Rest In Power Bishop S.F. Makalani-MaHee

'I have to tell you as an African-American transgender man of faith that it is crucially important that the dignity of every citizen  not only be provided for, but affirmed."
-Bishop S.F. Makalani-MaHee , 2014    

I first met Bishop S.F Makalani MaHee when I was tapped to deliver the keynote speech for the TransSaints Conference in Charlotte, NC in 2012.  We were connected on Facebook, and he, like myself was a contributor to the Bilerico Project.   I kept up with him as one of the amazing people speaking up for the trans community of South Florida and being a transgender man of faith .

I was shocked to hear that Bishop had suffered a heart attack on November 2 and after a valiant struggle to recover, passed away on November 20 at the age of 45.

Bishop Makalani-MaHee born in New York, and was the founder of Black Gay Pride South Florida in addition to his day job of being the Transgender Programs Coordinator for the Florida Department of Health in Broward County. 

In addition to becoming the youngest commissioned pastor at Unity Fellowship Church, he was a strong voice for the empowerment of the South Florida transgender community and a strong critic of proposed policies and unjust laws that would harm it

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A memorial service is being held for Bishop Makalani-MaHee later today starting at 4 PM EST at the Sunshine Cathedral, located at 1480 SW Ninth Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

But there is no denying the fact that we have lost one of our community's powerful soldiers for human rights, and he will be missed not only by all who loved him, but his trans family in South Florida and around the country.