TransActive Update: Reflecting on the Year

Reflecting on 2021 is daunting, to say the least. The year began with an attempt to overthrow our democracy by those opposed to everything we who are fighting for social justice believe in, by those wanting to further establish an authoritarian, intolerance-driven, theo-political form of government. We’ve witnessed these efforts playing out nationwide in school boards, state and federal legislative actions, and social media disinformation campaigns. And yet, we’ve also seen leaders return to supporting policies that affirm and uplift the human rights of gender-diverse and sexual orientation minorities– from the grassroots level to the Oval Office of the White House.

During this turbulent year, and in preparation for the months and years that lie ahead, TransActive has been working to sustain and expand the scope of our unwavering commitment to education and advocacy for the human rights of all people to live in their truth. Through the ups-and-downs of the pandemic, we have solidified our ability to effectively deliver professional development training, consultation, and trans youth and family support groups in the virtual world.

In 2021, we partnered with more schools, organizations, individuals, and communities than any year since our founding in 2007. This year, we:

• Offered 5 workshops via the Center for Community Engagement, training over 230 community members; with an additional 130 participants joining us at our spring summit.

• Conducted nearly 40 professional development trainings on-site within various school districts, businesses, agencies and organizations in Oregon and Washington.

• Delivered child, youth, and family advocacy services, providing multiple families and attorneys with informational, educational and consultative support related to child custody cases, as well as teacher rights defense against wrongful termination actions.

• Embarked on a research study examining the factors that influence or move people from being trans-oppositional to trans-affirming, upon receiving Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. The first stages of this study, which include both participant surveys and follow-up interviews, are currently underway.

Through your continued generosity and support, TransActive finds itself closing out 2021 in a stronger position than ever before, and ready to embrace the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead—including the implementation of revolutionary new professional development and social justice offerings that will benefit children, youth, families, and communities nationwide.

As racial, transgender, women’s, and voting rights issues are facing the most intense challenges since the middle of the 20th century, TransActive will continue our work toward creating a world in which everyone enjoys the right to live their lives without oppression because of who they are, where they’re from, or who they love.

“Wherever you may live, whoever you might be, what’s happening to you, is happening to me. How can I turn away, pretend that I don’t see, what’s happening to you, is happening to me.” (P. Murphy, P. Colwell, H. Allen)

Stay Fierce,

Jenn Burleton
Program Director, TranActive Gender Project

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