Transgender Youth and the Freedom to Be Ourselves

Organizers know that advancing justice and safety for transgender people in the U.S. will require building a strong, vocal, and durable multiracial coalition championing a trans-inclusive, progressive vision for the country. Yet there has been little to no public opinion research or targeted narrative development focused on building that base by contextualizing trans issues within the broader fight for racial, gender, and economic justice. Instead, colorblind messaging dominates LGBT advocacy. Where race is mentioned, it is usually to name disparities — a simple acknowledgment of the increased violence and discrimination trans people of color face. Frequently, talking points on LGBT policies have been formulated to calm audiences’ discomfort with transgender people, tacitly reinforcing a conservative worldview around race and class and further siloing trans issues from related progressive causes.

New research by ASO Communications, Transgender Law Center, and Lake Research Partners finds that we can advance a shared vision for the future by weaving together our shared values, experiences, and demands across races and genders. Using a Race Class Gender Narrative, we can mobilize our progressive base (particularly Black, AAPI, and Gen Z audiences), marginalize our opposition, and move persuadables across race.

Please use this guidance freely and as you see fit! We’re absolute believers that if our words don’t spread, they don’t work and as such we are honored to have you use this language verbatim.