ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the nuances of civic engagement and leadership development experiences within the transgender and nonbinary (TNB) populations. From institutional distrust and systemic barriers to the development of “new” leadership, TNB advocates face a struggle in elevating their own voices. They sometimes experience burnout and trauma from being forced into leadership and civic engagement spaces simply because of their identity. Despite (or perhaps because of) this struggle, TNB people are making strides with both public visibility and political engagement by readily adapting to the ever-changing socio-political and technological environments. While there is limited literature on civic engagement and leadership strategies within TNB communities, there are countless personal stories from organizers and workers on the ground. This chapter summarizes the limited research and highlights the best practices used by activists and workers across the United States at mezzo and macro levels.