TRMA TRANS & NB Pride 2026 Statement

To our beloved community,

In the spirit of transparency and accountability, we wanted to make an announcement: this year, Trans Resistance MA will not be hosting our annual march and festival in July. 

This decision was not made lightly. For many of us, the march and festival have been spaces of visibility, celebration, and collective power. They have been moments where we could gather in joy, in resistance, and in deep community with one another. We understand that for many, this event is something you look forward to each year, and we sincerely apologize for any hurt, disappointment, or sense of loss this may bring.

At the same time, we must remain accountable to what our community has asked of us—and what this moment requires.

Through our recent town hall and ongoing conversations, we heard clear and consistent feedback: our people need more than a single day of gathering. Community members expressed urgent needs around accessing employment, finding pathways to sustainable income, creating spaces for healing, and cultivating joy that is not fleeting but rooted and ongoing. Safety concerns were also raised—both in terms of physical safety at large public gatherings and the current political landscape impacting trans and nonbinary people, especially those who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color. 

We listened.

And in listening, we recognized that resistance must evolve.

Too often, resistance is framed as something that exists in opposition to joy—as if struggle and celebration are separate, or even in conflict. We reject that framing. Joy is not the opposite of resistance; it is a vital expression of it. For trans and nonbinary BIPOC people, joy is transformative. It is survival. It is healing. It is a declaration that we deserve to exist fully, safely, and abundantly.

Because of this, we are intentionally reframing what resistance looks like for Trans Resistance MA.

This year, rather than organizing a march and festival, we are redirecting our time, energy, and resources toward building more sustainable and impactful offerings—spaces that center healing, opportunities that support economic empowerment, and gatherings that deepen connection beyond a single day. We are committed to cultivating environments where our community can access not just visibility, but stability, care, and joy that lasts.

This is not a step back. It is a shift—one that we believe is necessary to meet the needs of our people in this moment.

We remain deeply committed to our mission: the safety, joy, and liberation of trans, queer, Black, Indigenous, and people of color. 

To those who have marched with us, celebrated with us, and built memories alongside us—we thank you. Your presence has always been the heart of this work. And while this year will look different, we hope you will continue to stand with us, to grow with us, and to join us in this evolving vision of resistance.

We are still here. We are still organizing. And we are still building toward a future where our people can thrive.

With care and gratitude,
Trans Resistance MA