Our Principles
Our mission is to build a powerful, trans-led movement standing up for freedom, justice, and equality for all trans and gender diverse people.
We are working together with our loved ones and allies to bring about a future where all trans people are safe, celebrated, and free.
Our nine movement principles layout the most important elements of the strategy and culture of the Trans Justice Project. We ask that any group or individual seeking to be added to our network map aligns themselves with these principles.
Our movement is led by trans and gender diverse people. But building the power that we need to create real change will require thousands of allies to take action alongside us.
Whether you are a parent, a loved one, a friend, or an ally, we welcome and encourage you to run a local group, participate in actions, and to join our campaigns.
The powers that be try to turn us against each other based on our race, where we were born, what’s in our wallets, or our genders. They exploit divisions and fears among us so they can gain and hold onto power, denying us the basic protections, resources, and respect that all people deserve.
We work to push back against the politics of fear by boldly organising in our communities for long-term change, calling out the agenda of those in power, and by working in solidarity with other movements that fight for freedom, justice, and equality for all.
To build a powerful movement we need to engage, empower, and activate as many people as possible. We focus on listening, building relationships, and having conversations with people in our communities. We educate and inspire the public, share our stories, and move people to action – organising in our schools, workplaces, and places of worship.
We take bold action as a united, national movement because we are more powerful when we work together. We work to make sure we’re all on the same page when it comes to our strategy, demands, and messages so that we speak with one voice.
Everyone is on their own learning journey. To build a large and inclusive movement we take people where they are at, recognising that everyone brings unique skills, talents, and perspectives.
We encourage each other to be open to considering feedback, hearing when their actions or words have hurt someone else, and to respond appropriately.
We are committed to unlearning and undoing the systems of oppression that impact our communities, namely white supremacy, patriarchy, ableism, and colonialism.
We live in a society that is deeply violent. The forces of state violence incarcerate us, brutalise us when we stand up for our rights, and determine our access to life-saving health care. The powers that be use violence to keep us disempowered, divided, and afraid.
We, as a movement for trans justice, cannot win by responding in kind to the violence, harassment, and threats of our opponents. Instead we combat their hate by organising our communities, building our power, and winning over the public to create change. We don’t support or condone threats, violence, or the harassment of anyone, either online or in-person. We take responsibility for our decisions knowing that our actions will impact and reflect on others in this movement.
We don’t align ourselves with any particular political party. All of our political leaders and parties, regardless of their political leaning or affiliations, should support our community’s right to thrive. We are building a movement of people from all political persuasions to fight for freedom, justice, and equality for all trans and gender-diverse people.
Standing up for our right to exist against an organised and powerful opposition is exhausting and heart-breaking. We put ensure to invest in a community of care by encouraging each other to take breaks, checking in on each other, and debriefing after doing hard things.
