Kiara St.
James, an American transgender activist, died on May 8, 2026, at the age of 52 or 53. She was an African-American activist based in New York City and co-founder and executive director of the New York Transgender Advocacy Group.
Born in Beaumont, Texas, in 1973 or 1974, she grew up in a Christian fundamentalist family and later spent part of her childhood in foster care in Heidelberg, Germany. After returning to the United States, she enrolled in business school and received job training as a security guard and nurse assistant in Texas before meeting other queer and gender nonconforming people.
Kiara St. James, 52-53, American transgender activist, cancer.