Elisa Crespo is an American activist, nonprofit executive, and politician from New York City. She is the executive director of the New Pride Agenda.[1] Crespo ran in the 2021 New York City Council election.
Elisa Crespo | |
|---|---|
| Born | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Education | John Jay College of Criminal Justice |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Website | www |
Early life and education
editCrespo was born in New York City, and raised in several boroughs of the city by her Puerto Rican mother.[2][3][4] During her childhood, her family relied on public benefits such as food stamps, Section 8, and Medicaid.[3][5] After she met other trans women and understood her own identity, she transitioned when she was 15.[3][2][6] She began sex work by age 16, and at 19 was diagnosed with HIV.[7] In November 2012, she was arrested for sex work.[8][9][10] She attended college for a year before dropping out, and later married and became convinced by her mother-in-law to return to school.[3]
After returning to college, she participated in student government, lobbied legislators in Albany, New York on issues related to higher education,[3] and was an organizer against City University of New York tuition increases.[10] During college, she was inspired to become politically active by her coursework and politicians including Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.[2][6] She graduated from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in political science.[2][8]
Career
editFrom January through May 2019, Crespo interned with the Assembly Speaker, Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) and then interned for the New York City Council as a legislative intern until August 2019.[7][11] After her graduation, Crespo worked as the education liaison to the Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr., with a focus on advocacy for special education students.[2][8][7]
In February 2020, Crespo decided to run for the 15th district in the 2021 New York City Council election.[2][3] During her campaign, she described her overall priority as moving people and the community from "generational poverty to generational wealth."[9] Specific campaign goals included the creation of more affordable housing, a "public option for employment," and more funding for public schools.[9][12] Crespo advocated for the creation of a government-funded apprenticeship program for unemployed New Yorkers to help develop skills and obtain full-time employment, inspired by the New Deal enacted by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt.[13] She also advocated for racial justice, criminal justice reforms, improvements in public health, and action to address climate change.[14][15][16]
In November 2020, the New York Post published an article about her with a headline calling her an "ex-prostitute."[2][8][9] In response, Crespo tweeted it was "shameful for anyone to weaponize transphobic victimization",[3] and that she previously "publicly talked about all of this".[8] Public officials, LGBTQ activists, and allies on social media also expressed support for her and the transgender community.[9][17][18] In March 2021, parts of the article were included on a flyer that questioned "sex work experience versus public service," and Crespo responded by promoting awareness of violence against trans people.[14][19]
Crespo was endorsed by the LGBTQ Victory Fund,[10] the New York Black Lives Caucus, the Bronx chapter of the Sunrise Movement, former New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito,[12] New York City Councilmembers Helen Rosenthal, Antonio Reynoso,[13] Ben Kallos, Jimmy Van Bramer, and Brad Lander, as well as New York State Senators Brad Hoylman,[9] Julia Salazar,[12] and Gustavo Rivera. The special election was held on March 23, 2021,[20][12] with Crespo eliminated in the eighth round of ranked-choice voting.[21] On April 6, 2021, Crespo announced she would not run in the Democratic primary in June.[22]
In July 2021, Crespo became the Executive Director of the New Pride Agenda, a statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization, with a focus that includes LGBTQ youth, including advocacy for the Dignity for All Students Act to address anti-LGBTQ bullying; sex workers' rights, including advocacy for the Stop Violence in the Sex Trades Act to decriminalize sex work; and advocacy for PrEP access expansion.[1][23]
References
edit- ^ a b Bellamy-Walker, Tat (June 13, 2021). "Elisa Crespo Named Executive Director of the New Pride Agenda". Gay City News. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Moreau, Julie (March 18, 2021). "Elisa Crespo hopes to be part of a 'new generation of political leaders'". NBC News. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g Epstein, Rachel (March 17, 2021). "Elisa Crespo Wants to Provide Justice for Her Bronx Community". Marie Claire. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
- ^ House of Crespo - Elisa Crespo for New York City Council, retrieved 2021-04-15
- ^ Martinez, Edwin (March 19, 2021). "Elisa Crespo y Mino Lora buscan hacer historia en elecciones especiales del martes". El Diario Nueva York (in Spanish). Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ a b Lewis, Rebecca C. (December 15, 2020). "In the Bronx, Elisa Crespo could make LGBTQ history". City & State. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ a b c Tracy, Matt (June 18, 2020). "Trans Candidate Aims to Succeed Ritchie Torres as Bronx Councilmember". Gay City News. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Padgett, Donald (December 1, 2020). "Politician Elisa Crespo Says Her Past Helps Her Connect to Voters". Out. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Lang, Nico (December 16, 2020). "A Transphobic Smear Piece About This City Council Candidate Only Made Her Campaign Stronger". Them. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ a b c Riley, John (January 2021). "Transgender woman running to fill Ritchie Torres' seat on New York City Council". Metro Weekly. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ Crespo, Elisa. "Elisa Crespo Linkedin".
- ^ a b c d McMenamin, Lexi (February 27, 2021). "Progressive candidate Elisa Crespo wants to guarantee a job for every New Yorker". Mic. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ a b Reichard, Raquel (March 11, 2021). "Meet Puerto Rican Activist & Hopeful NYC Councilmember Elisa Crespo". Remezcla. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
- ^ a b Conant, Ericka (March 23, 2021). "Despite 'faceless cowards,' Elisa Crespo could be the first trans woman of color elected to NYC Council". Al Día. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
- ^ "Elisa Crespo: la latina transgénero que busca llegar al Concejo de la Ciudad de Nueva York". Univision (in Spanish). March 11, 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ LittleAfrica BronxNews Interviews Elisa Crespo, Candidate for City Council - District 15, retrieved 2021-04-15
- ^ "Comunidad LGBTQ de NYC en defensa de Elisa Crespo, candidata transgénero al Concejo Municipal". Telemundo 47 (in Spanish). December 2, 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Tracy, Matt (November 30, 2020). "Community Rallies Around Elisa Crespo in Wake of New York Post Slam". Gay City News. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Baska, Maggie (March 23, 2021). "Trans politician Elisa Crespo uses 'faceless coward's' smear campaign to make important point". PinkNews. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Cuza, Bobby (March 22, 2021). "Two Bronx City Council Seats Are Up For Grabs Tuesday". NY1. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
- ^ "Ranked-Choice Results March 23, 2021 Special Election, Member of the City Council - 15th (Special Election) Council District". Board of Elections in the City of New York. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Tracy, Matt (April 6, 2021). "Elisa Crespo Announces She Will Not Run in June Primary". Gay City News. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Wills, Cheryl; Fougere, Debora (June 27, 2021). "Protecting vulnerable transgender New Yorkers". NY1. Retrieved 2 July 2021.