The trans youth justice project: a political education and leadership development program

Abstract

Research has demonstrated that systemic transphobia and cissexism harms transgender youth in terms of social, educational, and health outcomes. All too often, research and policy emphasizes vulnerability among trans youth in a way that denies their capabilities as agents of change or active participants in their liberation. This article analyzes the development of Trans Youth Justice Project, a political education and youth leadership development program for trans youth ages 15–22. Based in principles of gender minority stress and social justice youth development, the 6-week remote program aims to increase the capacity and resilience of trans youth, develop youth leaders, and contribute to addressing social, educational, and health inequalities. We conducted a formative program evaluation of 2 cycles of the program with a total of 25 youth. Pre- and post-test surveys indicated increased feelings of belongingness to a trans community. Follow-up interviews highlighted the impact the program had on skills for social justice, self-efficacy, and community connection. We offer suggestions for implementing the open-source program more broadly.

Keywords:

• Transgender youth
• education
• program evaluation
• social justice youth development
• gender minority stress

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The project described was supported by the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program, through the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), grant UL1TR002373. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. Additional funding was provided by the Wisconsin Transgender Health Coalition and the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Notes on contributors

Chris Barcelos

Chris A. Barcelos is Assistant Professor Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

j. nyla mcneil

j. nyla mcneill is a full-time polymath, post-graduate student, and tiny little business owner.

Yanté Turner

Yanté Turner is the Inclusion and Equity Coordinator at Diverse & Resilient in Milwaukee, WI.

Edie Ma’iingan Redwine

Edie Ma’iingan Redwine is a student at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.