The hardest part of membership in our community is that sometimes, we have to say goodbye to incredible people. Last week, we learned that Mike Hooves, a deeply dedicated YACC community member, advocate, and volunteer, has died. We are going to miss our friend, as we miss so many of the YACC connections who have all shaped this community.
We invite you to learn more about Mike and their tireless advocacy and storytelling about trans and nonbinary experiences of breast cancer through their incredible comic art. At YACC, we’ve all deeply enjoyed celebrating Mike as a drag artist and performer at our 2025 Calgary Survivor Conference and at recent Localife events. Mike leaves a strong legacy of leadership, truth, and joy — especially for our 2SLGBTQIA+ community members.
We invite you to also read the announcement from Mike’s public page. We are sending so much gratitude to their wife, Bryce, and everyone who supports and loves Mike before, during, and after cancer.
Dani Taylor, manager of programs at YACC, shares, “Mike was an incredible collaborative and compassionate human. Generous and fearless. Grateful for every laugh shared together, for every friendship I’ve witnessed come into bloom.”
We know that loss within the YACC community is challenging and often lonely to hold. We have added a virtual Summer Memorial session for Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 8 p.m. ET. Registration is available through our YACC Chats program. This can serve as an opportunity to celebrate Mike, but also the other incredible members of this community who have died.
We have been reshaping how we care for our community after someone has died. Please know that in our 2026-2027 year, there will be more opportunities to come together and remember our friends.
Mike’s efforts spread laughter, awareness, and community to countless other people, and YACC is better because they were a part of it.
