Ask Raven Salander, and she’ll tell you she’s been “a 19-year-old transsexual for over 30 years.” She earned her street smarts the hard way, and she puts them to good use as a counsellor, advocate, and volunteer. Raven began providing advocacy and support to street-level survival sex workers in 1988. She continues that work today as a volunteer with Boys R Us, a resource for male and trans sex workers. She works as a counsellor for youth who are homeless or struggling with addiction, and has helped many queer, trans, and Two-Spirit youth transition from homelessness to stable housing.
Yoga and writing keep Raven centred. As a volunteer yoga instructor at the Catherine White Holman Wellness Centre, she helps fellow trans community members share in the reprieve yoga can offer. You can hear Raven share her poems and stories at various reading series around East Vancouver. She also shared her perspective as a representative on the Trans Health Steering Committee, which works to expand access to gender affirming health care across British Columbia.
