TyrONE Hanley was born and raised with his two brothers by his Black lesbian mother in a low-income community in the ‘burbs of Chicago. She taught him how to be authentic, loving, curious, and non-judgmental.

He brings his upbringing into his work by focusing on those most marginalized in the LGBTQ community. Prior to coming to NCLR, TyrONE worked as the HIV Prevention Manager at SMYAL, a DC-area LGBTQ youth organization. He has also previously served as the Gender Public Advocacy Center’s Youth Program Coordinator and as an AmeriCorps/National AIDS Fund member at HIPS, a DC-based harm reduction organization for sex workers and drug users.

As Director of Racial and Economic Justice Initiatives, he focuses on the criminalization of queer/trans sexuality and those living with HIV and LGBTQ poverty. TyrONE was a creator of the #EndBadHIVLaws campaign with the Center for HIV Law and Policy and Human Rights Campaign. He was also a co-author of the first national LGBTQ poverty agenda, “Intersecting Injustice: A National Call to Action, Addressing LGBTQ Poverty and Economic Justice for All,” co-founder of the National LGBTQ Anti-Poverty Action Network, and founder of NCLR’s “We Serve with Love” campaign.

TyrONE graduated from the University of Richmond with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Spanish. He obtained his law degree from the University of the District of Columbia’s David A. Clarke School of Law.

He currently resides in Washington, DC with his partner MJ and their dog Meredith.