Emme Zanotti

Emme Zanotti is planning to join transgender activists from more than 40 states as they converge on Washington D.C. for Trans Lobby Day, which takes place on June 8 and 9. Hunter Dyke | The Ann Arbor News

ANN ARBOR, MI - Emme Zanotti has advocated for transgender youth empowerment on a local level in the Detroit area, providing support as a volunteer with the Stand With Trans advocacy group.

She now plans to join transgender activists from more than 40 states as they converge on Washington, D.C., for Trans Lobby Day, which takes place Thursday and Friday, June 8-9.

Zanotti, a transwoman, will hear from speakers, experts and political officials in preparing to battle anti-trans bills at the state and federal levels, before meeting with elected representatives. The event is hosted by the National Center for Transgender Equality,

Zanotti said her efforts will focus on advocacy for legislation that further protects the rights of trans people instead of "assaulting" their rights.

"I think my big focus is that this is a hard thing to correct once things are wrong," said Zanotti, an Ann Arbor resident and Bay City native. "If you look at the statistics that have been released, this is a systemic problem. From the dropout rate to the poverty rate among trans people, it's especially toxic when you see the (current presidential administration) pull back the protections for trans students. I wanted to take the time to sit down with Congress and talk about how we can help an afflicted group."

Zanotti said issues like President Donald Trump's decision to rescind protections for transgender students that allowed them to use bathrooms corresponding with their identity, according to the New York Times, is just one example of trans rights being infringed upon.

In addition to advocating for the rights of trans students, a key issue Zanotti plans to focus on when visiting with Michigan's legislators is the Affordable Care Act and how it impacts transgender people.

"There are an estimated 33,000 transgender people in Michigan and 30 percent of them are living in poverty," Zanotti said, citing statistics from the NCTE. "That's twice the level of the general population. I just think if there's anything we should be doing its talking about legislation that improves life for those citizens."

Zanotti, who transitioned a few years ago, works as an accounting analyst at Domino's Pizza's world headquarters in Ann Arbor.

A focus of her advocacy work has been in working with trans students in the Detroit area through Stand With Trans - work she feels is particularly important in laying a solid foundation of acceptance in their identities.

"It provides multiple support groups for kids dealing with the struggles of transition and discrimination they might face," Zanotti said. "What we're trying to do is empower them to be their authentic selves."