Elisa Crespo
Born
New York City, New York, U.S.
EducationJohn Jay College of Criminal Justice
Political partyDemocratic Party
Websitewww.elisacrespo.com

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.

Early life and education

Crespo 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

From 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 worker 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

  1. 1 2 Bellamy-Walker, Tat (June 13, 2021). "Elisa Crespo Named Executive Director of the New Pride Agenda". Gay City News. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Moreau, Julie (March 18, 2021). "Elisa Crespo hopes to be part of a 'new generation of political leaders'". NBC News. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Epstein, Rachel (March 17, 2021). "Elisa Crespo Wants to Provide Justice for Her Bronx Community". Marie Claire. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  4. ↑ House of Crespo - Elisa Crespo for New York City Council, retrieved 2021-04-15
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. 1 2 Lewis, Rebecca C. (December 15, 2020). "In the Bronx, Elisa Crespo could make LGBTQ history". City & State. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 Tracy, Matt (June 18, 2020). "Trans Candidate Aims to Succeed Ritchie Torres as Bronx Councilmember". Gay City News. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Padgett, Donald (December 1, 2020). "Politician Elisa Crespo Says Her Past Helps Her Connect to Voters". Out. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lang, Nico (December 16, 2020). "A Transphobic Smear Piece About This City Council Candidate Only Made Her Campaign Stronger". Them. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 Riley, John (January 2021). "Transgender woman running to fill Ritchie Torres' seat on New York City Council". Metro Weekly. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  11. ↑ Crespo, Elisa. "Elisa Crespo Linkedin".
  12. 1 2 3 4 McMenamin, Lexi (February 27, 2021). "Progressive candidate Elisa Crespo wants to guarantee a job for every New Yorker". Mic. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  13. 1 2 Reichard, Raquel (March 11, 2021). "Meet Puerto Rican Activist & Hopeful NYC Councilmember Elisa Crespo". Remezcla. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  14. 1 2 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.
  15. ↑ "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.
  16. ↑ LittleAfrica BronxNews Interviews Elisa Crespo, Candidate for City Council - District 15, retrieved 2021-04-15
  17. ↑ "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.
  18. ↑ Tracy, Matt (November 30, 2020). "Community Rallies Around Elisa Crespo in Wake of New York Post Slam". Gay City News. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  19. ↑ Baska, Maggie (March 23, 2021). "Trans politician Elisa Crespo uses 'faceless coward's' smear campaign to make important point". PinkNews. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  20. ↑ Cuza, Bobby (March 22, 2021). "Two Bronx City Council Seats Are Up For Grabs Tuesday". NY1. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  21. ↑ "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.
  22. ↑ Tracy, Matt (April 6, 2021). "Elisa Crespo Announces She Will Not Run in June Primary". Gay City News. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  23. ↑ Wills, Cheryl; Fougere, Debora (June 27, 2021). "Protecting vulnerable transgender New Yorkers". NY1. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
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