A creative action
by and for trans youth!
Our prom will be a space where we are treated with the love and respect we deserve. We will celebrate our full authentic selves and be around people who are just like us! In celebrating ourselves we will show the world that we are a community that is loved and supported by our friends, families, and our country.
Our prom will be a space where we are treated with the love and respect we deserve. We will celebrate our full authentic selves and be around people who are just like us! In celebrating ourselves we will show the world that we are a community that is loved and supported by our friends, families, and our country.
To those in power, to those who don’t understand us, to those who debate and question us, and to those who simply aren’t paying attention, we want you to know this:
We love who we are.
We honor and thank our transcestors who paved the way for us to imagine our existence and find ourselves. The fact that more of us feel free to proclaim who we are is something to be celebrated not feared.
No one made us trans or non-binary - not our parents, not our schools, not the Internet, not our friends. We gather together as trans and non-binary people not to make others be like us, but to find and grow and learn from others who are like us.
Being trans and/or non-binary is a beautiful, core part of who we are, but it is not all we are. We are children, adolescents, and young adults who have dreams about our futures, hope for our present, and knowledge of our history.
Just like you, we have a core understanding of who we are. We have spent our young lives self-reflecting, challenging people and institutions who do not believe us, fearing for our safety, and still, knowing exactly who we are.
We recognize that our liberation is tied up in yours. We believe that all people deserve access to the health care that they need so that we can all live full, free, and beautiful lives.
So much of what you hear about us is about all the ways we are miserable or victimized. And it is true that we, on average, have poorer mental health outcomes, face staggering rates of violence, and experience painful rejection and discrimination. All of this is not because we are trans but rather, because we live in a world that rejects us as such. When we are able to live freely and congregate together and celebrate our joy, we feel the beautiful possibility we represent.
As politicians deploy opportunistic attacks against us, don’t fall for it. We are children, adolescents and young adults who want to enjoy our childhoods. We want to go to school, play sports, have prom, explore the world, and just…live. Don’t be a mark for the people who want to take our freedom on the way to taking yours.
Certain things are not up for debate: (1) the fact that we exist; (2) the fact that gender-affirming health care has saved our lives and enabled us to thrive; (3) the fact that our gender is just as real as yours; (4) the fact that our presence in the world - whether in the restroom, on a sports team, in the classroom, or in the street - does nothing to threaten others.
Our joy is ours. You may not see it, you may not think it exists, you may try to take it away. But it is ours. And today, and every day, we celebrate, cultivate and embrace it.
Youth Steering Committee
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DANIEL TRUJILLO
He/him
I am 15 years old and I live in Tucson, Arizona. I love drawing, playing guitar, bass and drums, building LEGO, playing percussion and singing in my trans choir- THEM Youth Ensemble. I love listening to all types of music but my favorites are jazz, classic rock and Radiohead. I’ve been advocating for trans kids with my family since I was 9 and have become passionate about fighting for our community. When Libby and I had the idea for Trans Prom, we were so excited to create an environment where trans kids like ourselves are supported, loved and celebrated. I feel like it is critical to show our political leaders and nation that transgender youth deserve joy and that we are proud to live authentically and free.
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HOBBES CHUKUMBA
He/him
I’m a teen in New Jersey living with my father and 3 siblings. Between studying for school and preparing for college, I can be found programming software, reading about turtles, or playing Pokemon. Outside of these activities, I’m an advocate not only for transgender rights, but for the happiness and experience of trans youth and community. To me, the Trans Prom is an opportunity for the trans community to not only reap a moment of enjoyment but also make a statement that joy still exists within a turbulent world. I’m excited to see the support, pride, and gayety the Trans Prom will garner for our community.
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LIBBY GONZALES
She/her
I’m 13 years old and I live in Dallas, Texas. I love listening to music, fashion designing, and theater- I’m currently obsessed with SIX! I’m really excited to see Trans Prom come to life! I have been advocating for transgender kids, like me, for more than half of my life here in Texas and nationally. When Daniel and I had the idea to have a party in protest of all of the anti-trans legislation happening around the country, we got so happy. We know this can be an amazing chance for the rest of the world to see that we are full of joy! We love who we are, our friends, our families, our communities and we deserve to live long and happy lives- without constantly fighting for human rights! And we want the rest of the world to see the beauty of our community!
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GRAYSON MCFERRIN
They/them
I’m a sixth grader at a performing arts school in Dallas, Texas. I love the musical SIX, being a Swifty, and performing on any stage I can find. Most recently, I performed for Shangela and won Dallas Next Drag Superstar! My life is dedicated to visibility and pride. I’m so proud and excited to be a part of the Trans Prom steering committee and cannot wait to dance the day away in DC with my beautiful community from across the country!
Adult Organizers
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CHASE STRANGIO
He/him
Chase Strangio is Deputy Director for Transgender Justice with the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Project. He has been counsel in some of the past decade’s most pivotal legal fights on behalf of transgender people including the ACLU’s challenge to North Carolina’s notorious HB2, Carcaño, et al. v. Cooper, et al, the ACLU’s challenge to Trump’s trans military ban, Stone v. Trump, the case of Aimee Stephens, R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v EEOC at the Supreme Court, and recent challenges to anti-trans laws and policies in Idaho, Texas and Arkansas. In addition to his advocacy in the courtroom and in state legislatures, Chase appears regularly in media and has produced multiple short films including the Emmy-award winning short, Texas Strong. In 2020, Chase was named to TIME Magazine’s List of the most 100 influential people of the year. Chase is also a co-founder of the Lorena Borjas Community Fund, TranSanta, and the Trans Week of Visibility and Action.
Photo: Hunter Abrams
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PEPPERMINT
She/her
Peppermint is a trailblazing actress, singer, DJ, reality star, and activist. Peppermint was the first trans woman to originate a principal role on Broadway in the hit musical Head Over Heels. A longtime figure in queer nightlife, Peppermint rose to prominence with her success as the first out trans contestant on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” where she finished as runner-up in one of the series’ most-talked-about finales. Recent projects include an appearance on the GLAAD and Emmy award winning series “Pose”, a recurring role on the CBS series “God Friended Me” and an upcoming role on the new Fox scripted drama “Deputy.” As an activist, Peppermint hosted the 2019 GLAAD Gala San Francisco, has fundraised for prominent LGBTQ rights groups, partnered with the MAC Cosmetics AIDS Fund, and is involved in the HIV vaccine trials network. She is particularly concerned about the challenges faced by transgender and non-binary people in today’s political climate and takes every available opportunity to speak at universities and to various communities on the issue. She recently released her fifth studio album and looks forward to breaking new ground and being a positive voice during troublesome times.
Resources
1. Logo for sharing
Advocates for Youth
Allies In Arts
Campaign for Southern Equality
Equality Federation
GLAAD
Human Rights Campaign Foundation
If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice
Intransitive
Lambda Legal
Los Angeles LGBT Center
Partners
National Center for Trans Equality (NCTE)
OUTMemphis
Stonewall Community Foundation
Texas Freedom Network
The Knights & Orchids Society
Time Out Youth
@transanta
Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT)
We Are Family
Working Families Party