Mia Yamamoto was born in a World War II concentration camp in Poston, Arizona. Her upbringing and understanding of the racial injustices the Japanese American community faced deeply informed her life’s work. She is a practicing criminal defense attorney who has spent the past three decades dedicating her life to defending her clients in court. But her career marked a specific turning point when she came out as a transgender woman at age 60, having already spent two decades working in L.A.’s judicial system. Mia’s life has become a story of dedication and service to the community, especially towards Asian Americans and LGBTQIA+ folks, and building solidarity in communities of color.
Jireh Deng 