The more relationships we build, the stronger we are.

Every year, LavNix embarks on a paid intensive summer fellowship to develop the next generation of transgender and queer Asian and Pacific Islander social justice organizers. At LavNix, we know trans and queer APIs are targets of interpersonal abuse, state violence, and systemic oppression. These forces have only escalated in recent years. Developing leaders in our own trans, non-binary, and queer API communities is critical to win true community safety, practice healing justice, and support larger movements for liberation. If you are a young trans and queer API organizer hoping to build your skills and strengthen your values, this is the program for you!

Getting the acceptance email into the Summer Organizer Program in the early Spring of 2024 was like a dream come true. I remember the excitement, it being the second time I applied, but I also remember the feelings of anxiety and insecurity creep up inside. I still felt so new to organizing work. What if I wasn’t perfect? Would I be able to meet everyone’s expectations?

This anxiety followed me into the program, like the devil on my shoulder telling me that I wasn’t enough and had to keep working harder to make up for any lapses I might have. I remember the first meeting I had with my supervisor, Shivani, and presenting the beginning stages of the archival work I had done for our updated timeline. When Shivani provided feedback, they told me that I had done more than what was expected of that particular task. This was one of many moments where my insecurities and my impostor syndrome took over, telling me that if I didn’t try hard enough, I would not belong. In this moment, Shivani met me with kindness and taught me that I am enough just as I am. They affirmed that I had all the tools to be part of the movement and that I shouldn’t be afraid to take up space.  I realized that I wasn’t doing the work by myself, I had a community. 

Over time the anxiety lessened. One of my core memories from the summer of 2024 was our Fun Day. I drove over two hours to the North Bay Area to see everyone in person for the first time because I was working remotely in Sacramento. I hadn’t been able to make it out to Trans March so this was one of my last opportunities to see everyone together. Here, we shared treats, belly laughed about Dungeons and Dragons, talked about Dune, and even had tarot readings. In this moment, we were relishing in queer and trans joy whilst also keeping each other safe by masking during the ongoing pandemic. 

In a time of anti-trans legislation and censorship, I look to that day with hope knowing that there are spaces where QTAPI can find safety and belonging, even in the darkest moments. It also made me realize that movement building can also be in the little moments where we get to know each other, keep each other safe in an ongoing pandemic, and build connections that stem across land gaps. 

The more relationships we build, the stronger we are — we can reach a larger area! I see the work in the Bay and I feel more inspired to do the work in SAC. LavNix’s movement lessons & emphasis on relationship building have helped me feel more empowered to ask for help, to advocate for myself and for my needs, but also to develop stronger bonds with my community. We’re connected, we’re comrades! Being able to build these relationships is so important because not only does it help us create a larger movement, it helps us reach folks who need a safe space & need that call to action in areas where they might not have these resources. Now, more than ever, I feel equipped and empowered to organize locally so we can bridge this land gap and create a larger collective movement together.

In these scary times, I implore you to muster up the courage to be a beacon for our community and join Lavender Phoenix. Apply to the Summer Organizer Program by  2/24 and help us create a larger, more sustainable movement!