Dee Dee Chamblee

Ms. Dee Dee Chamblee is the executive director and founder of LaGender Inc., a non-profit organization, led by Black trans women, dedicated to the support of transgender women of color in the metro Atlanta area.

Dee Dee founded LaGender in 2001 to address the unique needs of the transgender community surrounding issues such as HIV/AIDS, homelessness, incarceration, mental health wellness, discrimination and hate crime violence. She’s a true survivor, having lived with HIV since 1987, and she is a tireless advocate for the trans community here in Atlanta and beyond.

In 2011, to honor her work, then-President Obama named DeeDee a Champion of Change during a 30th anniversary commemoration of the beginning of the HIV/AIDS crisis. She was the first Black trans woman to be honored at the White House.

TW: In this episode, there are some themes and discussion of sexual abuse. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse you can reach out to the National Sexual Assault Holtline for 24/7 support online at online.rainn.org or 800.656.4673.

Note: This episode was recorded in the fall of 2022, and when it was released in January 2023, Sam Landis had changed jobs and now works for Delta Air Lines.

Out Down South is brought to you by the Atlanta LGBTQ+ History Project and part of the WUSSY Podcast Network.

Hosted by Rachel Garbus (@goodgraciousrachel) and Sam Landis (@iam_samlandis).

Produced by Jon Dean (@jondeanphoto), Rachel Garbus (@goodgraciousrachel), and Sam Landis (@iam_samlandis).

Teaser edited by Kacie Willis

Podcast graphics created by Sam Landis (@iam_samlandis)

Project interns - Alyssa Zhang (“Jong”) and Alex Campo.

Podcast Music Information:

Intro Song: “Break the Mold” by Jack Pierce

Supplemental Music from AudioJungle

The podcast is funded by a Georgia Humanities grant and individual gifts from LGBTQ+ history-lovers like you. If you would like to support the project, you can by visiting: atlantalgbtqhistoryproject.org/donate

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