Session: Empowering Existence: Transcendence through Activism, Advocacy, and Community Care in an LGBTQ+ Resistant Era (Society for Social Work and Research 29th Annual Conference)

The persistence and resilience of the movement for LGBTQ+ justice and in particular, transgender and gender diverse (TGD) justice, are central to the ongoing struggle against an increasingly organized anti-LGBTQ+ countermovement. This proposed symposium brings together four compelling papers that collectively explore the motivators, challenges, and triumphs of activism within this community. Through mixed-method approaches, these papers illuminate the experiences and driving forces behind LGBTQ+ activism and policy action.

The first paper delves into what motivates individuals to participate in TGD activism and policy action. The explanatory sequential study used a mixed-method design involving a cross-sectional survey and focus groups to identify key factors that contribute to activism and policy, such as community connectedness, political salience, and social movement organization involvement. Thematic analysis revealed several motivators, from the tangible impact of gender on safety and access, to the pitfalls of performative allyship and strategies for overcoming barriers to policy action.

The second paper, extending the examination of participation and motivations in the context of social movement organizations (SMOs) working toward trans justice. The cross-sectional survey highlighted the importance of psycho-social motivators like political efficacy and community connectedness, while also revealing surprising findings regarding demographic predictors of SMO involvement. This study offers strategic insights into recruiting and retaining activists within advocacy organizations working towards TGD justice.

The third paper, focuses on LGBTQ+ youth activists. Utilizing data from Q Chat Space chat transcripts, this research uncovers the myriad ways these young activists navigate barriers to activism, the impact on their wellbeing, and the various avenues they pursue to enact social change. The paper underscores the importance of safe and supportive spaces for minority youth activism, offering guidance for social workers to assist in bolstering the wellbeing and efforts of LGBTQ+ youth activists.

Finally, the fourth paper, examines the role of social work education in fostering allyship and activism for TGD individuals. The national study of social work students identifies key curriculum elements and contextual factors that encourage ally behavior and various forms of activism, from conventional to high-risk. Recommendations are provided to schools of social work for incorporating educational experiences that better prepare students to engage in activism and allyship with the TNB community.

Together, these papers contribute to an understanding of the complexities and resilience involved in LGBTQ+ activism. They address the heterogeneity within the movement, dissecting the distinct experiences of individuals based on gender, sexuality, and political ideology. Furthermore, they build on the notion that education, both formal and through alternative platforms, can be instrumental in fostering activism, policy action, and supporting a movement often under legislative and societal siege. The symposium will stimulate discussion around how to enhance LGBTQ+ justice initiatives, mitigate risk, and leverage motivators to reinvigorate the LGBTQ+ movement's momentum.