the reality of being trans is joy

Dear friends,

I've been saying that the fact that this newsletter is about joy doesn't mean we ignore difficult trans realities. It means we're shifting the focus to other, equally valid dimensions of trans reality that most outlets overlook.

Something remarkable I observed recently is that, when a certain notorious trans game developer projected her pain onto our community, a huge backlash of trans joy rose to the surface. In fact, I only found out about the vitriol because I was looking through the tag for #TransJoy on Bluesky.

Left and right, trans folks spoke up about the joys of being trans and the importance of uplifting our community. Some of these words even found their way into our anonymous joy roundup this month!

I hope that, no matter where you are and what you're going through, this issue will help you remember that your reality is never just one thing. I hope you lean into the multifaceted nature of your life like the gem you are.

Our circumstances might be full of pressure, but what's emerging is an overflow of trans diamonds. Just keep reading, if you don't believe me!

With care and solidarity,
Jin (he/him)

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I'm travelling back home with my friend who got facial feminization surgery, and I am so proud of her and honoured to be her support during this amazing time in her life.

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I've found a beautiful chosen family for myself, almost entirely trans of various flavors. I'm preparing to buy a forever home with my nesting partner and their wife AND preparing for the longest trip away from home I've ever had to help my boyfriend recover from his next gender-affirming surgery. I love my whole messy, extended chosen family and it took me a while find them, but I've chosen them and they have chosen me, and I've never felt more supported.

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My egg only cracked a few months ago and I'm finding so much joy in being trans. I did all my suffering as a "cis" man. I'll suffer no more.

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Today is a very significant celebratory day for me, it's my 10-year anniversary of when I began this journey of becoming the real me—my Decade Tranniversary, you could say. On that fateful day I started actually living. I made the best decision of my life that day. Transition is life.

This has been without any doubt the best decade of my life, even though it also contained the most and worst pain, and the most and worst hardship. It's all been worth it. Every single microgram of pain or sorrow has been worth it, ten thousand times over.

Today I celebrate being me and having become the real me, despite the odds and the opposition. If I died tomorrow I would have no regrets, and I'd die proud, satisfied, and fulfilled. May every trans person reach their own Decade Tranniversary and come to experience this joy and peace I behold now.

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Trans joy is sacred. Trans joy is resistance. If someone is telling you to tune down your trans joy because of the preconceived notion that we must all be miserable, please tell them to fuck off.

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Travelled internationally and it was OK and no misgendering! Haven't been able to update my documents, so a double relief.

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After moving to the Pacific Northwest six months ago, I've planted my first garden! One of my raised beds is all native pollinators and the other has vegetable seeds. I'm so happy to learn about my new natural environment through plant cultivation, and my veggies are already sprouting! Check me out, I'm a trans gardener!!!

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we have to bring as much joy & care & stability to each other as possible, and from there, work together toward a tomorrow that will be infinitely better for trans kids than all our yesterdays were for us

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Trans joy may come through struggle, but it does come. Find your trans siblings and embrace them. Support each other so that when one stumbles, the others can help pull you up. You'll find that joy.

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If you're trans and reading this, I bet you will have joy to share this month, whether big or small, ecstatic or calm. The contributor form is open for you!

April 19: ☀️Sun → Taurus

April 23-25: Venus conjunct Uranus, both → Gemini 👯

May 1: 🌕Full moon in Scorpio

May 2: ☿️ Mercury → Taurus

May 16: 🌙 New moon in Taurus, Mars conjunct Chiron

May 17: ☿️ Mercury → Gemini

May 18: ♀️Venus → Cancer, ♂️Mars → Taurus

Feeling like the world's upside down, on fire, sinking, and crumbling all at the same time? Welcome to the age of Uranus in Gemini, where left is right, up is down. Over 86% of Americans support trans rights, but apparently trans folks are still to blame for...checks notes...oh, everything. (Though also hey, 86%!)

Think back to last July-November, which gave us a brief preview of Uranus in Gemini. Political upheaval is the name of the game. Themes of Uranian revolution and Gemini communication are playing out in information wars vying for control of the narrative. Both times Uranus has moved into Gemini, it's also been in lockstep with Venus, freshly entering the signs of the twins, highlighting the role that women, femmes, and marginalized genders play in shaping the cultural narrative.

This can also feel like relational upheaval on a personal level – if you had any big revelations this last week, pay attention to the ripple effects of knowing and understanding that come from this time.

Meanwhile, Mercury, ruling Gemini and thus in charge of both Venus and Uranus now, will leave the Aries "party" for Taurus on May 2nd, ideally lightening the mood and moving from a period of tense communication to a place where thoughts and plans can take real, concrete shape. These plans will be easiest to act on once Mars joins in Taurus on May 19th, inviting a stubborn yet deliberate energy into the currently-chaotic-oh-my-god-everything-is-moving-so-fast current that we're experiencing now.

Let the Scorpio full moon on May 1st act as a deep cleanse to make space for the healing and (re)direction towards self-care the Taurus new moon invites us to claim on May 16th. You don't need to do everything all at once to get anything done.

Don't be fooled by the smaller volume of features this month – each one is a knockout! I invite you to look closer and stay awhile with these amazing projects/creators.

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First, we have Amanda Wyatt Visconti (they/them) of Wolfproof Press.

When I saw these absolutely gorgeous prints of trans joy, I knew I had to feature them! Feast your senses on these:

The gallery feature unfortunately doesn't allow for alt text, so please see this document for alt text of Amanda's prints.

Amanda says:

I'm a trans letterpress printer; here are some of my more explicitly trans prints! If you'd like to see how the pride-flag gradient ink is created, I posted a quick video of the process.

See more printed trans joy at:

• Amanda's Bluesky
• The Wolfproof Press store 

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Next, peek at some of the wonder that is Tilly Bridges, she/her, creator extraordinaire of trans joy through art and community:

Tilly shares:

I've got a trans sci-fi short film playing in festivals worldwide, a YA trans romcom graphic novel releasing in August, and write weekly essays on trans life (over 250 of them now on my website).

I feel like I’ve got a million stories to tell, and only one life to tell them in, so I just keep writing as many as I can. And I didn’t have any kind of trans representation when I was growing up, and it’s still so hard to find now. So I always try to increase that representation as much as I can, because I know how important it is. 

Find more by Tilly at:

• Her site, Tilly's Trans Tuesdays: Transgender Education for Everyone!
• The page for her YA romcom graphic novel
• Her Bluesky
• Her Instagram

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Because his awesomeness doesn't stop, Sapling (he/they) from last month is coming out with a new art book dedicated to trans joy!

Here's what they have to say:

Interested in applying as an artist for "Moments of Euphoria," our new trans joy zine? ✨

Here's the project infodoc, with details on what we're looking for, our timeline, and more. Applications open on April 26!

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Last but certainly not least, I'm delighted to share the fabulously pretty memoir of Lambda winner KB Brookins (they/them):

KB says:

The paperback version of my memoir is coming out on April 28! This memoir is my testimony of growing up Black, trans, and masculine in Texas. It delves into religious trauma, politics, and sex, among other topics. I wrote it because I couldn't find a book that quite encapsulated my experience, so I hope that you come to the book–my little amalgamation of testimonies and jokes–with a heart open to all the possibilities of what it's like to be someone like me. 

Trans joy means, to me, being able to see yourself in the past, present, and future. Trans joy also means hearing about the good stuff just as much as the bad! 

Get your own copy of Pretty, and if you're in Las Vegas, there's a paperback release party happening on April 30th at The Writer’s Block.

Also...

KB runs an epic weekly newsletter called Trans News That Doesn't Suck (if it sounds familiar, we linked it a few months ago!). I love seeing this unapologetically upbeat roundup come through every week, and highly recommend that you subscribe!

• Are you a trans artist in California? Trans Bloom is inviting submissions for a group art show on land and identity called Queer Ecologies!
• "Enchanted forest dance party in Richmond celebrates trans joy as 'act of resistance'"
• Wanna take your kids to a trans family camp in Maine this August? They're also hiring counselors!
• Nonbinary press beestung opens on 5/15 with a special call for submissions for their pleasure issue, with an extended deadline for BIPOC writers!
• Full nerve mapping of the clitoris has finally come to pass – this could have huge implications for bottom surgery!
• A resource created by a reader for educating cis people about how to see, love, and defend trans lives! Content warning for data and stories involving assault.

Are you enjoying ATJ? It takes many hours, conversations, and collaborations to make this newsletter happen every month. It would be amazing to hear how this issue inspired you or made you feel, if you want to share. :)

⭐ If you're a cis ally/have a few bucks to contribute toward uplifting collective trans joy, consider upgrading to $5/month or tipping at Buy Me a Coffee!

⭐ Do YOU have trans joy to share with us?? Check out the Contributor Guidelines!

⭐ Do you know a trans creator we should feature, or are you launching something? Feel free to hit reply or fill out the form on this page.

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please:

1. Make sure this email is in your Primary inbox tab
2. Forward it to someone you think would love it! (Are you the person someone forwarded this to? Get your very own free subscription to Amplifying Trans Joy!)
3. 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…

I love everything about this. Claim your space, friends.

Till next time!