5X5 DOCKET
Trans Rights and Defense
Summer 2025
Supporting the Movement at a Critical Moment
Trans Rights and Defense
Supporting the Movement at a Critical Moment
Transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex (TGI) communities face unprecedented challenges today, from systemic discrimination and economic inequities to threats against healthcare access and safety. As of 2025, over 2.8 million people (age 13+) in the U.S. identify as transgender, with approximately 724,000 youth aged 13-17 representing about 25% of the total trans population. While trans individuals number 1.0% of the U.S. population, they are disproportionately targeted by legislators, with more than 900 anti-trans bills proposed across 49 states in 2025, and 121 passed in 28 states, denying access to healthcare, education, sports, and public facilities.
We know that BIPOC, immigrant, and low-income trans individuals experience the effects of this legislation disproportionately, while youth and survivors of trauma are particularly vulnerable facing increased barriers to care, education, and safety. These legislative actions, coupled with federal rollbacks in data collection and civil protections, have created an increasingly hostile environment for TGI youth and adults alike.
This curated docket highlights five high-impact organizations that are trans-led or deeply embedded in trans and gender-diverse communities. Each organization works at a unique intersection: healing justice, self-led advocacy, economic justice, racial justice, and community needs. Each ensures donation to systemic change, direct services, leadership development, or social impact efforts. Investing in these organizations contributes immediate, tangible impact on the lives of trans and gender-diverse people, the fight against hate, and strengthens infrastructure for long-term trans justice, resilience, rights, and defense.
TransLatin@ Coalition | Bamby Salcedo (she/her/ella)
TransLatin@ Coalition advocates for the needs of trans Latin@s, particularly immigrants in LA County and surrounding areas, through programs in workforce development, violence prevention, legal aid, and health and wellness via their Center for Violence Prevention & Transgender Wellness, established by a hard-won state legislative bill and budget allocation. This work provides safety nets and leadership development, with results that affect the greater TGI community. Recent accomplishments include: presenting the “From Surviving to Thriving” quality-of-life report at LA City Hall; adding 6+ new staff positions; expanding to a second location in El Monte; partnering with Angel City to receive 10% of Pride proceeds; and raising $286.7K through their GARRAS annual fashion show fundraiser. TLC engages local and state leaders to advance and advocate for trans rights and influence policy priorities across California.
Trans Can Work (TCW) | Martha P. Gomez (she/they)
Based in Los Angeles, Trans Can Work (TCW) works to create a culture where gender diverse people can thrive in the workplace. According to McKinsey, transgender adults are twice as likely as cisgender adults to be unemployed. TCW is working to close that gap in California with two programs: 1) Amity Foundation Work Re-Entry Program for residents of L.A. County, designed to support formerly incarcerated, justice-impacted, or former foster youth who are TGI to take the next steps in securing full employment, and 2) State of California Career Services Program, designed to support transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex (TGI) people over the age of 18 in entering or reentering the job market open to residents across the state. There is significant demand, resulting in wait lists for each program.
Mirror Memoirs | Jaden Fields (he/him) & Amita Swadhin (they/them)
Mirror Memoirs is a survivor-led, abolitionist storytelling and organizing project amplifying the voices, healing, and leadership of Black, Native, and queer, trans, nonbinary, and intersex child sexual abuse survivors. Led by an all-queer, trans, intersex, and BIPOC board, it has engaged over 700 survivors and 2,500 accomplices through healing circles, political education, advocacy, mutual aid, storytelling, and microgrants via its Member Support Fund. Current programs include Black F.L.I.G.H.T (Forging Liberation, Imagining Generative Healing & Transformation), a nine-month cohort for Black queer and trans survivors. Mirror Memoirs will release an audio archive with 73 survivor stories across 16 states and public a national report on child abuse and abolition in October 2026, celebrating its 10th anniversary with a convening of 100-200 movement leaders reflecting on a decade of survivor-led organizing.
Camp Mulberry | Lorenzo Diaz (he/him)
Camp Mulberry is a free, week-long summer camp run by the Laurel Foundation designed exclusively for transgender and gender-diverse youth (ages 6-17). Primarily staffed by trans adults and held in the San Bernardino National Forest, the camp offers a safe and affirming environment where TGI youth can fully be themselves. The annual program combines traditional outdoor activities (i.e., hiking, swimming, arts) with activities that fosters self-advocacy, identity exploration, and personal growth. Donor support helps ensure that vulnerable trans youth experience connection, empowerment, safety, and joy in a nurturing, judgment-free community.
Transgender Law Center (TLC) | Shelby Chestnut (they/he)
Based in Oakland and founded in 2002, the Transgender Law Center is now the largest national, trans-specific, trans-led organization advocating for the rights of transgender and gendernonconforming individuals. In 2024, TLC launched the $1M Action for Transformation Fund to support trans-led organizing and power-building efforts. Other programs include: Positively Trans (T+), which addresses inequities faced by trans people living with HIV; the Legal Services Project; Black Trans Circles Project; Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project; and Disability Project among others. TLC has a history of impactful litigation such as the landmark Macy v. Holder case in 2012 in which the Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission held that discrimination against transgender employees is covered by the federal sex discrimination law, Title VII. In March 2025, TLC joined the ACLU to file Kingdom vs Trump in a US District Court challenging an Executive Order and resulting Bureau of Prisons policies prohibiting access to gender-affirming care for the more than 2000 transgender people in federal prisons.
NOTE: Also, see the Alexis Project for supporting gender-affirming care for the TGI community in LA.