Few people embody the intersection of artistry, activism, and resilience quite like Margaux Ayn Schaffer. An American multi-media artist, designer, and tireless advocate for transgender rights, Margaux’s work and influence stretch across decades and geographies. In Atlanta, she shaped the conversation from the ground up, serving as editor and designer of INSIGHT, deputy director of AEGIS, and art director and associate editor of Chrysalis Quarterly. She was not only a creative force but also a visible presence, contributing as both a panelist and a planning committee member for the Southern Comfort Conference. When a series of murders of transgender women shook Atlanta, Margaux was appointed to the Mayor’s Gay and Lesbian Task Force, a role that led her to co-author a groundbreaking op-ed in The Advocate with Dallas Denny, boldly asking, “Do Transgender Issues Affect the Gay Community?” She even brought her insights to a national audience as a guest on The Joan Rivers Show.
After moving west to Phoenix, Margaux transitioned her talents into Information Technology while remaining firmly anchored in activism. In 2004, she played a pivotal role in the first all-transgender production of The Vagina Monologues, not only performing the haunting piece “My Vagina Was My Village” but also designing the production’s visual identity, posters, keepsake books, and postcards that became part of its legacy. For seven years, she helmed the Arizona Day of Remembrance at the State Capitol, creating a safe and inclusive space for education, mourning, and community outreach.
Margaux’s story is one of creative vision meeting unshakable commitment, whether she is shaping cultural narratives, standing at the forefront of social change, or quietly ensuring that an event feels like a place of belonging for all who attend. In this conversation, we journey with her through personal history, public milestones, and the artistry that binds them together.
