Survivors' Truths has partnered with Children's Hospital Los Angeles' Division of Adolescent Medicine's Risk Reduction Program to work with transgender youth ages 14 - 24.
"What is so awesome about this is the opportunity to present people's situations differently... so that people can wrap their minds around the issues and wrap their arms around the people. This is a bigger picture... changing the perceptions, and, by doing that, changing the world"
Because when most people hear transgender, they don't think 'vulnerable youth,' 'potential leaders,' or 'my community.' The experiences, strengths, and multifaceted identities of transgendered youth are not generally well understood, even by LGBTQ-supportive members of our community. This project aims to promote communities that are more supportive, respectful, and positive toward transgendered youth in developing and sharing their stories to shift discussion and challenge stereotypes.
Population:
As many as 80-90% of the young people who are seen at CHLA's Transgender Harm Reduction Project have been forced out of their homes, into 'the system' or onto the street.
Even more so than other members of the LGBTQ community, transgendered youth are subject to extreme marginalization, vulnerable and targeted for all kinds of violence, depression, and drug abuse.
As more people are exposed to the stories of transgendered people's skills and strengths, a space can be created for them to become open and respected members of society, they can develop individual identities beyond their gender and sexuality, and be given broad social support.
The Project
TransYouth Speak, Survivors' Truths' transgender youth empowerment project, is a participatory media project designed to support transgendered youth in developing connections within their communities and applying skills in a variety of media including photography, video, sound, internet, and social networking.
The media created by participants in this project will support greater awareness of transgendered youth and the specific challenges they face.
By tapping in to social media, this project aims to help expand possibilities for safety and support of LGBTQ youth increasing awareness of their needs in the broader community.
Goals of TransYouth Speak:
-To engage transgendered youth in challenging dominant narratives about themselves and the transgender community
-To engage youth in the advocacy of protection, inclusion, and support within larger community, and help them develop connections with supportive adults, programs, and organizations
-Build on and enhance CHLA's existing transgender support group through the integration of presented information.
-Communicate increased awareness of the needs of transgendered youth to audiences in the broader community.
TransYouth Project
