2025 Participant Biographies

Kai Shappley (her / she) is a young American actress, activist, and author. Since kindergarten, she has been standing up to the Texas State Legislature against their attack on trans kids. Her journey was recorded in the Emmy winning documentary, Trans in America: Texas Strong. She has also guest starred in the first season of The Babysitters Club on Netflix, TIME Magazine Kid of the Year finalist, Teen Vogue 21 under 21 list, and featured in Vogue Magazine’s 2022 Pride Issue. Her Middle-Grade Novel, “Joy To The World” is available at all major online book retailers for presale. She loves her family, friends, pets, and Dolly Parton!

She currently lives in Connecticut, one of three states in the USA that have specific laws to protect families of transgender children from extradition. As political refugees having to relocate for the third time, their hope is that people will learn more about what is happening to transgender people and those who support them and use whatever gift or talent they have to help #ProtectTransKids.