Ashlee Marie Preston

Ashlee Marie Preston is an American media personality, journalist, activist, the first trans woman to become editor-in-chief of a national publication, Wear Your Voice Magazine, and the first openly trans person to run for state office in California. Originally from Kentucky, she moved to Los Angeles and began transitioning at age 19. She first rose to public attention after publicly confronting Caitlyn Jenner over her support for the Trump administration. She contributed her writing to a number of publications, and has been recognized for her activism by various media organizations and companies.

Preston is active in the Los Angeles trans community, and is a member of multiple community organizations, including serving as the chair of communications and media sponsorship with group Los Angeles Pride, and as a community outreach member with the Human Rights Campaign. She also serves as a campaign surrogate for Elizabeth Warren's 2020 presidential campaign. In October 2019, racist and homophobic tweets by Preston resurfaced in the public arena. She claimed the tweets were resurfaced as a "political play", but apologized and said the tweets were made while under the influence of drugs. Similar tweets by Preston were again resurfaced in 2021.