About
Transanta is a mutual aid project that connects anonymous gift-givers with trans youth who are unhoused, in foster care, or otherwise without crucial support they need to thrive.
Transanta exists to show trans youth that they are loved and supported, and that they have a family of people around the world who care for them, believe in them, and want them to succeed.
Research shows that trans youth with supportive families have a 52% decrease in suicidal thoughts—Transanta aims to broaden our understanding of family and structural support so that our entire community can experience affirmation and love even when those close to them may hurt or fail them.
Ultimately, our capacity for love, care, and connection can disrupt some of the structural limits on our survival opportunities and create more space for people to thrive and continue rich trans legacies of social and political transformation.
Transanta is a trans-led project running out of Allies in Arts, a 501(c)3 non-profit.
Founded in 2020 by Indya Moore, Kyle Lasky, and Chase Strangio, Transanta was born of a desire to center trans care, joy and giving at a time of escalating violence and attacks on the trans community.
How does it work?
Trans youth write letters to Transanta and send in their gift registries during our open application period;
We share those letters on Instagram and our website, linking them to their corresponding gift registries;
Transantas all over the world use those registries to buy gifts, which are sent directly and safely to the recipients without any personal information being shared!
Who can be a Transanta?
Anyone with the means to buy a gift, leave a loving and supportive comment, or donate directly to Transanta to support the future of our project!
Transanta is not about Christmas. It's about a season of giving, shining a healing light on the most vulnerable in our communities. Santas are from all spiritual and religious backgrounds, from countries all over the world—they're queer, straight, cis, trans—they're parents, friends, teachers, neighbors—we all have a profound capacity for love and we call can be santas!
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Right now, young trans people are under attack across the country and around the world. The latest wave of legislative attacks on trans life in the United States has effectively constrained access to school, health care, safe housing, and future life chances for young trans people. These latest attacks are compounding the already precarious life conditions for trans youth, particularly Black and Brown youth who face the discrimination and violence of multiple systems of oppression.
Among the many devastating costs of these conditions are the ways that trans young people feel left behind, uncared for, and scared for their futures. We want to show trans young people that they are loved, supported, and have chosen family around the world who care about them and want them to succeed. By investing in trans care, you are investing in trans survival.
Anyone can be a Santa, join us! Transness is so beautiful and we are celebrating our magic!
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We really don’t know how many trans youth there are in the United States and around the world because there are so many barriers to safely coming out. But even based on U.S. Census data, almost 2% of high school students identify as transgender. This means there are at least 1.3 million+ trans youth under 17.
We want a future where we can continue expand the sense of safety that trans youth will feel earlier in life so they don’t have to stay in hiding.
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In 2023, over 500 bills were introduced targeting LGBTQ+ communities and the majority of those targeted trans youth. Over the last three years, state legislatures have ramped up their attacks on trans youth and now 21 states ban the only evidence-based medical treatment for gender dysphoria in adolescence, 20 states ban trans girls from girls’ sports, and an increasingly number of states are banning trans youth from the restroom at school.
The situation is dire and we expect it to get worse in 2024 as the presidential election looms and the balance of power in Congress hangs in the balance.
Ultimately, this isn’t just about trans people as far right politicians are using trans people to turn out a voting base that not only seeks to undermine the rights of trans people but is invested in undermining the rights of immigrants, in restricting access to the vote, and constraining bodily autonomy for everyone.
And of course for the trans young people at the center of these attacks, the policy, legal and cultural landscapes that legitimize debates over their lives and bodies have negative effects on their mental health.
41% of trans people have attempted suicide at some point in our lives — often because of the systemic discrimination we face.
Research how’s that trans youth with supportive families have a 52% decrease in recent suicidal thoughts. (Source: Movement ADV. Project)
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You can do so many things! You can donate now to help fund our work year round, and you can use your voice and your personal platforms to take action.
Contact your state representatives and senators and tell them to oppose any anti-trans legislation. You can look up your state reps on this site.
Contact your US Senator and tell them to oppose the anti-trans bills that have been introduced by far right members of Congress.
Educate people in your life. This one is huge. Educate your friends, your family, your peers, your community, about the many attacks on trans youth — and encourage them to get involved! It takes all of us to make the change we need.
For partnership, collaboration, or press inquiries, please contact kyle@transanta.com.
Wishes come true for trans youth thanks to Transanta donors’ goodwill
The Gaurdian, 2023
The holidays can be tough for transgender youth. Transanta wants to help.
The Lily / Washington Post, 2021
“I was able to get some necessity items i couldn’t afford. no one was able or willing to help me with those things except the people who donate to Transanta. and that gives me hope for myself and my future, just knowing there’s always help somewhere.”