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We’re Asking Mattel to Make a Choice

We’re Asking Mattel to Make a Choice

Campaigns, Organizing

We're Asking Mattel to Choose | Trans Empowerment Project
Trans Empowerment Project — transempowerment.org Trans Day of Visibility 2026
TDOV 2026 — Trans Day of Visibility

We're Asking Mattel
to Choose.

You can't hold an HRC award in one hand and a Harry Potter licensing deal in the other. Not anymore.

Sign the Petition Read the full story

By Jack Knoxville (he/they)  ·  Trans Empowerment Project  ·  March 31, 2026

Today is Trans Day of Visibility. And Trans Empowerment Project is spending it doing what we've always done — naming what's true, even when it's uncomfortable, and asking the people with power to use it differently.

Today, we're asking that of Mattel.

Here's what's happening

Mattel is one of the world's largest toy and game companies. They hold a top-100 rating from the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index — a widely recognized benchmark for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion. They've made public commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

They also hold an active licensing agreement to produce Harry Potter merchandise. That means every sale generates royalties that flow back to J.K. Rowling — the IP owner, and the most prominent anti-trans activist in the world.

The tension

Mattel cannot simultaneously claim to champion LGBTQ+ people and financially sustain the platform of a person who has dedicated significant money and effort to stripping those same people of their rights.

We're not asking Mattel to have an opinion about fiction. We're asking them to look at what their licensing dollars are funding in the real world — and decide whose side they're actually on.

The receipts

This isn't a feeling. This isn't a culture war take. This is documented:

J.K. Rowling — what the public record shows

1
Donated £70,000 to For Women Scotland — an organization that actively campaigns against legal protections for trans people in the UK. (The Times, 2021)
2
Donated £70,000 to LGB Alliance — a UK organization that has opposed trans inclusion and campaigned against Mermaids, a support charity for trans youth. (The Guardian, 2021)
3
Co-founded Beira's Place — a rape crisis center that explicitly excludes trans women, mirroring legislative efforts to remove trans women from single-sex services. (Pink News, 2023)
4
Helped oppose Scotland's Gender Recognition Reform Bill — a bill that would have provided trans people a streamlined legal gender recognition process. The bill was effectively blocked. (BBC Scotland, 2023)
5
Her rhetoric has been directly echoed by US legislators pushing bathroom bans, healthcare restrictions for trans youth, and conversion therapy protections — bills that have caused real, documented harm to real families. (ACLU, GLAAD)

These are not opinions. These are financial and institutional decisions with real-world consequences for 2Spirit, Trans, Intersex, and Gender Expansive people everywhere.

"Every time someone buys a Mattel Harry Potter product, a portion of that revenue sustains the platform of a person who has made dismantling trans rights her public mission."

Why this matters to us — personally

Trans Empowerment Project was founded in 2016 to serve Disabled 2TIGE-BIPOC communities. In the years since, we've watched the political and cultural climate shift in ways that have directly, materially harmed the people we serve.

I've had to move because of what's happening. I know parents of trans kids who are terrified — kids being pulled off puberty blockers, denied access to bathrooms, turned away from healthcare. I know people who have lost jobs, homes, and communities. I know people who've lost the will to keep going.

This is not abstract. This is our lives.

And when a corporation with an HRC award on the shelf continues to financially sustain the person funding the legislation driving this harm — we say something about it.

For new visitors

Trans Empowerment Project is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We've been supporting Disabled 2TIGE-BIPOC communities since 2016. We run programs including microgrants, community leadership development, and international advocacy. Learn more at transempowerment.org.

What we're asking Mattel to do

Our petition makes three specific asks:

1. End all current Harry Potter licensing agreements at the earliest contractual opportunity. We're not asking them to break a contract. We're asking them to not renew one.

2. Publicly commit to not entering new Harry Potter merchandise deals. A one-time exit isn't enough. We want a clear statement of intent.

3. Issue a transparent statement explaining how their licensing decisions align with their stated DEI values. Accountability requires transparency. We want Mattel to say — publicly — how they reconcile these two things.

What this is not

This is not a boycott of Harry Potter fans. It is not a call to burn books or erase a cultural franchise. It is a specific, targeted ask to a specific corporation about a specific business decision — one that directly contradicts their stated values.

How you can help — right now

Trans Empowerment Project has a direct reach of 53,000 people globally. If even a fraction of those people share this petition, we will be in front of millions within days. That kind of visibility brings press. Press brings pressure. Pressure creates change.

Here's what we need from you today:

Sign the petition. Takes 60 seconds. [PETITION LINK]

Share it everywhere. Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, BlueSky, Discord, text message, group chat. Especially share it with parents of trans kids, with teachers, with HR professionals, with anyone who works in corporate DEI.

Tag Mattel directly. @Mattel on Instagram, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter. Make sure they're seeing the conversation.

Tag @HRC. They certified Mattel. They should be asked to weigh in.

You can't claim to see us
and fund our erasure.

Sign the petition. Share it. Make Mattel choose.

Sign Now

Trans Day of Visibility only comes once a year. But the harm Rowling's funding enables happens every day — in courtrooms, clinics, school boards, and family living rooms.

Today, we're visible. And we're using that visibility to do something with it.

In solidarity and spite,

J
Jack Knoxville (he/they) Founder, Trans Empowerment Project
transempowerment.org
#TDOV2026 #TransDayOfVisibility #MattelAccountability #DropHarryPotter #2TIGE #TransRights #CorporateAccountability Trans Empowerment Project
Clothing Swaps Save Lives (We Said What We Said)

Clothing Swaps Save Lives (We Said What We Said)

Campaigns, Organizing, Programs

Clothing is something a lot of people take for granted. You walk into a store, grab your size, maybe try something on, maybe not, and move on with your day.

But for 2TIGE folks, it’s rarely that simple.

For many of us, clothing is tied up in dysphoria, safety, access, and whether or not we’re going to be seen, questioned, or even harassed just for existing. Something as basic as trying on a shirt can feel loaded. Public. Risky.

And that’s exactly why clothing swaps matter as much as they do.

At Trans Empowerment Project, clothing swaps were one of the first things we ever organized. Not because they’re flashy or complicated, but because they meet a need that is both immediate and deeply personal.

There is something powerful about walking into a space where you don’t have to explain yourself. Where no one is watching you try to “figure it out.” Where you can pick something up, try it on, and have a quiet moment with yourself that says, oh… this feels right.

That moment? It stays with people.

It’s not just about leaving with clothes. It’s about leaving with a little more confidence, a little less isolation, and a reminder that you’re not alone in any of this.

We’ve seen it over and over again. People come in unsure, sometimes guarded, sometimes carrying a lot. And then something shifts. Conversations start. Laughter shows up. Someone finds something that fits in a way nothing has before, and you can literally see it in their posture.

That’s community. That’s what we’re actually building.

And right now, the need for those spaces is growing faster than we can meet it on our own.

We’re hearing from folks all over who are looking for access to affirming clothing, but just as importantly, they’re looking for spaces where they can exist without being questioned or policed. In a moment where 2TIGE lives are being debated, targeted, and pushed to the margins, creating spaces of care and visibility isn’t extra. It’s necessary.

That’s why we’re inviting people to host clothing swaps with us.

Not because we think everyone suddenly has to become an event organizer, but because we know that real change doesn’t happen from one place or one organization. It happens when people decide to create something where they are.

Hosting a swap doesn’t mean having everything perfectly figured out. It means opening up a space, however big or small, and making it clear that people are welcome there. It means being part of something that’s rooted in care, dignity, and connection.

And the impact of that reaches further than you might expect.

A single clothing swap can spark ongoing relationships. It can connect people who didn’t know each other before. It can give someone their first experience of feeling seen in a way that actually feels good. It can remind someone that they deserve to take up space exactly as they are.

That’s not small.

That’s the kind of thing that helps people keep going.

So if you’ve been wondering how to show up right now in a way that is tangible and real, this is one way to do it.

We’ve put together everything you need to get started, and we’ll be right there with you as you do.

👉 Learn more and/or register to join us.

And if nothing else, just know this:

Creating spaces where people can safely be themselves is powerful work. It always has been.

And right now, it matters more than ever.

Inked in Solidarity: 12 People, 9 States…and growing

Inked in Solidarity: 12 People, 9 States…and growing

Campaigns, Campaigns, Organizing, Take Action

Something really powerful is already happening.

Over the past few days, 12 people across 9 states have signed up to be part of this campaign. Not because they had to. Not because it was convenient. But because they believe in showing up — visibly — for the 2TIGE community.

And honestly? That matters more than ever right now.

We’re living in a time where 2Spirit, Trans, Intersex, and Gender Expansive people are being targeted in very real ways. Policies, rhetoric, and fear are all being used to push folks out of public life. And in the middle of all of that, a lot of people are wondering who actually has their back.

This campaign is one answer to that question.

Why This Matters

“Inked in Solidarity” isn’t just about tattoos. It’s about choosing to be seen in your support.

Because visibility does something that quiet support can’t.

When someone wears their solidarity on their body, it creates moments. Someone asks about it. A conversation starts. A message gets shared that might not have happened otherwise. And for someone in the 2TIGE community who sees that in passing — at a coffee shop, online, walking down the street — it can be a small but powerful reminder:

I’m not alone in this.

That’s the kind of impact we’re building here. Not just a fundraiser, but a ripple effect.

A Growing Movement

Right now, this campaign is already stretching across 9 states.

📍

Each person on that map is choosing to show up in a way that’s visible, lasting, and real. And we’re just at the beginning.

There’s something kind of beautiful about that. People who may never meet, connected by a shared decision to stand with the 2TIGE community in a way that can’t be ignored.

An Invitation

We’re inviting more people to step into this with us over the next few days.

Maybe you’ve been thinking about getting a tattoo for a while.
Maybe you’ve been wondering how to show up in a way that actually feels meaningful.
Maybe you’re just tired of watching what’s happening and want to do something that makes it clear where you stand.

Sign up here to join us in getting Inked in Solidarity!

 

[Sign Up] Louder With Love Fundraising Stream

Campaigns, Campaigns, Community Captains, Streaming, volunteering

If you’ve been online at all lately, you already know this:
everything feels loud. And not in a fun way.

The hate is loud.
The fear is loud.
The doom scroll never shuts up.

And for 2TIGE (Two Spirit, Trans, Intersex, and Gender Expansive) folks, that noise isn’t just annoying — it seeps into our bodies, our nervous systems, our sense of safety. It makes rest feel impossible and joy feel irresponsible.

So we’re choosing something different.

From Feb 17–22, we’re bringing back Louder With Love — a Twitch-based fundraising week rooted in joy, care, and showing up for each other without pretending things aren’t hard.

Not toxic positivity.
Not “good vibes only.”
Just… love, but loud enough to actually matter.

What Louder With Love Looks Like in Real Life

Louder With Love is simple on purpose.

Streamers show up on Twitch and do what they already do — play games, chat, create — and we invite their communities to help fund real support for Trans Empowerment Project and the 2TIGE folks we serve.

You can:

  • Run a dedicated fundraising stream

  • Add a donation goal to a regular stream

  • Raid, boost, or hype someone else’s stream

  • Or just help spread the word

We provide optional overlays, graphics, chat commands, and support so no one has to build this from scratch.

This isn’t about doing the most.
It’s about doing something, together.

Let’s Be Honest for a Minute

We already have a few streamers signed up. They’re great. We love them.

And, we need to say this plainly, but that won’t be enough.

Our streaming program needs to bring in about $90,000 this year to keep Trans Empowerment Project running at the level our community needs. Louder With Love is the first of five fundraising events we’re rolling out to try to get there. If this one doesn’t land, everything else gets harder.

We can’t get there on small streams alone, no matter how much heart is in them.
We need creators with bigger audiences to help us — even if it’s just for one stream.

How & Why We’re Inviting Streamers to Get SAFE

As part of Louder With Love, we’re inviting streamers to become SAFE-certified through our SAFE Stream training.

SAFE stands for Supportive, Accountable, Fair, and Empowering.

It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being honest. About saying, “If harm happens here, I won’t ignore it.”

SAFE-certified streamers get:

  • A badge or certificate they can display

  • Language to explain what SAFE means to their community

  • A way to signal care without making big promises they can’t keep

For 2TIGE folks who are constantly weighing whether a space is worth the risk, that signal matters.

Why We’re Asking You to Show Up

We don’t love having to say this part, but we’re not going to dance around it.

If we don’t hit our fundraising goals this year, our capacity shrinks even further; or we close our doors completely. And the people impacted first are the ones who already have the least room to absorb another loss.

We’re not asking anyone to save us.
We are asking people with reach to show up with us. Because love, rooted in resources, is the only way we will keep our doors open this year.

Want to Join Us?

📅 Feb 17–22
🎮 On Twitch
💜 Join at the level that makes sense for you

👉 Sign up here:
https://linkto.transempowerment.org/LWL26

We’ll bring the tools.
You bring your voice.
Let’s get #LouderWithLove together!

A Note for Creators with 10k+ Followers

This part’s for you.

We know your inbox is full. We know you get asked to support causes all the time. And we know saying yes to everything would burn you out fast.

So here’s the honest version.

One stream from a creator with your reach can do what dozens of smaller streams simply can’t. It can fund weeks of community support. It can keep training programs running. It can mean the difference between “we’ll try again later” and “we’re still here.”

We’re not asking for a long-term commitment.
We’re not asking you to carry this alone.
We’re asking for one moment of shared effort.

If you care about building safer internet spaces.
If you care about Trans folks having places to land.
If you’ve ever wondered how to use your platform without it feeling performative…

This is a way to do that.

Join us for Louder With Love, Feb 17–22.
Even one stream helps more than you know.

👉 https://linkto.transempowerment.org/LWL26

Louder with love fundraising stream
Getting #LouderWithLove (Again)

Getting #LouderWithLove (Again)

Campaigns

What Is Louder With Love?

Louder With Love is a community-powered campaign rooted in a simple but radical idea: we don’t have to amplify harm to acknowledge it—we can choose to amplify love instead.

Every day, we’re bombarded with bad news, hateful rhetoric, and policies designed to keep marginalized communities in survival mode. Social media rewards outrage, fear, and trauma, creating a constant doom scroll that exhausts our nervous systems and isolates us from one another. Louder With Love exists to interrupt that cycle.

By getting #LouderWithLove, we intentionally flood our feeds, our streams, and our real lives with joy, gratitude, kindness, and collective action—without denying reality, and without centering despair.

Why It Matters (Especially Now)

For 2TIGE communities, the weight of legislative attacks, misinformation, and violence is not theoretical—it’s lived. Doom scrolling doesn’t just hurt our mental health; it keeps people stuck in crisis mode, unable to rest, organize, or imagine something better.

Louder With Love is not about toxic positivity or ignoring harm. It’s about choosing joy as resistance, care as strategy, and love as a renewable resource. When we shift what we amplify, we shift what feels possible.

Why We’re Bringing It Back

We launched Louder With Love before the world was ready to listen. Now, people are burnt out, disconnected, and searching for ways to help that don’t require them to be angry all the time.

We’re bringing Louder With Love back because:

  • Joy is a survival tool.

  • Community care is not optional.

  • And love, when practiced collectively, can fund real support for people who need it.

This relaunch centers fundraisers, streamers, and everyday folks who want to do something—even if that something starts small.

How to Show Love With Us

Showing love doesn’t require perfection, a big platform, or endless capacity. It requires intention.

You can show love by:

  • Hosting a fundraiser or adding a donation goal to your stream

  • Sharing joy-forward content that uplifts your community

  • Practicing kindness offline through providing mutual aid, community check-ins, and care driven events

  • Committing to being safer, learning to be anti-racist, and holding yourself accountable, by creating more love in shared spaces through completing our safe pledge

Every action—big or small—helps move our community out of crisis and into connection.

Safety Exit