Trans Empowerment Month began in 2015 as a one-day workshop for trans youth, Keith explained, to celebrate young trans people and to give them an opportunity to be in community with one another. During the pandemic, the programming switched to a month-long conference-style format to meet the need for a virtual setting.

“We started out local, Southeast Michigan, and then once we went virtual, we were tracking this national and then international audience, so that’s the plus side of being virtual,” Keith explained. “There’s the recognition that people don’t always live in places where they have access to local resources. There might not be a community center. There might not be a support group they can attend.”

Aidel Hawkins, the program manager for Stand with Trans, noted 2026 programming will include speakers from Berlin and Abu Dhabi, and the programs are drawing participants from an international audience, including Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Germany, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and Thailand.