Most Interesting People 2015: Zoe Renee Lapin

WHY SHE'S INTERESTING: She's been a one-woman show for years, working as a photographer and blogger, spinning mixes as DJ Saint for the annual Dancin' in the Streets fundraiser for the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland and taking over Bounce nightclub's Friday and Saturday night lineup. She's also become a powerful community voice by advocating for transgender and LGBT rights and starting Queerland, an open mic night on the third Wednesday of every month at Root Cafe in Lakewood.

Speaking up: Inspired by the ongoing debate surrounding the use of appropriate language when addressing members of the LGBT community, Lapin created Queerland as a positive place to foster the conversation. "It's as much for the queer voices as it is for nonqueer voices. A couple of people will come and read poetry or perform live music, but the majority of it actually leads into a discussion group."

Life reborn: Lapin identified as a female as early as 4 years old. But she didn't start making her transition until after graduating from Thiel College in Greenville, Pennsylvania, and moving back to Cleveland in 2008. "My first name was already deemed to me by my mom. So when it came time for me to do my legal name change, she said, 'I named you once, I'm going to name you again.' " Her mother choose Zoe Renee, which means life reborn.

FAMILY MATTers: "Transition is not just a transition for the person going through it, but it's a transition for everyone in that person's life," she says. "I look up to my mom immensely because she internalizes equality, inclusion and diversity."

Standing up: Lapin testified in front of Cleveland City Council in November as a proponent for nondiscrimination ordinances that would protect the transgender community. "I'm terrified of public speaking. You're overstimulated in trying to gauge how people are perceiving you in a public speaking situation, but to be trans and to live your truth unapologetically is one of the most liberating things as possible."

Just dance : One of her favorite moments as a disc jockey came when she spun alongside New York transgender DJ Honey Dijon for the Gay Games Black Party. "If you can dance together, you can live together. There's no reason why life shouldn't reflect the dance floor."

Say cheese: Lapin triple-majored in art, chemistry and philosophy at Thiel College but found a marriage of all three as a photographer. "I learned that it was very easy for me to adapt in social situations if I had a camera."