Minus18 and Levi’s have wrapped up another full year of activations, campaigns and initiatives dedicated to elevating LGBTQIA+ voices, educating LGBTQIA+ allies, and celebrating trans joy. 

In the fourth year of their partnership, Minus18 and Levi's Living Proudly series took audiences around Australia on a journey of education and allyship, covering topics like the difference between sexuality and gender, and the unique and universal nuances of coming out. 

Across 2022 and 2023, Levi's partnered with Minus18 on the Trans, Gender Diverse & Non-binary Creators Fund, providing 14 opportunities for emerging trans creators across events, programs and other opportunities to shine a spotlight on their creative pursuits.

Celebrating trans excellence and trans joy culminated in our This is Trans Joy series, during Trans Awareness Week, featuring Minus18 alumni in conversation with local trans icons Jamaica Moana and Hayden Moon.

Trans, Gender Diverse & Non-Binary Creators Fund 

The Trans, Gender Diverse and Non-Binary Creators Fund has been one of the most successful and most impactful programs within Minus18’s ecosystem of amplifying the work of young creators, artists, and performers. 

In its second year, the TGDNB Creators Fund has funded 14 TGDNB performers between the ages of 18 and 30 to take the stage at Minus18 youth events. And although Minus18 has a strategic commitment to booking, amplifying and promoting trans, gender diverse and non-binary performers regardless, the fund unlocks additional and further opportunities, funding, and capacity to shine a spotlight on the work of trans creators. 

At its heart, the fund provides performers and artists – often, and particularly, those at the start of their careers – with two of the most important and scarce resources: funding and amplification of their work.

Performers, singers, drag artists, speakers, illustrators and DJs, from Sydney's Malaika Mfalme to youth drag performer Theresa Problem to South Australia's Aud Mason-Hyde – they’ve all taken to the Minus18 stage, whether online or in Melbourne, Sydney, or Adelaide, performing and reaching new audiences of thousands of queer young people. 

Thank you to Levi’s for their support of the fund, and enabling us to really prioritise and achieve this strategic commitment. 

This is Trans Joy Livestream 

In November 2023, the Minus18 and Levi’s turned their sights on Trans Awareness Week, and specifically on a project that would amplify and center trans joy, and the experiences of TGDNB young people and artists. 

The result? A series of two Instagram livestreams, hosted by Minus18 Young Leader alumni, featuring local trans, gender diverse, and non-binary legends: This is Trans Joy. 

Thanks to Levi’s, we were able to spotlight the work of activist and author Hayden Moon, along with dancer / rapper Jamaica Moana. Further to that, the support of Levi’s afforded Minus18 the capacity to elevate TGDNB Minus18 Young Leader alumni Neo and Kellin, engaging them as hosts of the livestreams, interviewing our special guests, and paying them for their valuable time sharing their experiences.

Watch Neo in conversation with Hayden Moon

Watch Kellin in conversation with Jamaica Moana

Trans Awareness Week is a key campaign in the Minus18 calendar – a chance to celebrate and spotlight trans pride, trans stories, and community members. It’s also a chance to spotlight trans allyship, and to educate the wider community on both the importance of allyship, and real ways to be an active trans ally. 

The freewheeling and joyous conversations between TGDNB Minus18 Young Leaders and trans local legends were perfect ways to meld the pillars of the campaign. 

Reaching a combined audience of over 4,000 people around the country, the livestreams put a spotlight on trans joy, created a space for affirming stories of trans experiences for our youth community, and educated the allies in the Minus18 audience by way of storytelling and amplifying trans voices. 

Living Proudly 

Lastly, throughout 2023, Minus18 teamed up with Levi’s in the creation of a series of life-affirming and educational video resources on Instagram: our Living Proudly series. 

Over eight videos featuring a diverse range of Minus18 team members, we cover topics that both affirm the experiences of LGBTQIA+ young people, but that also educate and inspire allies, parents, teachers, and community members. 

Topics have covered the history and origins of the word “queer”, the difference between sexuality and gender, and whether one’s LGBTQIA+ identity can change over time. Working with Levi’s, these videos reached an even wider audience of both queer young people and allies, often aligning with days of significance like IDAHOBIT – to affirm the experiences of our queer youth community while also educating the wider community.

Watch “Can your identity change over time?” 

Watch our Coming Out Day video

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Thank you Levi’s for living and breathing our vision to continue to change the lives of LGBTQIA+ young people, particularly those who identify as trans, gender diverse, or non-binary.