From a heartfelt tribute to mothers at Southern Trans Celebration to a documentary highlighting the work of My Sistah’s House, Memphis organizations are creating opportunities for transgender people to be seen, supported, and celebrated.
Transgender Awareness Week, observed November 13–19, is an opportunity to recognize the lives, experiences, and contributions of transgender people. In Memphis, local organizations are helping tell those stories through film, community gatherings, family celebrations, and advocacy.
While conversations about transgender lives often center on political challenges and discrimination, there’s another story worth telling: one of joy, creativity, family, friendship, and community.
Across the Mid-South, transgender leaders and their supporters are creating spaces where people can celebrate their identities, find meaningful connections, and build a stronger future together.
Southern Trans Celebration Honors the Mothers Behind the Movement
One of the most touching moments from Southern Trans Celebration wasn’t a performance or a speech. It was a tribute to the mothers who helped shape the lives of the celebration’s founders.
During the gathering, the founders invited their mothers onstage to recognize the love, encouragement, and support they had provided throughout their journeys.
Each mother received a crown adorned with flowers, a tribute inspired by the late transgender activist Marsha P. Johnson, whose signature floral headpieces became an enduring symbol of her legacy.
The gesture celebrated something deeply meaningful: the importance of family acceptance and the people who stand beside us as we discover and embrace who we are.
For LGBTQ+ people, family can include relatives, chosen family, friends, mentors, and others who offer love and support. The celebration provided a moment to recognize those relationships and the joy they bring.
Southern Trans Celebration was founded by Jasmine Tasaki, Kayla Gore, and Tamesha Prewitt, bringing together community organizations including WeCareTN, My Sistah’s House, and OUTMemphis.
The organizers are already looking ahead to another Southern Trans Celebration in September 2027.
My Sistah’s House Brings Transgender Stories to the Screen
Another example of transgender storytelling in Memphis comes from My Sistah’s House, a grassroots, transgender-led organization serving transgender and nonbinary people of color.
Its short documentary, Sistahood: A Story of Strength, brings attention to the organization’s work addressing housing insecurity and other barriers facing members of the transgender community.
The eight-minute film was scheduled to screen at the Indie Memphis Film Festival on Sunday, November 8, at Malco Powerhouse.
The film highlights the importance of stable housing and community support while providing a platform for people whose experiences are often overlooked.
But Sistahood is also a story about possibility. Through the work of My Sistah’s House, the documentary introduces audiences to the people behind efforts to create housing opportunities and greater stability for transgender Memphians.
The film features Michelle Anderson and Lacretia Springer, with Kayla Gore serving as executive producer and Jessica Chaney directing.
The documentary is also available online, giving viewers an opportunity to learn about the organization’s work beyond the festival screening.
Watch the film: https://www.mshmemphis.org/sistahood
Transgender Community Organizations in Memphis Create Space for Connection
Transgender Awareness Week also offers an opportunity to recognize the organizations providing year-round support and opportunities for connection.
My Sistah’s House, WeCareTN, and OUTMemphis each contribute to the local LGBTQ+ community through programs, advocacy, and services.
WeCareTN focuses on health equity, advocacy, community programming, and resources for transgender people, including transgender women of color.
My Sistah’s House works to address housing instability and provide support to transgender and nonbinary people of color.
Together with OUTMemphis, these organizations have helped support Southern Trans Celebration and other opportunities for community engagement.
My Sistah’s House has also shared plans for a community organizing meeting focused on the Ward v. Tennessee ruling involving Paris Lee. The planned gathering would provide an opportunity for discussion and collective organizing around the rights and safety of transgender Tennesseans.
Read the story about Paris Lee republished here.
These efforts reflect the many ways community organizations can bring people together, whether through celebration, education, service, or advocacy.
Why Trans Joy Matters During Transgender Awareness Week
Trans joy can take many forms.
It can be the pride of seeing a family member celebrated onstage. It can be the excitement of watching a community story reach a film festival audience. It can be a gathering where people make new friends, share experiences, or simply enjoy being themselves.
For transgender people navigating challenges related to housing, healthcare, discrimination, or personal safety, opportunities for connection and affirmation can be especially meaningful.
Celebrating joy does not mean ignoring those challenges. It means recognizing that transgender lives are defined by far more than the barriers people face.
The people leading these efforts in Memphis are artists, organizers, advocates, family members, friends, and neighbors. Their work demonstrates that community care can include both meeting urgent needs and creating opportunities to celebrate life.
Supporting Transgender Organizations in Memphis Beyond Awareness Week
Transgender Awareness Week provides a moment to recognize the community, but the work of building supportive environments continues throughout the year.
Readers interested in learning more, volunteering, attending events, or supporting local programs can connect with these organizations:
- My Sistah’s House: https://www.mshmemphis.org
- WeCareTN: https://www.wecaretn.org
- OUTMemphis: https://www.outmemphis.org
From honoring the mothers who helped raise community leaders to sharing transgender stories through film, Memphis continues to offer examples of what it looks like when people come together in celebration and support.
Transgender Awareness Week is a reminder that visibility matters, community matters, and transgender joy deserves to be celebrated every day.
