Trans Formative Schools, an after-school program in New York City run by transgender and queer teachers, has become a lifeline for gender-diverse students and their families who say other parts of the country are growing increasingly hostile to LGBTQ people.
Parents and program leaders say the nonprofit’s mix of arts, STEM and social justice-focused activities has produced rapid improvements in participants’ confidence and school engagement, offering a model other communities are looking to replicate as state and local policies restrict how schools address gender identity and sexual orientation.
The program, supported by donations and city council funding and powered by NYC Heritage of Pride, is free and open to all students regardless of gender identity. Co-founder and Executive Director Alaina Daniels said the goal is “to make a future where trans kids can just be kids, to make a future where trans kids get to feel safe enough to read, write and learn.” The organization is entering its third year of programming.
Families who moved to New York from states they described as hostile — including Florida — said they sought safer environments for their children. Rebeca, who asked that her family’s last name be withheld for security reasons, said her 10-year-old daughter Eli struggled academically and socially after facing discrimination in Florida schools, where the 2022 law often called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill limited classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity for younger grades.
"It has really been the greatest support that she’s ever had," Rebeca said of the after-school program. "Her self-confidence has gone up so much, as a transgender child, and that translates to her confidence with reading and with school."
Program leaders said Trans Formative Schools centers trans joy and social justice while teaching skills ranging from computer coding and engineering to theater and visual arts. Activities cited by staff and parents include literary analysis, architecture projects, robotics and organizing. Eli said she is especially excited about incoming robotics equipment the program plans to purchase with city council funding.
Ro Peña, the organization’s co-founder and director of programming, said the work is intentionally holistic because feeling unsafe undermines learning. "It's hard to learn algebra if you don't feel safe in class," Peña said.
Parents who sought the program after negative experiences elsewhere say there is a difference between organizations that display outward support and those that are vocal and structured about affirming identities. Bex Fine-Firesheets, whose two children attend the program, said a prior incident with a teacher at another after-school program highlighted for the family that visible signs of support do not always translate into staff practice. "This is a place for educators, parents and children to come together and make a community surrounding learning, exploration and joy together," they said.
Advocates and researchers have long documented disparities in mental and physical health for gender-diverse youth compared with cisgender peers, citing higher rates of suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety and substance use. Experts say stigma, marginalization and discriminatory policies in schools and communities contribute to those outcomes and that affirming school climates can improve both mental health and academic results.
In several states, including Florida, Oklahoma and Texas, legislation and school policies have recently restricted teachers' use of students' preferred pronouns, limited classroom discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation, and placed controls on student access to facilities. Advocates warn that such measures have driven some families to consider relocation and have increased demand for community-based supports.
Trans Formative Schools is one of a growing number of targeted programs aiming to cushion the impact of those policies. Other organizations and institutions, including community centers and YMCAs, have expanded LGBTQ-focused summer camps and youth groups, and community leaders say those programs are filling gaps left by exclusionary school policies.
Daniels said the nonprofit’s programming seeks both immediate relief and long-term change by equipping students with academic skills and civic tools. "The goal is to show kids they are capable and worthy of pursuing their ambitions," she said.
Program leaders declined to provide enrollment numbers for this article, but parents and staff described steady demand and growing interest from both families inside New York City and those who relocated from other states. Funding from city council sources and private donations has allowed the program to remain free; directors said continued support will be important as anti-LGBTQ policies persist in other jurisdictions.
As state and local debates over curriculum, pronouns and school policy continue, leaders of Trans Formative Schools and similar programs say their work is focused on creating safe spaces where gender-diverse youth can learn, experiment and find community. "How dare we strip our youth of their ability to express," Peña said, "and not be pigeon-holed by some binary idea of what a human should be."