Trans Joy Stories
Too often, stories about trans and nonbinary people focus on grief and trauma. But trans people deserve stories that recognize the fullness of our humanity.
That’s why we brought together 13 trans and nonbinary storytellers to tell their OWN stories – stories of love, family, and community — in Celebrating Trans Joy: Building Communities' 100+ pages of beautifully illustrated comic strips.
Our goal? To change the narrative and debunk the misconceptions about trans and nonbinary people.
Trans Joy in School
This year has been heavy — filled with upsetting headlines and attacks on our civil rights and civil liberties.
But as trans and nonbinary youth step into this new school year, we want them to carry this truth: Joy is a form of resistance. No one can take that away from you.
Together let's send messages of love and solidarity to young people who are going back to school.
To trans and nonbinary youth: We hope you find a home in the stories of our trans joy zine — stories by trans and nonbinary people who have been there and chosen to live as their authentic selves – and that these stories bring you joy, as they did to every one of us who created it.
Read on. Share this zine with your peers. Make new friends. Organize with the people who care. And never forget — you are enough exactly as you are.
Trans Joy in Community
We didn’t make the trans joy zine just to see it sit in boxes in a basement.
In addition to distributing more than 5,000 copies of the zine, we hosted community events across Virginia to share the zine, strengthen relationships with local partners and businesses, and build a network of community members who care about trans justice and are committed to fighting for trans rights.
Our storytellers and comic artists served as panelists and performers, and 350+ people turned out to take part.
And we’re not done: this zine is helping us deepen our relationship with YOU, Virginians who care for their trans and nonbinary neighbors – as well as all the other issues that the ACLU-VA works on – and who want to join us in creating a Commonwealth for all.
Trans Joy Behind the Scenes
To create the trans joy zine took a lot of collaboration with storytellers and artist contributors.
First, we trained our storytellers through a four-week Trans Joy Storytelling Academy in the summer of 2024. The storytelling academy sought to connect storytellers with queer comic artists – who already have stories within them – and empower them with the tools, frameworks, and affirming spaces to help these stories bloom and reach a wider audience.
Then we went on a field trip to the Library of Virginia to learn about queer history in Virginia and explore the archive of LGBTQ+ materials. We are grateful to the Library of Virginia for entering this trans joy zine into their records for posterity – making the stories in this zine part of official state history.
Trans Joy Storytellers
Meet our 13 trans and nonbinary storytellers! Click on a profile below to learn more about them.
Trans Joy Artists
Meet our queer, Black, Latinx, and Filipino-American storytellers! Click on a profile below to learn more about them and where to find their artwork.
ACLU of Virginia is fighting for trans and nonbinary people every day
We love telling stories of trans joy, but it's not the only work we do to protect trans rights.
In 2024 alone, we filed four lawsuits on behalf of trans students, and another lawsuit on behalf of a trans woman who works at a university. We blocked bad bills at the General Assembly from becoming bad laws.
After President Trump’s inauguration, we worked with our partners to create guidance for Virginia’s LGBTQIA+ communities, and provide info sessions for trans and nonbinary people on passport, name and gender-marker changes. When the U.S. Supreme Court released a devastating decision for trans rights in U.S, v, Skrmetti, we worked with Virginia’s healthcare providers to host a webinar for trans and nonbinary young people and their loved ones.
Transgender and nonbinary people deserve to be safe, loved, and respected everywhere. You can help by taking action:
- Connect with ACLU-VA's Organizing team and your fellow Virginians to fight back at the local level;
- Support grassroots organizations like He She Ze & We, Side by Side Virginia, and Transgender Assistance Program of Virginia that help families access the care, support, and community their children need; and
- Fuel the fight for our freedoms by becoming a member of the ACLU-VA.
Every action, every voice, every ally matters. The fight for trans lives isn’t over—and it needs you.
