Chastity Bowick (born 1985) is a transgender health advocate and social justice activist based in Massachusetts. She is known for her work supporting low-income and homeless transgender individuals as the former Executive Director of the Transgender Emergency Fund of Massachusetts. Bowick has also founded her own consulting firm, where she provides training to organizations on working with transgender and non-binary communities.[1][2] Bowick is a Black transgender woman who uses she/her pronouns.[3]
Chastity Bowick | |
|---|---|
 An image and logo of Chastity's Consulting & Talent Group (CCTG). | |
| Born | 1985 |
| Education | Clark University |
| Occupation | Transgender Health Advocate & Social Justice Activist |
| Employer(s) | Massachusetts General Hospital CARE Program; Chastity Bowick Consulting & Talent Group |
| Known for | Transgender activism |
| Website | https://www.chastitysctg.com/ |
Early life
editBorn and raised in Rochester, New York, Bowick began her transition at 17 after moving to Boston, Massachusetts to seek a safer environment for her gender affirmation process. She has spoken about her early challenges, including experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and engaging in survival sex work.[4][5]
Career and activism
editFrom 2015 to 2023, Bowick led the Transgender Emergency Fund of Massachusetts, a nonprofit organization with the mission of providing support services to low-income and homeless transgender individuals, including housing and healthcare assistance.[2][5][6] During the COVID-19 pandemic, she started a nutritional program in collaboration with the American Heart Association and About Fresh to deliver produce boxes to transgender individuals across the state.[7][8] Bowick has also been involved in organizing events commemorating Transgender Day of Remembrance.[9][10]
In January 2023, Bowick founded Chastity's Consulting & Talent Group, LLC (CCTG), which provides guidance to organizations on supporting transgender communities. CCTG aims to promote equal protections and improve quality of life for these communities.[2][11] Bowick also currently serves as the Community Engagement Director at Massachusetts General Hospital's CARE Research Center.[8][12]
Honors and awards
editBowick has received a number of awards for her contributions to advocacy and health support for the transgender community, including:
- TDOV Activist and Visibility Award from the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth (2024)[13]
- Massachusetts LGBTQ+ Leader from MassLive (2023)[2]
- LGBTQIA+ Champion Award from the AdClub Equity Project (2022)[14]
- Lavender Rhino Award by The History Project (2020)[15][5]
- Advancing Equity Award from the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth (2018)[16]
References
edit- ^ The Rainbow Times (2020-12-15). "Transgender Emergency Fund Of MA At Work". The Rainbow Times | New England's Largest LGBTQ Newspaper | Boston. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ a b c d Micek, John L. (12 February 2024). "Mass. LGBTQ+ leaders: Chastity Bowick 'gives a voice to the voiceless'". MassLive. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ "Chastity Bowick | Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum". www.gardnermuseum.org. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ^ Melendez, Lauren (2024-06-05). "'Social justice warrior,' award-winning activist Chastity Bowick shares Pride journey". NBC Boston. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ a b c The History Project Documenting LGBTQ Boston (2020-10-05). 2020 HistoryMaker Awards - Chastity Bowick and the Transgender Emergency Fund, 2020 Lavender Rhino. Retrieved 2024-11-08 – via YouTube.
- ^ Transgender Emergency Fund. "Meet the TEF Team". Transgender Emergency Fund. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ^ "Helping feed hard-hit transgender communities in Massachusetts – Eastern States Blog". easternstates.heart.org. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ a b "ISMS 2024 Keynote Speaker: Chastity Bowick". www.streetmedicine.org. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ "Boston police recommit to solving murder of Rita Hester, whose death inspired Transgender Day of Remembrance". GBH. 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ "Advocate and activist Chastity Bowick keynote speaker for Transgender Day of Remembrance". UMass Chan Medical School. 2021-11-22. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
- ^ "Chastity Bowick Consulting & Talent Group". Chastity Bowick. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ^ Jackson, Jonathan. "CARE Research Center Team". Massachusetts General Hospital. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
- ^ Brooks, Shaplaie (16 April 2024). "The MA Commission Celebrates Youth at Annual Gayla". Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth.
- ^ "The 2022 Equity Awards". AdClub Equity Project. 2022. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ "Announcing the 2020 HistoryMaker Awards Honorees | The History Project". historyproject.org. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
- ^ Trigilio, Jo (9 March 2018). "Attorney General Maura Healey Swears In LGBTQ Youth Commission As Advancing Equity Awards Are Unveiled". Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth. Retrieved 8 November 2024.