Ruby is the activist/visionary behind of Casa Ruby, the only bilingual, multicultural LGBTQI organization in Washington, DC. A transgender woman, Ruby was part of the coalition to clarify D.C. Human Rights Act, which changed the D.C. Human Rights Act to include protections for gender identity or expression, a change that took effect in March 2006.
Since its founding in 2004, Casa Ruby has grown substantially, now filling three community spaces, including the original home/administrative office, a transitional home for queer homeless youth, and a transitional home for adults. Along with housing, each site provides a safe haven for transgender and gender-nonconforming folks that includes food service, job training, advocacy for employment and advocacy for access to appropriate medical care.
