FORGE

@forgeforwardtrans.bsky.social

289 Followers 83 Following

Improving the lives of trans survivors since 1994 through empowering providers and connecting survivors to healing possibilities. linktr.ee/FORGE.trans

Two slides with a red/orange sunset background image. Slide 1 text: "Trans Survivors Issue #6: Braided Selves: Race & Culture. Beautiful Children by Monteray Oh. 'When I fell in love with a white guy, my grandmother was delighted. She looked at the photo of him, squinting at my phone, from the photo to me, and she bubbled: “You’ll have beautiful children!” / Halmoni did not know that Jason was a guy in the same way I was a guy, or, in fact, that I was a man at all. She had long suspected me of lesbianism; her worries she confessed to my mother, who would later, somewhere between laughter and chagrin, share them with me. But now it was a boy–a boy!–who smiled up at her from the tiny screen, and all the lines on her face crinkled deeper with her joy. ' forge.tips/zine."
[Image: White text overlays a background photo of a person holding a book against a blue sky. Images of the covers of Trans Survivors Zine issues are shown in the foreground. Text: "Trans Survivors Zine Showcase. July 28, 6:30 - 8 pm EST. Live on Zoom! forge.tips/zine-showcase." FORGE logo.]
Two slides with a red/orange sunset background image. Slide 1 text: "Trans Survivors Issue #6: Braided Selves: Race & Culture. How My Dream Grew Wings by Lawrence Kelly. 'I’m pulled into their somber words. / They're beautiful metaphors. / Something so familiar / So real, so raw / Don't need to confirm what I know to be true. / They're trans. / Shit they're non binary! / Oh my God / I see my future laid out right in front of me; / If I choose to live it, / If I choose to chase it, / Embrace it.' forge.tips/zine."
[Image: White text overlaying a close-up photo of a person's shoulder. Text: "'This body that I had frequently hated, had berated for not being good enough and not being ‘right,’ kept me safe. I was immensely grateful for it pulling through and allowing me this joy.' Reclaiming my Disabled Trans Body. http://forge.tips/reclaiming-niko." FORGE logo.]
[Image: A black and white photo of four people at a protest, holding signs that say 'Protect trans kids.' Text: "http://forge.tips/sorvo-case-study. SORVO Case Study: Anti-Transgender Entities and Trans+ People." FORGE logo. SVPA logo.]
Two slides with a red/orange sunset background image. Slide 1 includes Kipp LL Wheeler's art piece, "Mardi Gras Memories." Image ID: A turning road with houses on both sides, a Mardi Gras parade is going down the road with trucks pulling floats, some floats are double decker, one float reads “Laissez les bons temps rouler”, there are people throwing beads from the floats, other people in the front lawns and on the side walks catching and picking up beads, the trees have beads hanging from their limbs, nothing is detailed, no one has faces. Slide 1 text: "Trans Survivors Issue #6: Braided Selves: Race & Culture. Mardi Gras Memories by Kipp LL Wheeler. forge.tips/zine."
[Image: Text overlaying a pink display sign outdoors. Text: "'Online community is where I first found my community. They were the ones who definitely, in the long run, not only saved my life, but made it better.' Courtney." FORGE logo.]
Two slides with a red/orange sunset background image. Slide 1 text: "Trans Survivors Issue 6: Braided Selves: Race & Culture. SUNDAY SKIN by Lewis. 'I wore the Sundays underneath my Sundays' / shirts and hand-me-down slacks. / I carried her. / At first she lived quietly, / Within the mirror mist, / inside gospel songs, / Within the gentle undulating of my mother's choir robes. / She seemed to be there when no one was looking, / whispering, / It's not necessary to go away to survive. ' forge.tips/zine."
White text against a black background and FORGE logo. Medicine being drawn into a syringe. Text: "GOV to provide testosterone to cis servciemen, amidst bans on gender-affirming care. why this matters for trans survivors: Frustration over hypocritical approaches to gender-affirming care for trans and cis people; Creating conversations online about access to HRT; Emotional impacts of loss of healthcare/fears about loss of healthcare in the future"
Two slides with a red/orange sunset background image. Slide 1 includes Ro Holmes's art piece, "Delicate." Image ID: This is a watercolour/digital piece of work. The first box shows a drop of water spreading across - a singular droplet in a lake trying to find their way. The second box is an illustration of a lily; a historic code for lesbianism, and the bloom of my queerness. The third landscape box shows two queer people gazing at each other, representing the quiet understanding of noticing someone who is a part of your community. The fourth box is a carabiner on jeans, a clear notice of accepting the queerness. The final box is of mountains, linking back to nature and how I am trying to continuously connect with my nature and identity in one. Slide 1 text: "Trans Survivors Issue #6: Braided Selves: Race & Culture. Delicate by Ro Holmes. forge.tips/zine."
[Image: White text overlaying a fragmented image of a person taking a selfie. Text: "The use of AI to spread disinformation harms trans communities. http://forge.tips/image-based-abuse." FORGE logo.]
Two slides with a red/orange sunset background image. Slide 1 text: "Trans Survivors Issue 6: Braided Selves: Race & Culture. Sarrāqa by Morgan LeBlanc. '3/24. The first fissure vivisects my velvet vessel, a flaccid flap of flesh dangling from my left arm. Beneath the skin is the weight of everything, an abyss of my incompatibility. The land of my birth is a sea away. My mother soil cannot mend me. All I can do is work. / So I work. Sometimes I even convince myself that this catastrophe was a miracle in disguise. A masterpiece of this immediacy could not have arrived in the high of success. Stay hungry, I say, and I do.' forge.tips/zine."
[Image: Cutout letters spell "Trans Survivors" on a blue background with graphics of flowers. Text: "Trans Survivors Zine Showcase. July 28, 6:30 - 8 pm EST. Meet the presenters! support trans and nonbinary artists and writers! July 28, 2026. 6:30 - 8 pm ET. Maya Williams; Imogen Lynne; Blue Midnight Canis; R. Haven; Jayan Singh; Ray Bonk; Noah Stang-Osborne; Sylvia Kunst. http://forge.tips/zine-showcase." FORGE logo.]
Three slides with a red/orange sunset background image. Slide 1 includes Azzie Contreras's art piece, "AzVWorld." Image ID: A blue haired figure, with magenta pink skin sitting on top of an Earth-like planet belonging to a vast star-scape. They are smoking something, wearing orange shorts, and red sneakers. They are topless to show their affirming chest surgery scars. Slide 1 text: "Trans Survivors Issue #6: Braided Selves: Race & Culture. AzVWorld by Azzie Contreras. forge.tips/zine."
[Image: A flyer with tear away ideas for alternatives to sex overlays a series of collaged images: a person meditating outdoors, a person wearing pink slippers, someone swimming, shibari on a person's knee, someone dancing in the mirror, and a person lying in bed holding a coffee mug. Text: "http://forge.tips/alternatives-to-sex. alternatives to sex for when sex isn’t what you feel up to. dance to a song from your teen years; write or read erotica; change the water temp in the shower; visit a sex shop; get under a weighted blanket; get/give a massage." FORGE logo.]
Two slides with a red/orange sunset background image. Slide 1 text: "Trans Survivors Issue 6: Braided Selves: Race & Culture. Get Home Safe by Toshiya Kamei. 'They walked to the station together. At the ticket gates he bowed, quick and awkward, then turned. The gold chain caught the overhead lights before he disappeared down the stairs. / Three nights later, Sora’s phone lit up at 1:17 a.m. / Can we take a little space? I think I need it. / The typing bubble appeared. Vanished. Appeared again. Sora set the phone face down on the low table. Picked it up.' forge.tips/zine."
[Image: Yellow and white text overlaying an image of a person sitting in a windowsill, staring out. Text: "Recorded webinar. What self-injury looks like for one survivor may be different for another survivor. Understanding and responding to self-injury in trans communities: forge.tips/SI-webinar." FORGE logo.]
Three slides with a red/orange sunset background image. Slide 1 text: "Trans Survivors Issue 6: Braided Selves: Race & Culture. Elegy for My Siblings by Yasmine Bolden. 'the reporter blinks, then swallows / the names of our dead & missing she / stumbles & regurgitates, mangled / Blackness spilling into our laps. even / when we are heavenly, they cannot / get our names right.' forge.tips/zine."
[Image: Text in a white circle overlaying an image of a forest, below a small sprout. Text: "Empathy lets others know that we hear them and want to understand what they are feeling. Cool Communication when Feelings are Hot. http://forge.tips/cool-communication." FORGE logo.]
Three slides with a red/orange sunset background image. Namkeen Peshawri's art piece, "The Flowers They Could Not Bury." Image ID: A black-and-white painting of a transgender figure wearing traditional Pashtun clothing and a draped chadar. The figure sits quietly with their face resting on one hand while holding a birdcage filled with brightly colored flowers. The contrast between the monochrome figure and the vibrant flowers emphasizes themes of hidden identity, resilience, silence, and trans joy within cultural tradition. The cage appears partially open, symbolizing both confinement and the possibility of freedom and healing. Text: "Trans Survivors Issue #6: Braided Selves: Race & Culture. The Flowers They Could Not Bury by Namkeen Peshawri. forge.tips/zine."
White text against a black background and FORGE logo. A group of protestors. Text: "anti-trans protestors become more openly hostile at marches. why this matters for trans survivors: Survivors may feel less safe attending protests or marches after hearing about anti-trans violence and harassment; Fears around privacy, being recognized, and being targeted in public; Trans people may feel more isolated and less able to connect at community events"
[Image: Two slides with a red/orange sunset background image. Slide 1 text: "Trans Survivors Issue #6: Braided Selves: Race & Culture. What My Grandmother Kept by Joely Williams. 'She kept the smell of the first house, / which was not a house but a way of arranging people / so that the cold couldn't reach the smallest ones. / She kept the specific weight of salt water on the skin— / not grief, exactly. More like origin. / More like the body remembering what it came from / before it could speak.' forge.tips/zine." FORGE logo]
[Image: Cutout letters spell "Trans Survivors" on a pink gradient background, with a graphic of a person's hand holding a microphone. Text: "Trans Survivors Zine Showcase: Live event! support trans and nonbinary artists and writers! July 28, 2026. 6:30 - 8 pm ET. on Zoom! http://forge.tips/zine-showcase." FORGE logo.]
[Image: Black text on a yellow background, below graphics of a backpack, campfire, water bottle, baseball bat, and stone. Text: "Surviving the zombie apocalypse: Video games and trans survival. “Apocalyptic fiction and games allow us to physically and emotionally process real-life horrors that often get ignored.” https://buff.ly/La5dH4W" FORGE logo.]
[Image: A black and white photo of a person holding up a sign that says "protect trans youth", surrounded by newspaper clippings. Text: "Anti-Trans Sexual Violence Propaganda: SORVO’s Harm. Webinar on Propaganda, Hate Speech, & More. watch the recording: forge.tips/sorvo." FORGE logo. SVPA logo.]
[Image: White text overlaying a photo of a person sitting on a tree stump outdoors. Text: "Erin Reed. 'We carve out space not because it is given to us, but because we insist on it. And when history does bend toward justice—as it always eventually does—it will be because people like us were there, hands on the arc, bending it.' https://buff.ly/LZGUnyc." FORGE logo.]
[Image: Cutout letters spell "Trans Survivors" on a brown background, with graphics of a butterfly and a torn newspaper. Text: "Trans Survivors Zine Showcase: Live event! Celebrate work by trans and nonbinary artists and writers; Live poetry/prose readings, art presentations; Q&A with the zine contributors!. July 28, 2026. 6:30 - 8 pm ET. https://buff.ly/vBPQpv8." FORGE logo.]
White text against a black background and FORGE logo. A person holding a drivers license in a car. Text: "anti-trans ID laws put trans people at risk of arrest, even when following them. why this matters for trans survivors: Confusing laws may require trans folks to have ID that doesn't match their appearance, leading to increased scrutiny/harassment from law enforcement; Denial of victims' services based on sex on an ID; Trans people face increased risk of violence/harm if arrested for breaking or following ID laws"
[Image: Text on a green background, above a photo of mountains covered in evergreen trees. Text: "How are trans people impacted by climate change? Disability: Trans people with disabilities face disproportionate impacts of climate disasters. (ex: medical devices that require electricity, medications that cause heat sensitivity). Socioeconomic status: Lower-income people may not have access to air conditioning, transportation, or a place to stay away from home. Experiences of violence: Climate-related natural disasters are linked to increased sexual and domestic violence in their aftermaths. http://forge.tips/climate-dread." FORGE logo.]
White text overlaying a black background with graphics of line-drawn socks and laundry. Blog title: "The simplicity of socks: forge.tips/socks" An image of grey socks against sheets. Text: "New blog post: 'It turns out – for me – socks and trauma have a lot to do with each other.'" FORGE logo.
A blurred photo of a person sitting at a homeless shelter. Text: "1. Lack of housing increases the risk of sexual assault." FORGE logo.
[Against a red background, a graphic of two people holding hands, with flowers sprouting between them. Text: "pride might look different for survivors of trauma." FORGE logo.]
White text against a black background and FORGE logo. A cardboard cutout house and keys. Text: "comment period for HUD’s Equal Access Rule comes to a close. why this matters for trans survivors: Rolling back the EAR threatens housing protections; The comment period allows community members a chance to voice their concerns and have a say in this decision; Fears about current/future housing opportunities; There's still time to submit a comment: forge.tips/EAR-comment"
[Image: A sign hanging on the back of a purple bathroom stall door says: "Everyone has the right to safety and privacy. Everyone has the right to live a life free from sexual harassment and violence." A blue tote bag with the FORGE logo hangs on the door. Text: "Safe to Be, Safe to Pee: A policy toolkit for preventing sexual violence in bathrooms, locker rooms, and changing areas. forge.tips/safe-to-be."]
[Image: The cover of Sorry I Keep Crying During Sex by Jesse James Rose, above a notecard with text. Text: "Book Review. Sorry I Keep Crying During Sex is on the surface about taking care of a family member with dementia and having sex after assault. More deeply it’s about being honest with ourselves and each other, healing, laughter, and memory. forge.tips/crying-during-sex-book." FORGE logo.]
A person holding a megaphone against a blue background. Text: "The Equal Acces Rule: NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION." SAGE logo. A4TE logo. NNEDV logo. My Sistah's House logo.
White text against a black background and FORGE logo. A person brushing their teeth in the bathroom. Text: "Idaho bathroom bill continues to restrict access to public bathrooms. why this matters for trans survivors: Intentionally vague guidelines for enforcement, leading to additioonal uncertainty and fear; Survivors face forced visibility having to use/ask for single-user restrooms; Unclear reporting means trans folks may not know about this caveat to the law"
Text over a purple background. Title text: "Masking Still Matters: COVID-19 Safety." Slide 1 text: "When we take steps to prevent COVID-19 transmission, we are protecting our long-term health and the health of our communities." http://forge.tips/covid-safety." FORGE logo.
[Text on a yellow background. Text: "http://forge.tips/pride-stories. 'By realizing that there are so many stories out there, I can learn to listen to the ones that are good for my soul.' Pride in the Messy Parts: Changing the Stories I Tell About Myself." FORGE logo.]
[Image: Text above a photo of a person wearing an N95 mask and holding a protest sign that says "Who keeps us safe? We keep us safe!" Text: "We Protect Us: a community conversation on navigating COVID, trauma, and healing. on zoom! http://forge.tips/covid-convo. June 16th, 2026, 6:30 - 8 PM EST." FORGE logo.]
White text against a black background and FORGE logo. A young person wearing a mask with a serious expression. Text: "trans youth continue to face restrictions to gender-affirming care. why this matters for trans survivors: Loss of necessary healthcare, negative mental and physical health impacts; Fears for youth in trans communities, particularly when even progressive states/cities are restricting youth GAC access; Many survivors lack the ability to move to another state for care"
White text on a purple background. Text: "Bystander Intervention: Taking Action to Prevent Violence: Tipsheet. You do not have to have a perfect response to violence to make a difference. Any response to harm—even engaging after the fact—has a positive impact. http://forge.tips/bystander-tips." FORGE logo.
[Image: A round photo of a person with short hair and an N95 mask overlays a background of torn paper and blue and white checkers. Text: "We Protect Us: a community conversation on navigating COVID, trauma, and healing. on zoom! http://forge.tips/covid-convo. June 16th, 2026, 6:30 - 8 PM EST." FORGE logo.]
[Image: An image of two people holding hands against a blue sky background. Text: "Trauma-related barriers to accessing care for trans survivors: Isolation; anger; distrust; threats to safety; overwhelm. http://forge.tips/connecting-care." FORGE logo.]
[Image: Text above a photo of a person holding a coffee cup, with the words "let's talk" inside. A graphic of an N95 mask. Text: "We Protect Us: a community conversation on navigating COVID, trauma, and healing. forge.tips/covid-convo. June 16th, 2026, 6:30 - 8 PM EST." FORGE logo.]
[Image: On a green background, a line-drawn grapic of a person meditating. Text: "Rescheduled! Body-based Trauma Work: Strength and Mobility. Now: June 9th, 2 - 3:30 pm EST. online workshop. forge.tips/body-based." FORGE logo.]
[Image: Green and black text on a pink background. Images of a person using a laptop, and a group of people in a fitness class wearing boxing gloves. Text: "Get Empowered. Learn self-defense and empowerment skills in a queer environment! virtual classes: June 4, 11, 18, and 25, 5:30 – 7:30 pm CST. http://forge.tips/get-empowered." FORGE logo.]
[Image: Text overlaying a file folder, against a blue sky and green grass background. Text: "We keep us safe. Harm Reduction and Pride: http://forge.tips/safer-pride." FORGE logo.]
[Image: Text against black and teal boxes, overlaying collaged textures. Text: "one day left to submit! deadline: May 31st. Trans Survivors Zine. Issue #6: Race & Culture. Issue #7: Disability & Health. forge.tips/submit." FORGE logo.]
[Image: Yellow text overlaying a background image of two people's boxing gloves meeting while outdoors. Text: "Get Empowered: Boundaries and Self-Defense for Trans and Nonbinary Communities. Four sessions: Thursdays. June 4th, 11th, 18th, and 245h, 5:30 – 7:30 pm CST. http://forge.tips/get-empowered." FORGE logo.]
White text against a black background and FORGE logo. A person writing in a notebook in bed, using a laptop. Text: "recent trans murders and suicides are featued in the news. why this matters for trans survivors: Survivors feeling less safe hearing about murders; Experiencing evidence of the ways anti-trans policies impact suicide risk (ex: Idaho bathroom bill); Seeing anti-trans responses to these deaths; Grief and feeling a personal impact, even if not directly related to those who have died"
[Image: On a green background, a line-drawn grapic of a person meditating. Text: "Body-based Trauma Work: Strength and Mobility. June 2nd, 2 - 3:30 pm EST. online workshop. forge.tips/body-based." FORGE logo.]
[Image: A photo of a person putting their hand on someone's shoulder. Text: "Mental Health Awareness Month 2026. How can I de-escalate when my loved one is having a mental health crisis? http://forge.tips/de-escalation" FORGE logo.]
[Image: A black and white photo of a person using a typewriter over an orange background. Text: "Four days left to submit! ends: May 31st. Trans Survivors Zine. Submit art, poetry, and prose! Themes: Disability & Health, Race & Culture. $25 contributor payment. Full guidelines: forge.tips/submit." FORGE logo.]
A drawing of a line of people waiting for a bathroom, which has an occupied sign on the door. Text: "Safe to Be, Safe to Pee: A policy toolkit for preventing sexual violence in bathrooms, locker rooms, and changing areas. In English and Spanish! forge.tips/safe-to-be. Everyone has the right to safety. Everyone has the right to a life free from sexual violence and harassment. Everyone has the right to privacy." FORGE logo.
[Image: Text overlaying a photo of a person reaching for someone's hand against a blue sky. Text: "Blog post: Asking for help. Many survivors of violence have been hurt or betrayed by people they trusted. These things can have major impacts on our ability to trust others and to accept their support. http://forge.tips/asking-for-help" FORGE logo.]
[Image: Yellow and white text overlaying an image of a person sitting in a windowsill, staring out. Text: "Online Webinar: Tomorrow! Understanding and responding to self-injury in trans communities. forge.tips/SI-webinar. May 27, 2026. 2-3:30 pm EST" FORGE logo.]
[Image: A green-toned photo of a parent holding their child and kissing their cheek. Text: "Learn about trans-specific ACEs: forge.tips/trans-ACEs. What happens in childhood impacts our physical and mental health for the rest of our lives. May 2026, Mental Health Awareness Month." FORGE logo.]
[Image: Text messages in green and blue overlaying a phone screen, in front of a green leafy background. Text: "Mental Health Awareness Month 2026. Words can heal. I need support... can I text a hotline instead of calling? Yes, some hotlines offer text or online chat-based services. that’s a relief! I don’t have a private place to call from. how do I find out more? Hotlines FAQ: forge.tips/hotlines." FORGE logo.]
On a blue background, text overlays slips of paper, alongside a stylized image of two people embracing. Text: "Call for submissions: Trans Survivors digital zine. Issue #7: Disability & Health. Submit May 1 - May 31. $25 contributor payment. Looking for art, poetry, short fiction, and short nonfiction about: Navigating healthcare systems; COVID and long-COVID; Connections between trans identity and disability; The impact of disability and health on trauma, healing, and wellbeing forge.tips/submit." FORGE logo.