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
Black Poetry Day 2023 – Jack Knoxville
Jack Knoxville is the founder and Executive Director of Trans Empowerment Project. In addition to his activism, Jack is also a prolific writer and poet. In celebration of Black Poetry Day, here is a sampling of some of Jack’s work. I’m too Angry I’m too angry...
From Crisis & Trauma to Something Better
By Jacquii Cooke [Content Warning: The following content may evoke strong emotions and trigger memories. It aims to shed light on the issues faced by the Two-Spirit, Trans, Intersex, Gender Expansive, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Communities (2TIGE BIPOC)...
QTIBIPOC Lives Matter: The Urgency of Accessible Healthcare in Suicide Prevention
by Alex Moody, Project Care Manager Envisioning a holistic and accessible healthcare set-up for suicide prevention among Queer, Transgender, and Intersex Black and Indigenous People of Color (QTIBIPOC) involves a stark acknowledgment: Mental healthcare is healthcare....
Navigating Workplace Support for 2TIGE Folks as Suicide Prevention
By: Mo Viviane (they/them), Associate Director of Workplace Equity & Inclusion The journey of 2 Spirit, Trans, Intersex and Gender Expansive (2TIGE) folks has often been marked by courage, self-discovery, and resilience. However, it’s a journey with many...
Celebrating Black Business Month: Uplifting Disabled Black Trans Freelancers & Entrepreneurs
By Mo Viviane (they/them), Program Manager for Trans Employment Project The month of August is about celebrating Black Business Month! It’s essential to recognize and uplift the incredible contributions of Black Trans businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs in the...
Building Inclusive Workspaces: Supporting Disabled QTIBIPOC Employees
by Mo Viviane In today's rapidly evolving workspaces, it’s essential for employers to prioritize diversity and inclusion within their organizations. Fostering a supportive and equitable workspace for all employees, including disabled queer, trans, and intersex people...
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