We're not here to survive. We're here to thrive!
Trans Empowerment Project is a grassroots nonprofit building real, lasting support for disabled Two-Spirit, Trans, Intersex, and Gender Expansive communities of color, through direct aid, justice-rooted training, and the radical belief that we all deserve to thrive.
$200 funds one micro-grant. $1000 fuels five lives.
Last year (In 2025)
More than 55 community members received direct funding from TEP’s micro-grant program
Requests for help are climbing
We received over 1420 applications for emergency assistance funding in 2025 alone.
Creating Safety
TEP provided over $15,000 in cash assistance for micro-grants recipients. At least $5,000 went to folks fleeing unsafe states.
Liberation Lab
The place to experiment, build, and grow power
Train Here. Lead Everywhere.
Level up your advocacy with justice-rooted training that powers real change.
Liberation Lab is TEP’s training space — built for organizers, allies, educators, and anyone ready to turn good intentions into real action.
Every course is justice-rooted, community-centered, and taught by people who live this work. When you get trained here, you’re not just leveling up your skills. You’re directly funding support for the 2TIGE-BIPOC community.
Start where you are. We’ll meet you there.
A word from our founder
In 2016, we watched decades of hard-won equity get erased almost overnight. The attacks haven’t stopped since. And yes, it’s exhausting. That’s the point.
TEP exists because our community kept telling us the same story: isolation, dysphoria, depression, and the crushing feeling of fighting just to exist.
We decided to stop fighting for permission and to start building the future we deserve. One where 2TIGE-BIPOC people don’t just survive; we thrive. Out of spite. Out of solidarity. Together.
490 harmful bills. One community. Here's how we reclaim our power.
According to the ACLU, since January 1st, 2026 over 490 anti-Trans bills have been introduced into legislation, attempting to strip away access to healthcare, housing, education, and safety for existing as our authentic selves. (Learn more here, thanks to our friends at the ACLU)
We know behind every bill is a person.
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A young trans girl who won’t eat or drink at school so that she doesn’t have to face harassment while trying to use the restroom.
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A disabled Black Trans man denied health care during a vulnerable health scare.
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A Two-Spirit elder trying to keep a roof overhead after losing work
Our SAFE Pledge is where we start. It’s how we create real, sustainable change; together, with visibly, accountability, and meaningful action.
Events
april, 2026
Recent Updates
Camp Chaos Is Coming: Here’s Everything You Need to Know
🏕️ What Is Camp Chaos? Camp Chaos is a 7-day Twitch charity raid train, from June 23–29, we’re uniting the Twitch community to raise $50,000 in support of essential programs that empower some of the most marginalized members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Together, we’re...
5 Game-Changing Insights from Our Ally Academy Training
In a world where understanding and empathy are more crucial than ever, our recent Ally Academy training called Privilege and Power -Understanding Your Role in Oppression offered a wealth of insights. Whether you're a seasoned advocate or just beginning your journey,...
![[Community Contributor] In Solidarity With Trans Refugees in East Africa](https://transempowerment.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/IMG_7064-1-400x250.jpeg)
[Community Contributor] In Solidarity With Trans Refugees in East Africa
As we celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility in 2025, I want to take a moment to highlight a painful reality that often goes unnoticed—the horrific situation of transgender individuals who flee their home countries seeking safety, only to find themselves trapped in...
Gender Jargon – List of Terms to Know
2TIGE - Two-Spirit, Trans, Intersex and Gender-Expansive 2TIGE-BIPOC – Two-Spirit, Trans, Intersex and Gender-Expansive Black and Indigenous People of Color Agender - Lacking gender; included in the definitions of non-binary because it falls outside of the binary...
What’s the Difference Between Sex and Gender?
Many of us have grown up using "sex" and "gender" as though they are interchangeable terms, and while for a majority of people, they may be, these two traits are not actually the same. Sex is a label that refers to your biology: sex chromosomes (XX, XY, or otherwise),...
Top 10 Tips for Managing Volunteers
Managing volunteers can be a fun and rewarding experience. However, it can also get really messy really quickly. Therefore, it's important to set clear and well defined expectations early on. Additionally, not all volunteers were created equally. Some folks may need a...
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