Meet Rizi

Dr. Rizi Nasele Bamaiyi Timane LCSW, DSW is an entertainer, a licensed therapist (LCSW) and Certified Trans-sensitivity/Diversity Trainer who advocates for transgender rights. Rizi is the winner of the 2019 Transgender visibility award which was presented to him at City Hall by Congressman, Mitch O'Farrell and the City of Los Angeles Transgender Advisory Council. Rizi has worked within the trans community in various affirming roles since 2007. His prior work includes as a trans minister, an affirming LGBT psychotherapist at the L A LGBT Center, and prior service as the Associate Director of the transgender health program at St John’s well child and family clinic. He was born and raised in Nigeria, West Africa. Rizi realized at age eight that he was a boy living in a girl's body and approached his parents about this dilemma. His parents, converts to fundamentalist Christianity, responded with attempted exorcisms and other reparative therapies that sought to "pray the trans away." This rejection and disapproval carried over to the community-at-large as well as peers at school making Rizi the victim of bullying and harassment driving him to years of alcohol and drug abuse and suicidal ideation.

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