The Global Interfaith Network For People of All Sexes, Sexual Orientations, Gender Identities and Expressions is profoundly saddened by the passing of Tuisina Ymania Brown. Ymania, a proud Samoan fa’afafine and trans activist, played a pivotal role in the establishment of GIN. She joined the Interim Steering Committee of GIN in 2016, and was instrumental in the GIN conference which elected the first formal Board members, becoming one of two initial Co-Chairs of the Board from 2017 onwards.
Ymania brought her energy, her skills and her great heart to the establishment of the organisation. She was instrumental in setting GIN’s agenda, and in connecting us across geographies and faith traditions. Without her GIN would not be the organisation it is.
She was enormously eloquent, kind and generous and always committed to lifting up especially trans and fa’afafine people from the Global South.
I am so sad, Ymania profoundly influenced the course of my life, and I will remember her with love and gratitude. She was always willing to show up, and take risks to make her point. I remember her, at a side event that we did with partners at the UN in New York (our first ever), in 2018, throwing a handful of coins at the audience of diplomats, CSOs and faith-based organisations – saying to them, ‘Here, take back the 30 pieces of silver that you paid us to betray ourselves (and not stand up for our rights as LGBTIQ+ people of faith)’. That was Ymania.
Ymania was a visionary and prophetic leader who brought her Pacific identity into all the spaces she occupied. Her leadership was grounded in her lived experience, and the wisdom of her Pacific ancestors. Most of all, Ymania’s life was a crucible, transforming her pain and that of others into power and wisdom. Ymania’s faith (Christian, Jewish and Buddhist) grounded her in love and a profound commitment to the community of LGBTIQ+ people of faith. She encouraged us, supported us, and provided leadership when we needed it most.
We are praying for her children, grandchildren, friends and family and for all of those whose personal and professional lives are poorer for the loss of Ymania. May she rest in peace and in power.
