The nonprofit industrial complex and trans resistance

Abstract

Trans politics are gaining visibility and momentum and, increasingly, trans activists are forming projects and organizations focused on promoting political change. Given this context, this article examines how critiques of the nonprofit industrial complex might be incorporated into trans political analysis and how they could inform this moment of trans political institutionalization. Taking tools and lessons from antiracist and feminist scholars and activists and recognizing widespread critique of the co-optation of the lesbian and gay rights movement by neoliberalism, this article highlights alternatives to traditional nonprofit structures. The authors provide an in-depth look at 1 trans organization that employs a collective governance model and encourages the leadership of trans people of color, offering it as a potential model for emerging trans organizations.

A Defining Moment in Civil Rights History? The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Trans-Inclusion, and Homonormativity

“…Trans-inclusion in ENDA challenges the gender normativity of the LG(BT) movement, which excludes trans and gender nonconforming people and silences their voices. Unfortunately, discussion over how trans-exclusion and homonormative strategies also silence the voices and ignore the needs of other marginalized queer people, particularly LGBTQ people of color and lowincome LGBTQ people, has not been a significant part of the ENDA controversy (see Cohen 1997;Valentine 2007;Agathangelou et al 2008;Currah 2008a;Mananzala and Spade 2008). There also has not been discussion about which trans people will remain excluded from the benefits of a trans-inclusive bill and from a more trans-inclusive LG (BT) movement, such as trans and gender nonconforming people of color and low-income people, because of their lack of racial and economic privileges.…”

“…In addition, there have been important critiques of antidiscrimination laws that point out, for example, that they have been ineffective in eradicating discrimination, that most people do not have access to the legal resources to enforce these laws, and that they represent an investment in formal equality which ignores the situation of those who are most marginalized (Mananzala and Spade 2008). Matt Richardson (in Currah 2008a) points out that equal protection laws do not produce the same benefits for everyone because many people "are not recognized by the state as full citizens no matter what [their] passports say and whether or not [they] were born in the United States" (p. 100).…”

“…Despite this nominal progress, there has never been consensus among LGB people, or even trans people, that trans people belong in the gay and lesbian community. Furthermore, while nearly all organizations have made these semantic changes to their names and mission statements, few resources have been allocated to "trans issues" and trans people remain extremely underrepresented in their staffs (Mananzala and Spade 2008).…”

Shifting Ground, Solid Foundations: Imagining a New Paradigm for Canadian Civil Society Engagement

“…It was founded by a white, trans law graduate with foundation money and was housed in a traditional legal clinic, but over the years it has made deliberate efforts: to ensure that it is led predominantly by trans, intersex, and gender non-conforming people of colour; reject hierarchical modes of organization; and reduce dependence on the nonprofit industrial complex by engaging in serious grassroots fundraising. 166 Three years after its founding, the organization was able to raise 30% of its budget from individuals and families, through a combination of methods: the collecting of a database of thousands of collaborating social and medical service providers, lawyers, activists, and students; publishing a simple, bi-annual newsletter; conducting a direct mail appeal urging action on a time-sensitive case; and throwing fundraising and networking house parties for potential donors. 167 Importantly, the organization shares information and strategies with allied groups when it does seek funding from traditional donors and even declining to compete for grants when there may be a more appropriate group that should receive it.…”

Sex, sexuality and sexual practice for trans individuals and their romantic partners.

“…This research approach to understanding of trans sexuality occurred contemporary to the emergence of the trans rights movement in the 1990s. This political movement for visibility and rights of trans individuals was spurred on by the political gains of the wider LGBT movement (Mananzala & Spade, 2008 (Denny, 2004;Meyerowitz, 2004 This conceptualization of trans individuals moved beyond the imposed gender binary and embraced gender diversity for both the individual and the trans community (Boswell, 1991). Denny (2004) noted that the transgender model acknowledged the risks and challenges faced by the trans community.…”