Trans-Cendent Connections

Trans-cendent Connections was founded in response to the needs of transgender youth. According to a national survey done by GLSEN in 2009, “ Two-thirds of transgender students felt unsafe in school because of their sexual orientation and how they expressed their gender.” An even higher 87% reported having been verbally harassed at some point in their high school education because of their gender presentation. The study also revealed that lack of supportive environment “was also related to lower academic achievement among transgender students” and the GLSEN survey found “transgender students reported poorer educational outcomes than non-transgender students.” T.C. first and foremost seeks to mitigate these factors and nourish the individuality and creativity of trans youth. T.C. endeavors to provide health, wellness, and professional resources and support for transgender individuals so they may have have the same opportunities as their cis-gender (or non-trans) peers to help them achieve their full potential. The only requirement to be part of T.C. is to identify as transgender or gender non-conforming. T.C. values diversity and actively works against systems of oppression such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and abelism by promoting education resources to mentors and mentees. T.C. values learning and striving to always do better for ourselves and for our community. T.C. defines “transgender” as widely as possible and embraces individuals self-expressions- acknowledging that there is no prescriptive “one-way” of being transgender. T.C. believes that by facilitating connections with other transgender individuals that we can cultivate resilience and community to help transgender youth overcome barriers and have the “tool box” they need for whatever the next stage of their life holds. T.C. also provides LGBTQ education training presentations and other types of community outreach.