May 6th this year is the 92nd anniversary of the Nazi raid on the world's first gender and sexuality clinic. It’s been three years since I wrote my first article for QueerAF about the raid - which was the genesis of Trans+ History Week.
Its second iteration is just around the corner. From 5–11 May, we’ll learn about and celebrate the momentous and millennia-old history of transgender, non-binary, gender-diverse and intersex people.
It’s fitting that this is the week we will be remembered.
I can’t wait for you to dive into the incredible stories we commissioned. Over 450 people responded to our open call: an increase of 350% from last year.
We've invested in 28 Trans+ creatives this year: six audio producers, seven writers, seven illustrators and eight comedians. We’ve produced features, a podcast series of mini-documentaries, and organised a comedy night fundraiser.
I’m proud that our creative talent pool is so diverse, because the stories are much richer for it. Meanwhile, on Trans+ History Day – 6th May – we’ll host a community event in London with special guest Abigail Thorn, star of Game of Thrones spin-off House of the Dragon and host/creator of Philosophy Tube. She’ll be interviewed by Anthony Lexa, star of Sex Education, for the QueerAF podcast.
This will be a much-needed night of community and solidarity when we really need one.
Our wisdom is a well we must draw from
So, why are we doing all of this?
The interesting thing is that the answer to this question has changed a lot since we started. This project began its life as a way of leading with the truth that we’ve always been here - and shutting down the lie that we’re a modern creation.
At first, the idea was that simply geeking out over Trans+ history could be a powerful way of fighting hate.
But Trans+ History Week has become so much more than that. It’s now also nurturing wellbeing among the Trans+ community itself.
Learning about my community’s history made me feel I belong in the here and now. Our volunteers feel that - and after the success of last year’s content, I know so many of you do too. It’s how we come together in solidarity and how we thrive.
The last year has been brutal for our community. Attacks have increased. Bigots have been emboldened around the world. The UK Supreme Court ruling will only intensify that. I’ve seen this first hand after one of my social media posts was spun into a tabloid story – just because I had a wee in a Parliamentary toilet.
But that’s why I spend so much time looking to our past for hope. We’ve faced down moments like this before and we will again. We’ve risen to the occasion, cried, danced, and defied. Together then and together now.
We’re facing segregation with a smile from the supposed party of equality and the so called equalities watchdog. We will not comply.
Draw strength from our stories
Our commissioned features and podcast series this year will amplify histories and lessons from around the world. We’ll shine the spotlight on figures and communities from the UK to the US, from South Africa to Italy. From the political landscape in Japan through to the trans woman who made mobile phones possible and to the history of gender diversity in Shakespeare's work. All delivered by passionate and talented Trans+ creatives, and sent direct to you in the QueerAF newsletter, skipping any algorithms that filter queer content.
Meanwhile, from next week you’ll see Trans+ history all around the UK with another UK-wide awareness campaign. We’ll see our stories take up space through digital billboards and in ad inventory in print media, so keep an eye out and take photos!
We’d love to hear your reflections on all the stories we’ll publish. And I’m sure all our creatives will too. Share their work far and wide. Let’s make this year’s Trans+ History Week one to remember.
So much of the rhetoric that surrounds the all-out attack, amid a culture war on Trans+ rights and LGBTQIA+ identities, is based on misinformation.
We've always been here and we’re not going anywhere.
This week is for the Trans+ creative talent – 28 creators in total – who have been paid, mentored and kitted with equipment. It's for you, too, to take power from the enduring resilience of our identities.
Let’s remind politicians this week: we belong here too.
Something I know QueerAF readers ask for all the time is for ways they can take action after hearing the news.
One ask Trans+ History Week is making this week is to contact your MP to advocate for our rights and make more space in the halls of power for our voices. Trans+ History Week supporter, Kate Osborne MP, laid an Early Day Motion in UK Parliament on Wednesday 30th April 2025 in recognition of our week. Asking your MP by email and social media to put their name to the motion is one easy action you can take today.
Let’s write ourselves a better future, by using lessons from our past.
We’ve always been here, and always will be.
Support Trans+ creatives
So much of the rhetoric that surrounds the all-out attack, amid a culture war on Trans+ rights and LGBTQIA+ identities, is based on misinformation that claim we're somehow a modern thing.
When we surface and help people understand that we've always been here, that lie is countered in a powerful way, with stories of love, endurance and power.
The week is designed to play a part in the fight back against anti-trans narratives - but it's not for them.
It's for us, to celebrate our history, to be moved by it, to learn lessons. It's for the Trans+ creative talent - 28 creatives in total - who have been paid, mentored and provided with equipment. It's for you, to take power from the enduring resilience of our identities.
We've run this initiative, our first-ever launchpad project, as an investment in the community and its beautiful creative talent. And we don't want it to be our last project of this kind.
So this week, as we invest in the community, we're asking for your investment in us. Sign up as a QueerAF member to help us support Trans+ creatives tell our stories all year round:
