeoplePower grassroots text-banking team. Through text-banking, they have advocated and educated people on a variety of issues including trans rights, immigration reform, and abortion bans. More recently, he has been selected for a Planned Parenthood Youth Advisory Board that focuses on peer education and a St. Jude board for HIV prevention and education. Outside of advocacy, Sai enjoys playing varsity soccer and reading. In the future, he wants to continue advocating for LGBTQ+ rights by working as a lawyer.

Billy (he/they) | Washington State, Pacific Northwest

Billy is a 16 year old advocate from Washington state. Their passion for advocacy centers around their dream of a world where inclusive sex education is accessible to everyone. When he’s not educating others about reproductive justice he can be found exploring his hobbies; including alternative fashion and roller derby.

Eris (they/them) | Michigan

Eris is an 18 year old Black, nonbinary, neurodivergent, and queer activist. Their biggest passion is fighting for liberation and accessibility in all areas. This led them to be president of their high school Gender-Sexuality Alliance and heavily involve themselves in other national organizations such as GLSEN and It Gets Better. Most of their advocacy surrounds BIPOC liberation, LGBTQ+ rights, Reproductive/Sexual Health, and the intersectionality of all three. Throughout their years as an advocate, they have published an op-ed in Teen Vogue, spoken on many panels to share their unique experience, and created a sexual health resource for their local community. When not immersed in activism, Eris can be found crocheting or listening to their favorite Spotify playlist. Currently, Eris is studying sociology at Wayne State University in the fall to create their own non-profit in the near future.

Ray (he/they) | Kentucky

Ray is a 17 year old transgender activist from Kentucky. He became involved in activism when the recent wave of anti-trans legislation passed through his state. He realized that he couldn’t just sit back while his rights to school, therapy and medical care were being attacked, so he drove himself to Kentucky’s Capitol building every day after school during the legislative session and spoke with legislators and other activists in an effort to prevent the bill’s passing. He took a lead role in organizing a Queer Youth Visibility rally in late March, as well as being interviewed by local and national news sources to share his story and experiences. He recently published a piece of his own, on the impact of community on queer youth, in the magazine Scalawag, and plans to continue writing and sharing his story.

Rehman (they/them) | Texas and California

Rehman is a passionate human rights advocate who has been recognized as a WHO Adolescent Champion (PMNCH), the Representative of US Youth Voices at the WHO and PAHO, a UN NGO Representative & Young Ambassador, and a UN Refugee Agency Young Champion for their work with iCure, an organization they founded at the age of 11. iCure aims, across its 30+ international chapters that have helped 60,000 people, to improve public health access, education, and policy. Rehman additionally has extensive experience consulting for organizations such as UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, UN Human Rights, UN Women, and the governments of the G20, UK, New Zealand, and European Union with over 22 first-authored papers, many of which have been presented before and cited at esteemed platforms such as the Human Rights Council, UN Committee for Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, Commission on the Status of Women, European Union Parliament, White House, and the Economic and Social Council Partnership Forum. In the future, they hope to develop culturally competent policies to improve the well-being of underserved communities.

Kiki (she/her) | New Jersey

Kiki is a fierce advocate for BIPOC LGBTQ+ youth in the U.S. and is passionate about bringing to light the issues of BIPOC and immigrant LGBTQ+ youth in the U.S. today. She immigrated from Mexico when she was young and finds her heritage a crucial part of her identity. She is also passionate about the problems the LGBTQ+ community faces in STEM and academics and hopes to be a trailblazer in those fields. This is her first year at the Human Rights Campaign and was previously a Youth Voice for It Gets Better. Apart from advocacy, Kiki loves public speaking and debate, regularly participating in Model UN at her school.

Hildie (she/her) | Minnesota

Hildie is a 13 year old actor, singer and performer who is passionate about advocating for the safe and affirming environments trans kids deserve. She lives with her family in Minnesota where she has been active in passing the recent Trans Refuge Legislation protecting trans kid’s access to gender affirming healthcare. In 2022, at 11 years old, Hildie was named the youngest grand marshal in Twin Cities Pride history. She has appeared in an international ad campaign for Expedia, testified in front of the MN Senate, been a featured speaker at fundraisers and LGBTQ+ community events, and will appear next month in the world premier of the unapologetically queer "Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress" at Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis.