Mister Universe Trans USA
Trans Access 2026
Trans Access 2026 is a groundbreaking national conference that aims to confront the systemic barriers and privileges that lead to consolidation of power and resources even within our own movement by centering the voices, experiences, and needs of true grassroots trans advocates.
As part of his platform for Mister Universe Trans and in support of the Queen Universe Trust, Mister Universe Trans USA 2025-2026 Dylan White will lead the development of the first Trans Access conference.
Date and Location Announcement in
October 2025
At a time when anti-trans violence and legislation have reached critical levels, it is now more important than ever to provide a safe, affirming space for leadership development; opportunities for trans advocates to gain valuable professional skills; and a community-driven platform for practical sharing of knowledge and resources.
Why It Matters
Across the United States, transgender and non-binary people continue to face relentless and layered barriers to safety, equity, and belonging. From discriminatory legislation and targeted violence to healthcare gatekeeping, housing instability, and economic marginalization, the struggles of trans and non-binary communities are not only persistent, they are escalating--even in cities and states once considered sanctuaries. Black, Brown, Indigenous, disabled, youth, and immigrant trans people are especially vulnerable, often navigating compounding systems of oppression with limited institutional support. Despite this, we recognize all too well that our most vulnerable are our fiercest fighters in this movement, and we believe it is our duty to uplift them.
Within our spaces, we have seen and experienced the challenges firsthand, and without a proper forum for knowledge sharing, community building, and healing, they cannot thrive as they deserve. Leaders within these spaces are pouring from an empty cup, and we must act in ways we never have to achieve outcomes we never thought possible.
In response to these urgent needs, our national conference was conceived as more than a gathering—it is a movement space. Designed by and for trans and non-binary people, the conference dismantles the silos that too often isolate us and instead cultivates a bold coalition of grassroots leaders, culture workers, healers, and advocates. Together, we confront the root causes of systemic exclusion, uplift underrepresented voices, and build concrete strategies for lasting liberation.
Our planning team, the Trans Access Coalition, is not only diverse in identity, geography, and lived experience—it is united by a shared commitment to transform systems from the ground up. We are positioned to meet this moment, to listen deeply to our communities, and to build solutions that center trans and non-binary people not as afterthoughts, but as architects of a more just future.
About the Trans Access Coalition
Learn more about the growing Trans Access Planning Team!
Adopting a horizontal, non-colonial leadership structure that prioritizes the voices of our most marginalized community members (BIPOC, disabled, HIV+, immigrant), the Trans Access Coalition is a planning team of dedicated advocates and volunteers who have held leadership roles in numerous grassroots organizations.
As our team of diverse leaders came to know one another, we recognized the even more striking shift in the ability of struggling organizations to acquire the financial, technical, and competency-based resources needed to serve their constituents that has occurred within the last few years.
Despite the universally recognized and pivotal role of transgender people—particularly transgender women of color—in spurring the queer liberation movement, members of our community organizations expressed that they felt like even more of an afterthought in the planning and execution of large-scale conferences and events. Many concurred that most broadly focused, major national LGBTQ+ organizations and the conferences they present are fully inaccessible, along with the connections and resources whose access would be critical and transformative.
It is undeniable that those within our movement who have the fewest resources are often the most resourceful and innovative. Our current work is focused not just on securing partners and providing the physical space for the conference but on intensive outreach to identify trans and non-binary advocates leading these transformative yet under-resourced organizations across each state and territory in the US.
Call for Support
We are excited to announce our upcoming conference and invite supporters to help us make this transformative event possible. Trans Access 2026 is designed to amplify the voices of transgender and gender-diverse individuals working at the grassroots level, foster leadership, highlight advocacy initiatives, and provide paid opportunities to trans and non-binary people from across the globe.
Our all-volunteer team is need of support across multiple areas. Contact us at misterusa@universetrans.org to learn more about any of the following!
FUND
Your financial contribution will directly support production costs, accessibility services, programming, and community outreach. Every donation or sponsorship will bring us closer to ensuring true accessibility, inclusion, and global impact.
PLAN
We are seeking passionate volunteers to join our planning committee. Roles include administration, fundraising, logistics coordination, program development, outreach, marketing, on-site support, and more. Team members will play a vital role in shaping the content, flow, and success of the conference.
PRESENT
We invite experienced advocates, educators, and leaders to share their knowledge and insights. Presenters can lead workshops, panels, or keynote sessions that inspire, inform, and empower attendees.
Official Non-Profit Partners, Sponsors, and Pre-Conference Fundraising Events to Be Announced Soon!