Toni Diamond was born in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on January 16th 1968. She grew up in a physically, emotionally, and mentally abusive home, which she coped with by pledging to make a positive difference in the world. Aged 10, Toni began to realize her true gender identity when dressed as a girl by her mother for Halloween. The experience left her “feeling whole” for the first time in her life. However, pressures in society and her family’s church forced her to suppress these feelings. Although she continued to borrow her mother’s clothes in private, she was told it was wrong to do so, which left her feeling hurt and confused. In 1986, Toni left Minnesota to join the Marines, where she served for eight years, including deployment to the Persian Gulf for Desert Storm. Throughout her military career, she struggled with her identity, finding solace in dressing as her authentic female self on weekends. After leaving the military, Toni settled in San Diego, where she met her future wife. Six years into the marriage, her wife discovered her true identity which led to an intervention from the church, who deemed it “sinful”. However, on Toni’s first public outing as her authentic self, she experienced acceptance and validation from the LGBTQ+ community. 

Throughout the 2000s, Toni and her wife embarked on missionary work for the Christian church, working with AIDS orphans and widows in Namibia, Africa. In 2018, Toni’s journey towards self-acceptance reached a turning point when her wife gave her an ultimatum. No longer able to continue living a lie, Toni embraced her true identity as a transgender woman. Her wife filed for divorce and outed her to family, friends, and work, which Toni described as “horrifying and liberating at the same time”. In the same year, Toni’s daughter’s wedding became a pivotal moment as she walked her down the aisle as her authentic self, receiving support and acceptance from most of her friends and family. She moved to an apartment in Rapid City, South Dakota, where she finally began her full transition as a woman. Despite losing friends and family, as well as her job in a Christian organization, she also received a wave of support.

In 2020, Toni made history by becoming the first transgender person to run for the State House of Representatives in South Dakota. Despite operating on a shoestring budget, she built a strong campaign based around education, healthcare, and support for local business. Though she didn’t win, she garnered significant support, admiration, and acceptance, receiving 19% of the vote in total. In the same year, Toni became the Vice President of the Black Hills Center for Equality, further solidifying her commitment to advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and representation. In 2021, Toni’s advocacy work was recognized when she was nominated and chosen as a Champion of Pride for Advocate magazine. Currently, she continues to coordinate Pride events in Rapid City, inspiring others with her courage and resilience.