Outcomes of the Global Trans Conference

This gathering marks a momentous occasion for our community, symbolizing our collective efforts, dedication to advancing equality and human rights, and empowerment of all trans and gender diverse people, all over the world. We are here to celebrate our successes. Of course, let’s celebrate. Let’s not forget this is a space for connection, for partnership, for fun, for friendships. You know, it is our space to push our agenda further.

I think we share the goals of advancing health equity, improving community health, eradicating stigma.
We need to link our hands. We need to weave our communities.
Gender-affirming care is life-saving care.
Without data, you have no advocacy.
We don’t lack capacity. We lack resources. We lack opportunities.
We’re not here to ask for breadcrumbs. We’re here to create our own autonomy.
We work in the ethos of nothing about us, without us.
It’s not one savior, it’s not one leader. It’s going to always be a movement.

We are full of life. We are full of energy. And to see my trans siblings in this space gives me a lot of comfort. And voice.
Yes, it feels like something huge is coming. And I feel like that’s why I’m here.
It was very good for movement building, for me.
To see how the movement, globally, has come around and has actually strengthened.

You know, many times we find ourselves kind of solitary. And in many parts of the world, it can be very stressful, painful, when you feel alone, when you don’t feel supported. It is amazingly beautiful when you find other people that look like you, sound like you, identify like you, but have also faced similar issues, and can help you strategize on how to overcome the burdens.

Trans voices are very missed in the space.
We are the best researchers of the topic. No one knows about transness as we do.
When we make space for our stories, we do that through feelings, not facts.
We’re using Western constructs to try and navigate equality.

For me, the framing of this conference was really great. It was not just another kind of ‘ticking the box.’ But it was a part of a broader sort of movement-building work.
For once, we have an opportunity to laser-focus in on our issues. It is about us. And what drives our movement forward.
So we have people from all regions of the world. From Central America, South America, Caribbean, North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Africa.

From Africa to South America to Asia to North America, trans rights are under attack. And it is very important for us to come together and build a stronger movement to counter the anti-rights.
We are facing a movement that is very well-organized, very well-funded. And a lot of this funding that is available for trans organizing is not really trickling down to the grassroots level.
We have no resources. We are fighting an unequal world full of discrimination and hate against trans and gender diverse people, with two hands tied behind our back. Because we have no resources. And you expect us to survive in this current environment? Fund our work. Let us change the world. But we need resources. That’s the most important thing in all of this.
We are being erased. So I wonder if that is something that we also need to make space for in these spaces, in these conversations.
We need to decolonize mindsets. We need to start being reflected in the texts. Our identities, of course, are more diverse than ‘trans.’ It’s ‘Māhū’ for Ōlelo, ‘Palopa’ for PNG, ‘Faʻafafine’ for Samoa, and many, many more.

We’re calling them ‘anti-gender,’ ‘anti-LGBT.’ At the end of the day, they are anti-rights actors.
And this year, they put a ban on puberty blockers.
Activists simply leave our region, leave our countries.
The anti-gender movement… they’re using a whole lot of emotional manipulation. We can use emotion as well. We can absolutely use the same tactic that they are. And feelings and emotions are far more persuasive.
We also want to feel affirmed. We also want to be accepted within the health organizations.
The other thing that we have done is that we realized that trans people are amazingly talented.
So it is a matter of human rights. But it’s a matter of human rights that starts with the right of self-identification.
If you are not able to identify yourself, then you don’t have access to housing. Access to health is fantastic. But if you don’t have a place where you can shower, you can sleep, or you can cook…Yeah, the hormones or the HIV medication is like ‘yeah, whatever.’

This conference is not just a GATE event. It is a result of the collective efforts of 13 global, regional, and national trans-led organizations, representing all regions of the world.

So I want to pass on a very important message to all the trans people who are currently following me. Whoever you are, wherever you are, know that you are beautiful people. You are beautiful souls, and stay true to yourselves; don’t change for anyone else.

Gender-affirming care is life-saving care.
We need to respect our manners and work together. Oh my God, yes. So thank you, and let’s work together.

GATE is going to make a big shift and become a membership-based organization. This membership is cost-free.
We are advancing slowly; we are advancing. There is a wave of regression, but here is the trans resistance. Here is the trans resistance! And we are going to resist them. And we are going to say ‘no’ to the anti-rights… ‘yes’ to the rights for trans people. Thank you very much, Erika, and to all of you. Let’s go for what is missing. We are going for more. Not one step back.

The persons who co-founded GATE… who have… I’m going to cry. These are the persons who started the project, the organization, and have helped us to take it to where we are today.