Dear Reader,

My name is Jin (he/him), and I’m delighted to bring you the first issue of Amplify Trans Joy. Thank you for believing in our community, in our good news, and in our thriving present.

If you’re like me, this might be the first positive missive about trans people you’ve seen in your inbox for quite some time.

Let’s change that.

Because what the politicians and media don’t want you to know is that trans people are not only out there — we are creating beautiful things, reimagining our futures, caring for each other, and finding ease and happiness in our daily lives. As you’ll soon see, this newsletter is far from the only trans joy project out there!

What we’ll do here in the coming months is amplify our community’s joy. ATJ is designed to spark tiny changes to both our narratives about trans lives and how these stories impact our nervous systems.

Without further ado, let’s have some joy!

What you'll find within:

• Community Joy submissions!
• Our monthly astrology column, Trans-Its ✨
• Joyful Projects & Resources in the community, including Upcoming Events & Deadlines for cool things
• Call for Submissions & Support

Community Joy!

The following words and images were submitted by trans and gender-expansive folks in the community. Thank you to all who contributed their joy to this issue!

After being out for nearly 5 years, my mom finally recognized me as her son through a Valentine's day card! "For a son who means so much ❤️" 

Recently I realized that I love the way I look on my worst days as a woman far more than my best days as a man. I started my transition striving to be at least as feminine as a hag living in a bog, but now I'm aiming for Liz Lemon as my role model, as a modest step up. 

I used to think I was a guy who didn't really care about clothes and would certainly never make my own. Well, zero for three: it's too hard shopping as a six-foot trans gal who doesn't yet have my own style and demands pockets. So I've been thinking about learning sewing, maybe just enough to be able to modify thrifts, but buying a machine and materials seemed so intimidating for a beginner. 

The answer is always libraries. I recently got started using my library maker space's free sewing machines, and I've not only learned seamstressing basics, but this past week finished my own top from scratch. Like many aspects of being trans, the jump looks so much easier from the other side. I look adorable, I feel powerful, and now I'm gonna be adding pockets to everything!

Rainbow child,
I release you from your prism
Reunite and light the night
With freedom

Rainbow child,
You were born to lead with vision
Realize the stars in your eyes
Are a haven

You went through the dark
For a reason

You know the frost bites
For a season

But the rainbows
Sparkle like stars on the
Ground as you
Walk through the
Shadow of
Being

The layers of learning
Through sorrow 
The growth of tomorrow

You saw it as a child
The vision grows wild
The future grows steady
You knew it already
Tender and steadfast and heady
You're ready, you're ready

Bluebells of the morning
The sounding of glory
The humming of
Worlds becoming

Know your own story

(We would love to feature YOUR trans joy in the next issue - send us your contribution at amplifytransjoy [at] gmail [dot] com, or reply to this email!)

Monthly Trans-Its ✨

Welcome to your exclusive Amplifying Trans Joy astro column focusing on the monthly motions of the Sun and Moon! I’m your astrologer Feebz (he/ze/zem/zir), delivering the cosmic goods for your trans betterment.

🌙 March 14: Total lunar eclipse in Virgo — the first for the next year and a half. Particularly impactful for those who have Virgo placements, we’ll be seeing an upheaval in the practicality of things. Make sure you have your h*rmone stockpiles and checklist ready for doctors appointments. We may also see shifts around how we want to connect to and assist others. Around January, we may have lunged to see how to idealistically do more for each other, but now we’re hitting a point where we better understand our actual capacity. Even if honest conversations around this are rough, please know it’s for your long term betterment to step back from overcommitments and re-tailor how you want to give to the world.

🌕 March 20th: The Sun enters Aries, the sign of its exaltation. This is Spring Equinox. You gardeners and herbalists have maybe already started sowing by this time, but spring energy is always exciting, new energy. This is the time to get social again, little groundhogs, and start trying out new things. Be in trans community wherever and however you can because this is the season where the fun gets going!

🌕 March 29th: Solar eclipse in Aries — the last of a series happening since the summer of 2023. Wherever in the last year and a half you have found yourself asserting yourself and your values, this is the final event and solidification of your new self. (For example, it marks the official end of your astrologer’s gender awakening and early transition!)

Amplify This! Joyful Projects & Resources

In this section, we’ll amplify some wonderful creations and resources made by our talented community!

First up is Marley’s Pride by Stonewall Award Honoree Joëlle Retener. This amazing children’s book features a Black nonbinary character and a queer family of color.

It would make a perfect gift for any kid in your life - tap the photo for more info!

Here’s what Joëlle has to say about their project:

Trans and non-binary people deserve uplifting stories that remind us that our existence, our joy, is a radical act of self love. I'm so grateful that I get to share this little book with our community.

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Next, we have a fabulous free zine called Our Existence is Resistance by Julie Setele, which uplifts ways to affirm our community’s joy and fight in these times.

Click below to download your own copy!

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Last but not least, check out the Trans Art Jam — an incredible project created by Arimia. The jam crowdsourced "over 40 new works of fiction (short stories and games) celebrating trans joy brought into the world!"

Can’t wait to dive into some of these interactive stories? Us, too!

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Upcoming events & deadlines for cool things you may be into!

• The Trans Journalists Association’s Level Up Initiative — an almost no-strings-attached grant to fund professional development for gender-expansive folks working in journalism and media. // Deadline is March 17th!!
• The Joy Who Lived — love the tongue-in-cheek name — a Trans/GNC Theatre and Comedy Festival in LA and Online // From March 31st to April 27th
• The 2025 Sundress Trans and Nonbinary Writers Retreat // applications due May 1st

Call for Submissions & Support

Do you have a piece of trans joy to share with us?? You can reply to this email with your submission for the next issue. Just check out the Contributor Guidelines first!

We’re also looking for trans projects and resources to share with our community. If you have a lead on something that you think the ATJ community should know about, please reply to this email.

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please support us by forwarding this email to someone you think would love to see it in their inbox!

(Are you the person someone forwarded this to? Get your very own free subscription to Amplifying Trans Joy!)

You can also follow us on Bluesky where we share snippets of trans joy in between newsletters.

Thanks for supporting and reading!!!

I’ll leave you with this…

Remember that our joy is resistance. Cultivate it, circulate it, and don’t let it go. Let it breathe alongside your rage and grief and exhaustion and fear. And when it’s hard to find on your own, come back to this newsletter or let yourself rest in knowing that community joy exists and can hold you.

We’ve got us.