FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2026
CONTACT:
Sara Mar, Senior Media Relations Manager, [email protected]
K Richardson, Communications Manager, [email protected]
Transgender Law Center Hosts Largest Convening of Trans Leaders
NATIONAL – Today, Transgender Law Center (TLC) celebrates the conclusion of a historic event—the first and largest conference focused on strengthening trans leadership and the trans rights movement. Hosted in Minneapolis from May 18-21, the Building Trans Power conference brought together over 500 trans leaders and allies from across the country for three days of strategic organizing, leadership development, and cross-movement alignment.
“Never before has a convening like this happened at this scale,” noted Shelby Chestnut (they/he), Executive Director of Transgender Law Center. “During a time of escalating attacks on our community, we knew this was the moment to reassert our power as trans people and build the infrastructure we need to resist authoritarianism and sustain ourselves. I know the future we deserve is possible because of the brilliance and courage of every person who attended our convening.”
The Building Trans Power conference showcased over 30 trans-led sessions that covered a range of topics, including prison advocacy, global trans organizing, disability justice, and narrative change. The conference—emceed by Mariah Moore, Miss Lawrence, and Devin Norelle—highlighted expertise from Black trans leaders in the South and Midwest, Indigenous and Two-Spirit organizers, and trans youth leaders. Several internationally recognized speakers also made appearances at the conference, including Laverne Cox, TS Madison, Raquel Willis, and Zaya Wade.
“It’s invigorating, truly, to be in a space with so many intellectual and powerful people,” said Zaya Wade (she/her). “I wouldn’t have been so comfortable, and vulnerable, and brave to come out without all of the work and visibility that I’ve seen come before me. Visibility itself is so important. And to be able to have that for a community such as this—one that’s been so often marginalized—there’s really no way to describe it.”
Local Minnesota partners played a prominent role at the conference, with plenaries led by OutFront Minnesota, Our Space, and Gender Justice, who highlighted the ways trans leaders have been at the forefront of movement work across issue areas.
“Minnesota has been so deeply proud to be host to this gathering of luminaries and leaders from so many facets of our movement,” said Kat Rohn (they/she), Executive Director of OutFront Minnesota. “In these challenging times, few things are more important than the power of connection and community. I’m grateful to have had this space together and to know so many who will be making change for the better.”
Current and former Minnesota elected leaders, such as Representative Leigh Finke, former President of the Minneapolis City Council Andrea Jenkins, and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, also joined the conference programming.
“So many trans people poured into me and gave me the opportunity to be standing here in front of you today,” said Andrea Jenkins (she/her). “I am just so thrilled to see so many young people stepping up into leadership and stepping into the frontlines of this work that we’re doing here to build trans power. It’s a beautiful sight to see.”
Transgender Law Center is carrying the momentum of this conference forward by investing in emerging trans leaders, supporting local and state organizing, and expanding our own body of work. This includes TLC’s upcoming launch of a new campaign supporting fair, free, and inclusive public education for all; the distribution of the first-ever needs assessment of HIV+ trans masculine people; and adding a sixth pillar to our Trans Agenda for Liberation.
“This convening will be remembered as something incredibly historic,” said Mariah Moore (she/her), Director of Policy and Programs of Transgender Law Center. “We will look back on this as a moment that catalyzed our movement and cultivated the trans leadership that will bring us into a better future. I’m leaving inspired and hopeful that our liberation can be realized in this lifetime.”
An electronic press kit for the conference can be found here, including photo assets, an event timeline, and key quotes and testimonials.
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