ILGA World mourns the death of former co-Secretary General Tuisina Ymania Brown
Summary:
ILGA World is devastated by the unimaginable loss of Tuisina Ymania Brown, a fierce advocate for the human rights of trans people and LGBTI communities at large across the Pacific and the world.
She passed away in Berlin, Germany, following severe health complications. She was 62 years old, and is survived by two adoptive sons, her grandchildren, her partner and close family, and a far-reaching network of human rights activists and friends worldwide.
A proud trans fa’afafine woman of colour from Samoa, Brown has been a fearless force for good in the global LGBTI movement throughout her life. She was a survivor of gender-based and anti-trans violence, abuse, and racial profiling, and these experiences profoundly shaped her activism.
From grassroots movements up to the United Nations, she lead countless calls to uphold the rights and dignity of all people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics, championing Global South voices, and weaving solidarity across movements — focusing on the intersectionality of LGBTI, indigenous, faith, environmental, and economic justice issues.
From 2019 to 2024, she served as the co-Secretary General of ILGA World, the largest global federation of organisations championing the human rights of LGBTI people, after being on its Board for over a decade representing the Oceania region.
“Our entire ILGA family is in extreme shock at the news of Ymania’s death. To imagine the global LGBTI movement without her is simply not possible. Her rousing public speeches, the wisdom that allowed our organisation to grow immensely, her determination to keep showing up even when visibility could translate into violence are still all too present for us to come to terms with her being gone. Our entire movement has lost a hero, and her legacy will live on in our struggle towards a better world for everyone.”
Kimberly Frost and Yuri Guaiana, co-Secretaries General at ILGA World
Ymania was not only a role model and friend to me – she was that to thousands of people across the globe. She had turned the hurt and anger she had experienced in her live into activism, that centred on elevating our humanity, our dignity, for everyone to finally see it. In the trans community she was a force, a pioneer, someone to look up to. The most meaningful way I know to honour Ymania’s memory is to continue building meaningful solidarity with one another — across our LGBTI communities and beyond.”
Julia Ehrt, Executive Director at ILGA World
For everyone who wishes to express their gratitude for her, say goodbye, or just keep her in good memory, we have created an online memorial board.
