Collections by Michelle Brown WSG DeShanna U. Neal: Activist & Fierce Mama Bear

Collections by Michelle Brown

A life-long resident of Wilmington, Delaware, DeShanna Neal is the founder of Intersections of Pride Foundation. ​ They are the co-organizer and creator of New Castle County's first ever LGBTQ Youth Pride Festival, as well as Delaware's first Drag Queen Story Hour. But first and foremost, she is a is a Black queer, mother. Her work into advocacy and activism started off on a very accidental foot when her 3-year-old announced, “I am a girl.” Trinity was classified as male at birth based on anatomy but had the internal sense of being female. She didn’t have to think twice when a therapist asked her if she wanted a happy little girl or a dead little boy. She has been fighting for her daughter ever since, taking on school officials who were uncomfortable with Trinity’s feminine clothing, with family members who accused them of feeding the child’s mental illness, with acquaintances who questioned their parenting. She battled state Medicaid, so Trinity’s puberty blockers were covered. If you mess with this mama bear, you are going to get bit. Now DeShanna is a nationally known transgender rights champion but she never sought the limelight. Together with Trinity, DeShanna works to change hearts and minds. Intersections of Pride Foundation works to provide support, resources, and education while also raising awareness to the BIPOC, LGBTQ, Homeless, and other marginalized communities’ intersections.