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
Join the Global Movement: TEP’s Digital Communities Are Here for You! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Hey Changemakers and Community Champions! 🌟 We're buzzing with excitement at Trans Empowerment Project and you're the reason why! We are amping up our efforts and diving deep into the digital world to strengthen our global family. Say hello to a broader, more...
I Escaped Female Genital Mutilation
[Trigger warning: The story below addresses the very real violent experiences that our Trans siblings across Africa have been faced with. This story is emotionally intense and at times, graphic. We urge you to put any discomfort you have into action so that no one is...
Understanding the Anti-Homosexuality Act
Written by Lucretia Ssenyonojo On August 9, 2023, the Ugandan Constitutional Court upheld the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which criminalizes same-sex relationships and imposes harsh penalties, including life imprisonment. This decision has sparked widespread concern and...
Finding Gender Euphoria at a Clothing Swap
Despite the fact that clothing is one of the most abundant resources on our planet, especially in the United States, where we are high subscribers to fast fashion, it can be incredibly difficult to access gender-affirming clothing that is affordable for our community.
From the discomfort of trying to shop in what may be an unaffirming and potentially unsafe space, to not having the cash needed to get the affirming clothing we want/need, clothing is one resource that the 2TIGE community is always in need of.
Embracing All Shades of Womanhood: Getting “Louder With Love”
By: Heather Knoxville (she/they) In a world that too often echoes with division, Trans Empowerment Project (TEP) hopes to stand as a beacon of unity and love, especially through our transformative "Sisterhood Not Cisterhood" program. As we encourage folks to join our...
Here’s to a Restful Future
In a world that never seems to pause, the act of resting can sometimes feel like a luxury we're not afforded. Yet, for members of the 2 Spirit, Trans, Intersex, and Gender Expansive (2TIGE) community, taking time to rest is not an indulgence—it's a crucial...
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