ABSTRACT
Transgender and nonbinary (TNB) youth often encounter a number of barriers to their wellbeing. In the face of these barriers, TNB youth use their personal agency to engage in relationships and opportunities that support their resilience. Research suggests that youth often know what they need to live authentically and should be empowered to make choices and actively determine their paths to adulthood. Empowerment is a concept often used to inform service and intervention development intended to increase wellbeing among youth. Definitions of empowerment vary widely. Building on a definition rooted in the teachings of Friere (2000) and Gutierrez (1990), empowerment can be used broadly to understand the ways in which service providers, organizations, and broader systems can recognize, nurture, and support empowerment among TNB youth. This chapter describes empowerment-based principles for engaging TNB youth in decision-making and organizational structures, ensuring their voices are centered in the design and delivery of services intended to meet their needs.
