Shirley Bushnell is a Transgender Outreach Worker (Peer Advocate) for Van Ness Recovery House Prevention Division, a community based organization providing services to transgender individuals. Shirley also facilitated Androgyny, a support group for transgender persons for 5 years.

In 1995 she approached the UCLA Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual office and expressed the need for transgender inclusion, and on September 6, 1995 the office became office known as the UCLA Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Resource office. Later in 1996 she was successful in having the organization become statewide as part of the UC system and became the University of California Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Association.

Other accomplishments include establishing the first Transgender Conference Committee of the West Hollywood Sheriff's Department. The committee provided the brochure "Working Together to Protect the Transgender Community", with valuable information to the transgender community from the Sheriff's Department. She also provided Transgender Sensitivity Training to the West Hollywood Sheriff's Department, the Los Angeles Police Community Relations Section and the Hollywood/Wilcox LAPD Station. Shirley conducted trainings to the Los Angeles STD program, People Assisting the Homeless, and for Oasis, a domestic violence shelter. She testified before the City of West Hollywood when it adopted a non-discrimination ordinance protecting transgender persons. She received the 2000 Trailblazer Award at Trans-Unity 2000 (the first Transgender Pride Day) for her activism. She was awarded the 2000 Outstanding LGBT Community Leader Award at the UCLA Lavender Graduation commencement ceremony; and the 2001 West Hollywood Leadership Award. As a community activist, Shirley Bushnell believes strongly in making the world, especially for our Southern California corner of it, a safe, just place for all transfolk.