TyrONE Hanley grew up in Section 8 housing in the Chicago suburbs. Following his parents’ divorce, he and his two brothers were raised by their Black lesbian mother. She taught him the values of authenticity, love, curiosity, and non-judgment.

He is the Director of Racial and Economic Justice Initiatives at the National Center for LGBTQ Rights (NCLR), where he focuses on elevating LGBTQ poverty issues and building an LGBTQ-inclusive economic justice movement for all. TyrONE co-created the #EndBadHIVLaws campaign, co-authored the national LGBTQ poverty agenda Intersecting Injustice, co-founded The National LGBTQ Anti-Poverty Action Network, and launched NCLR’s “We Serve with Love” campaign. He also produced NCLR’s short film We Are Abundant: A Queer Vision of Economic Justice.

TyrONE graduated from the University of Richmond with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Spanish. He obtained his law degree from the University of the District of Columbia’s David A. Clarke School of Law.

TyrONE directed his debut indie film, Home Sweet Home, which explores the impact of unaffordable housing on Washington, DC’s LGBTQ community. He is also the former president of Washington DC’s GLAA, the longest running LGBTQ political organization in the country.

He lives in Los Angeles, where he creates erotic art and zines.