On June 7, 2023, InReach and GLAAD
The campaign comes during a rise in anti-trans legislation and rhetoric sweeping across the United States. Already in 2024, there have been over 530 anti-trans bills under consideration across 41 states, with 16 passed into law to-date. These bills propose bans on health care for minors and adults, restrictions on transgender students’ equality at school, and attempts to erase trans people from public life, among other attacks.
Trans boys and transmasculine youth have come under particular scrutiny as a reported increase in transmasculine people in the U.S. has fueled backlash and negative media coverage. According to the Trevor Project’s 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People, rates of both considered and attempted suicide were highest in the LGBTQ+ community among trans boys/men, 56 percent of whom considered suicide in the past year.
The #TransmascFutures Campaign counters the stigma surrounding this community by sharing examples of trans men and trans masculine adults living their lives authentically and experiencing joy. Participants submit an online campaign questionnaire asking them to share their experiences with trans joy and resource access. Campaign submissions will be aggregated and shared on a new campaign website, campaign report and social media using the #TransmascFutures hashtag. The campaign also raises awareness for the free InReach App–the world’s first tech platform matching LGBTQ+ people facing persecution or discrimination with safe, verified resources–and help ensure trans masculine people are able to find the support they need to thrive. The campaign website displays submissions in English and Spanish.
The #TransMascFutures Campaign currently features over 92 stories from a diverse group of trans men and transmasculine adults. Featured among them, Team USA athlete Chris Mosier, comedian D’Lo, activist and author Jameison Green, actor Lio Mehiel, Michael D. Cohen, Scott Turner Schofield, musician Valentin Mera, and Tiq Milan, executive producer of Beyond the Aggressives: 25 Years Later premiering on March 30. The follow-up documentary to The Aggressives (2005), which centered the experiences of transmasculine people of color, revisits their lives in the two decades since and showcases possible futures for transmasculine adults.
Institutional partners include SAGE, Oasis Legal Services, Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC), Kentucky Youth Law Project (KYLP), Stand With Trans, Transgender American Veteran Association (TAVA), Lambda Legal, Immigration Equality and National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA). This campaign is also sponsored by The Hollister Confidence Fund.
“When trans boys and men are so underrepresented in mainstream media, a campaign like #TransMascFutures provides a vital opportunity for transmasculine people to share and see themselves – including possible futures – while cultivating community and accessing much needed resources,” said Alex Schmider, Senior Director of Entertainment & Transgender Inclusion at GLAAD.
“Our campaign will enable more trans boys and transmasculine young people to visualize their futures and access the affirming resources they need to get there,” said Jamie Sgarro, Co-Founder and Executive Director at InReach. “As a trans man who used the InReach App to access affirming legal help, gender-affirming medical care, and mental health services during my own transition, I know firsthand our potential to help connect trans masculine people to lifesaving resources. We also hope that our campaign will inspire more families, neighbors, educators, and legislators to choose to support their trans boys and trans masculine kids.”
“Transmasculine visibility is just the beginning of the story, the story of the richness, complexity and beauty of the human experience. The #TransMascFutures campaign is so important because it highlights many of us who haven’t been included in the conversation and it dares to amplify our authentic stories of resistance, resilience, and infinite trans joy,” said Sydney Baloue, ballroom historian, co-executive producer of LEGENDARY, and the first out Black trans man in the WGA.
Trans men and transmasculine adults who are at least 21 years old and live in the United States are encouraged to submit their own stories via the campaign website. Allies can help to raise awareness by sharing the campaign website and downloading the social media toolkit. Both campaign participants and viewers can also suggest trans affirming resources in their community via this link to help build the InReach App.
About InReach
InReach is a trans-led tech nonprofit increasing resource access for the diverse LGBTQ+ community. The InReach App is the world’s first tech platform matching LGBTQ+ people facing persecution or discrimination with safe, independently verified resources. The free InReach App is available on web (desktop and mobile), and native iOS and Android. Learn more at InReach.org.
About GLAAD As a dynamic media force, GLAAD ensures fair, accurate, and inclusive representation that rewrites the script for LGBTQ acceptance. GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and envisions a world with 100% LGBTQ acceptance.
For media inquiries, please contact: press@inreach.org
Get Involved Today:
Share the campaign on social media and with your networks: transmascfutures.inreach.org/share
Are you a trans man or transmasculine adult (age 21+) living in the United States? Add your story to the campaign today: transmascfutures.inreach.org/survey
Know an organization that is affirming and safe for trans masculine people? You can suggest a resource to be listed on the free InReach App here.