ILGA-NAC on the Passing of Tuisina Ymania Brown

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Tuisina Ymania Brown, a fearless leader, proud Fa’afafine, and tireless advocate for our global movements. Ymania’s legacy is vast. She served as Executive Director of Transgender Europe, Co-Secretary General of ILGA World, and Co-President of InterPride, while also leading and supporting grassroots organizing in Samoa, Oceania, and beyond. Her leadership was instrumental in pushing for the recognition of LGBT adoption rights, challenging discriminatory laws, and ensuring economic justice remained central to our struggles.

From the Samoa Fa’afafine Association to Sydney World Pride, from global interfaith organizing to the International Trans Fund, Ymania carried our movements forward with courage, brilliance, and love.

Her impact was also deeply personal. ILGA-NAC board members shared their; memories of Ymania, reflecting the many ways she touched lives and strengthened our movements: 

Taj Donville-Outerbridge remembers:

‘The first time we met, after a rather public disagreement, Ymania said to me, “Taj, there will always be people in the movement who will try to bring you down because of who you are and what you represent but you must remember that there are also people like me, who will lift you up and support you.” Instead of being offended, she reached over and pulled me under her wing. 

Susan Gapka, reflects on Ymania’s boldness in global advocacy:

“At the ILGA World Conference in South Africa, when debating the amendment to remove BITWY seats, she obviously supported the board position and I opposed it. Her comment to me was, ‘You are here to cause good trouble.’

Kim Vance-Mubanga recalls her passion and fire in movement spaces:

“At the World Pride Human Rights Conference in Australia in 2023 she was giving the closing reflection and summary of the panel I was on, and I remember her summarizing some of my words so fiercely and passionately — ‘abortion is an LGBTI issue!’ — and getting the audience riled up. We all need that kind of amplification in our advocacy and I will deeply miss that passion and fire.”

For ILGA–North America and the Caribbean, Ymania’s life reminds us that our struggles are interconnected, and our solidarity must be global. We honor her vision and extend our condolences to her family, her communities, and everyone inspired by her work.

Rest in power, Ymania. Your legacy will shine on through the lives you have touched.