From Me To You: In conversation with Transgiving UK

The festive season can be hard for a lot of people, but especially the LGBTQ+ community. Many don’t feel safe with their families, or can no longer celebrate with them. According to the LGBT Youth Commission on Housing and Homelessness, 77% of homeless LGBTQ+ youth in the UK stated that their identity was a causal factor in them becoming homeless. We are nearing the time of year when chosen family – people not biologically related to you that you choose to build a community with – are even more important than usual.

I spoke to Tash and Seren, some members of my chosen family, about their project Transgiving. Now in its second year, their project sends care packages to trans and non-binary people over the festive period. Although both are based in Cardiff, the project’s scope is wide, sending packages across the UK, with recipients including single parents, refugees, and people in precarious living situations.

I asked Seren and Tash how Transgiving first came about. “We were chatting about community and mutual aid support, and wanted a way to give back,” says Tash “We could have given back monetary amounts, but we decided that art is something people don’t see as a necessity. Art shouldn’t be seen as a luxury. Getting a gift at Christmas shouldn’t be a luxury.” A gift turns love into something tangible, something solid; being able to share that is so powerful. “So many trans people are creative, but they can’t afford art, so we decided to start Transgiving and send out parcels that are personalised and contain art from other members of the community.”  

Tash notes how much trans people’s lives are geared towards survival, leaving little fiscal and emotional space for pleasure. “I remember when I was saving up for my surgery, I forgot how to spend money on myself,” Tash says. “A lot of people feel like they are going to die without medical care; everything becomes about survival. Transgiving is about bringing joy and community to people so they can have that thing to live for. It shows that people are creating and making beautiful work out of being trans.” This changes the conversation surrounding trans identities and moves it into a more positive space; instead of focusing solely on hardships the community face daily, Transgiving has created a space for trans joy.

This year Seren and Tash have also set up a grant, awarded on a sliding scale, to pay contributors. For both, it’s key that Transgiving engages with trans and non-binary creators. “Transgiving stemmed from our own experiences of mutual aid from the community, and we’ve taken a lot of inspiration from trans mutual aid groups. There’s something about that T4T solidarity that we really wanted to focus on,” says Seren. “It’s about celebrating trans creativity, in a time where trans people rarely receive that celebration.” 

That lack of trans celebration isn’t just seasonal; the climate for trans and non-binary people in the UK is seemingly getting steadily worse, not better, with Rishi Sunak making one of his first acts as Prime Minister an attempt to remove legal protections for trans people from the Equality Act (2010). Last year Transgiving sent out 120 packages to trans and non-binary people across the UK. These are filled with art  – postcards, stickers, notebooks – as well as hot chocolate, sweets, and a handwritten card.

Seren explains how the demand for packages has more than doubled since last year, with almost 250 sign-ups. “It has been harder to get donations, perhaps because of the cost of living crisis, and there’s more demand than there are allies donating. The spaces have filled up incredibly quickly without much promotion, because peoples’ needs are so great.” The cost of living crisis has disproportionately affected marginalised groups and allyship, especially financial, is plateauing as everyone is currently struggling to make ends meet. 

What can allies do to really support trans people this winter? “Fund a Transgiving parcel!” Tash exclaims. “And, if you have the ability, give money to charities, or take part in mutual aid.” But support doesn’t have to be solely monetary based. “If you have a trans person in your life, protect them – we all know that Christmas is the ideal time for arguments to begin at the dinner table. That just doesn’t go for transphobia that’s easy to identify, but also the presenting of trans issues as a debate. So you can protect trans people not just by getting their names and pronouns right, but really being there and supporting them.” 

“If you’re an ally and you know a trans person who isn’t going to be able to go home for Christmas, invite them over,” says Seren. “Make that space for them. That’s the fantastic thing about being trans – finding community in so many different spaces.” 

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For more information about Transgiving UK and how to get involved, follow their Instagram @transgivinguk