Dylan Waguespack

Chief Executive Officer

Pronouns: he/they

Dylan Waguespack is the Chief Executive Officer at True Colors United. Waguespack joined True Colors United in 2019 and previously served as the organization’s Chief Policy Officer. He developed, directed, and implemented the organization’s federal, state, and local administrative and legislative public policy agenda. He also served as the organization’s primary spokesperson and is a trusted thought leader within the housing justice and LGBTQ equality movements. In 2021, Waguespack led the on-the-ground media and advocacy response to anti-trans bills introduced in the Louisiana Legislature, and his work ultimately helped defeat each bill.

At True Colors United, Waguespack achieved a number of other notable wins, including co-designing and co-chairing a national campaign that secured a record-breaking 66,000+ public comments in opposition to the Trump Administration’s proposed rule in 2020 that would have gutted protections for transgender and gender-nonconforming people experiencing homelessness. The proposal was ultimately defeated. In 2020, he also co-founded House of Tulip, a Community Land Trust, in New Orleans to create permanent housing solutions for transgender and gender-nonconforming people experiencing homelessness in response to the economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the primary fundraiser, he secured more than $1.5 million in foundation, major donor, and grassroots funding in less than 18 months.

Prior to joining True Colors United, Waguespack was a political communications and advocacy consultant working in Baton Rouge, LA and Washington, DC. As part of his work, he coordinated the lobbying strategy on the first ever transgender-specific legislation to pass the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019.

Waguespack also served as Executive Director of Louisiana Progress, a progressive movement-building partnership where he began his career. While there, he drafted or successfully lobbied for bills to expand opportunities for children, youth, and families impacted by homelessness, including protection from eviction for survivors of domestic abuse, expanded eligibility for child care assistance for families experiencing homelessness, and in-state tuition and campus housing for current and former homeless and foster youth in postsecondary education.

Waguespack is a proud New Orleanian, a 10th-generation Louisianan, and a graduate of Ben Franklin High School. He currently lives in Chicago with his husband Ira.