Bobbi Jean Baker

Bobbi Jean Baker (March 20, 1964 – January 1, 2014) was an American transgender activist and minister.[1]

Bobbi Jean Baker
BornMarch 20, 1964
Memphis, Tennessee
Died (aged 49)
OccupationActivist, minister

Early life

She was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and moved to San Francisco from Tennessee in 1992.[2][3]Baker struggled with drug use and legal challenges in San Francisco, stating in an interview: "I was doing sex work, smoking crack and on speed, and was a fugitive from justice … I was extradited back to Tennessee to serve a four-year prison sentence."[4]

Ministry and advocacy work

During a multi-day bus ride back to San Francisco following completion of her prison sentence, Baker decided to focus her life on advocacy. In 2001, a supervisor at the Tenderloin AIDS Resource Center gave her a paid position to lead transgender groups.[4] She served as a case manager, domestic violence specialist, housing manager, and peer advocate.[3] Additionally, she was a lay minister at Transcending Transgender Ministries and an ordained minister at City Refuge United Church of Christ, and the West Coast Regional TransSaints Minister of the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries.[5][1] She served as an adjutant to Bishop Yvette Flunder, who said the following of Baker: "she believed her ministry was to help transgender people reconcile their spirituality but also to help provide practical assistance, such as food housing, and self-care."[4] For over ten years she was part of the transgender group Transcendence Gospel Choir.[1][6]

Death and legacy

She died at age 49 on January 1, 2014 on New Year's Day after a car crash.[5][1] After leading a New Year's Eve service at the City of Refuge Oakland, Baker went to deacon Bobby Wiseman's home for a meal. As Wiseman was driving Baker home later that night, their car was hit by another vehicle and Baker was killed.[4]

Footage of an interview with Baker was included in the documentary film Major!, about the life of transgender activist Miss Major Griffin-Gracy.[7] Baker was later portrayed by Jazzmun in the 2017 miniseries When We Rise.[3]

References
  1. Marie, Parker (2014-01-10). "Bobbie Jean Baker, Trans Activist and Minister, Dead at Age 49". The Advocate. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  2. "Transgender Oakland minister mourned after fatal New Year's Day crash". Mercury News. 2014-01-08. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  3. Werder, Corinne (2017-02-27). "Meet the Real Women Featured in "When We Rise"". GO. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  4. "Rev. Bobbie Jean Baker".
  5. "43 East Bay Residents Who Made a Difference". Alameda Magazine. January–February 2015. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  6. Marech, Rona (2012-01-28). "SAN FRANCISCO / Singing the gospel of Transcendence / Nation's first all-transgender gospel choir raises its voices to praise God and lift their own feelings of self-love and dignity". SFGate. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
  7. Nichols, James Michael (2013-10-02). "'MAJOR!' Filmmakers Annalise Ophelian And StormMiguel Florez Discuss Transgender Documentary". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2017-04-13.
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