What's the Summer Skill Share Series?

This summer, from May through August, we are offering four monthly creative workshops led by trans and/or intersex artist facilitators local to Austin, Texas. It will be quite an interdisciplinary summer, kicking off with a Community Sing in May, a memoir and personal story writing workshop in June, a ceramics and clay class in July, and a creative crop top cutting party in August! We are beyond thrilled to have such talented artists sharing their skills with us and excited that the community is so energized to be in creative space with one another!

Our first event of the series, the Trans and Intersex Community SING, led by local trans choir director A. Villareal, was an incredible success. We had put out chairs for an optimistic 20 attendees to show up, but by the time we were making music together, we had 35 trans and intersex people in the room. What a magical night of vulnerability and openness and affirmation. We learned protest songs, changed the lyrics to Taylor Swift songs, and felt so held in using every part of our voices. Folks told us that the experience was so healing and just what they had been looking for. Voices can be such a complicated and layered experience for trans and intersex people, and it was so powerful to be in that together.

We've been hearing from community members that they'd like more hands-on arts events from Gender Unbound for years--back when we were doing the Festival, and even last year when we sent out a community survey asking what folks would like to see from us. It's so exciting to bring it to life this Summer.

Save the dates -- if you're a trans and/or intersex person in Austin, we invite you to attend!

May 23rd @ Museum of Human Achievement: Community SING with A. Villareal
June 29th @ allgo: Writing Memoir with Kanoa Arteaga
July 24th @ Round Rock Community Clay: Ceramics Night with Bella Legosi
August 24th @ Austin Creative Reuse: Creative Crop Tops with Sam Carey

Why are we fundraising?

As with all of our Gender Unbound events, we want the focus to be on the presence of trans and intersex creatives. We want to pay our facilitators, and we want trans and intersex folks to be able to show up with little or no financial barrier to entry. It can already be hard enough to make the time and gather up the courage to show up to a trans and intersex event (or, for some, an arts event!)--and we never want to turn anyone away for lack of funds.

So, we need your help in this equation. Your generous donations will directly support:

Facilitator Stipends: Ensuring that the trans and intersex artists leading these workshops are compensated for their time and expertise.
Venue Rentals: Securing safe and accessible spaces for our events.
Materials and Supplies: Providing the necessary tools and resources for each workshop.
General Organizing Support: Help us maintain the organizational infrastructure to continue making Gender Unbound possible.

Why donate?

Support Trans and Intersex Communities in Texas!

Gender Unbound has a proud history of offering free and low-cost events to our communities, thanks to the generous support of our donors. As an all-volunteer organization, your contributions have made it possible for us to create impactful and inclusive events that celebrate and uplift trans and intersex artists.

Your contribution will:

Empower four local trans and/or intersex artist facilitators to share their skills and create community-specific art spaces.
Provide affirming, empowering, and connecting spaces for trans and intersex communities across central Texas.
Support community-specific programming responsive to the needs and visions of local trans and intersex artists.
Foster community arts organizing led by trans and intersex individuals.

Who is Gender Unbound?

Gender Unbound is a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting trans and intersex artists in central Texas through creative and community-connecting events. Since our founding in 2016, we've evolved from an annual trans and intersex arts festival to now hosting a diverse series of events that celebrate and support trans and intersex talent from across Texas and beyond. After a brief hiatus, we returned in 2023 with renewed and refreshed commitment to our mission. Gender Unbound is led entirely by trans and intersex volunteers who are artists in Austin, Texas.

Other ways to support?

Share how Gender Unbound has impacted you!
Have you attended a Gender Unbound event? Fill out this form and tell us about your experience, why it was special, and/or why it was meaningful to you.

Send this fundraiser to your network.
Spread the word by sharing the campaign with your friends, that LGBTQ ally in your life, or someone you know who wants to show solidarity with trans and intersex people in Texas.

Follow us around!
You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. On our website , you can sign up for our newsletter, which sends event updates and opportunities to get involved. And if you're a trans and intersex person in Austin over the Summer, come out to our events!

Empower Trans and Intersex Artists This Summer

Fund Gender Unbound's Summer Skill Share Series for Trans and Intersex Artists

Team Members