Government officials think if they ban trans stories, trans people will will go up in smoke too. We say: when the establishment betrays us, we build something they can’t burn down.
In a moment when our government and institutions are making every effort to systematically silence trans youth, we're responding with the launch of Gender Riot Press – a nonprofit literary collective dedicated to amplifying the voices of transgender and gender-creative young people through publication, community, and creative resistance.
Why Now? Because Silence Is Not an Option
Since 2021, a coordinated censorship campaign has swept across the states, targeting LGBTQ+ books, inclusive education, and youth access to affirming spaces. In the 2023–2024 school year alone, PEN America recorded 10,046 instances of book bans—the highest ever. These bans are disproportionately focused on stories about LGBTQ+ people, Black, Indigenous, and people of color, and young people navigating mental health, gender, grief, and survival.
This has massive effects on mental health, with 46% of trans youth considering suicide and 90% of LGBTQ+ youth reporting their wellbeing has been harmed by our hostile political climate (Trevor Project, 2024).
An estimated 300,000+ youth ages 13–17 are growing up in a country actively trying to eradicate them. Behind those numbers are real voices, real stories, and real creative sparks being snuffed out.
We refuse to let that happen.
Breaking Isolation Through Creative Community
Gender Riot Press is creating counter-spaces through:
- Writing craft and anti-censorship advocacy workshops
- Editorial mentorship and publication experience
- Community reading events
- A digital forum for trans youth to connect, create, and collaborate
Trans youth will not be erased. They will find each other, make art together, and build the world they deserve – with or without institutional support.
Introducing BACK/TALK: Our Flagship Literary Magazine
At the heart of Gender Riot Press is BACK/TALK, our literary magazine created specifically by and for trans and gender-creative young people. BACK/TALK isn't just a publication – it’s a direct response to the campaign to silence trans youth.
The name says it all: when young people are told not to “talk back,” we publish a magazine that does exactly that. Featuring:
- Original creative writing across genres
- Visual art and photography
- Interviews conducted by trans youth
- Community spotlights and resources
BACK/TALK flips the script on what it means to speak out. “Talking back” isn’t disrespect—it’s survival. It’s solidarity. It’s a beautiful future for trans youth being written into existence, one line at a time.
This is a national crisis—and it’s escalating fast.
In 2025, 894 anti-trans bills have been introduced so far on the state-level. This marks a 497% increase in anti-trans bills since 2021, indicating a political climate increasingly deeply hostile to trans and gender-creative youth, specifically.
Gender Riot Press will specifically prioritize finding and supporting young trans people in the communities facing the most aggressive censorship – zeroing in on the South and the Midwest. We believe that the most powerful resistance emerges from the places under the greatest pressure.
Youth-Led, Always.
Gender Riot Press is built on a simple belief: trans and gender-creative young people know their own experiences best. Our programming and publication decisions will be guided by a youth editorial board made up of trans teens (ages 15–18), with adult mentors providing guidance—not control.
We’re not here to speak for trans youth. We’re building platforms where they speak for themselves—and with your support, we’ll make sure they’re resourced to do it.
In our first year, we aim to:
- Publish a pilot issue of BACK/TALK, with a call for 100+ submissions
- Host virtual workshops reaching at least 50 young trans writers and artists
- Create a sustainable model for youth-led publishing into 2026 and beyond
Sign up for our newsletter to catch our Kickstarter launch on June 1, 2025.
Creating space for trans youth to speak, write, and be seen isn’t just urgent—it’s revolutionary.
Gender Riot Press isn't waiting for permission to exist. We’re launching in 2025 with a $55,000 Kickstarter goal—your support will make it happen.
Here’s how you can help:
- Donate to our Kickstarter and fuel the first issue
- Spread the word to trans youth and allies in your community
- Volunteer if you’re a trans writer, editor, or artist
- Push back locally against book bans and anti-trans policies in schools
We’re Not Waiting.
Gender Riot Press is more than a publisher. We’re not waiting for permission—we’re printing what they fear most: trans youth, uncensored. Are you in?