Hello Readers!
I created a TikTok in order to participate in the Trans Rights Readathon, a fundraiser to support pro-trans organizations across the United States. I’ve challenged my twin sister to see who can read the most trans books. You can pledge to donate a flat amount or an amount per book that the winner has read at the end of the week of March 20th to 27th at this link.
Our introductory TikTok video has all the information about the Readathon and the rules of our challenge, but I’ve also written out an outline below for those who prefer to read.
What is the Trans Rights Readathon?
It is a fundraiser to support trans rights organizations across the United States. It was started by TikTok creator and author Sim Kern in order to show support to trans people and organizations in light of the wave of anti-trans legislation being put forward across America. The goal is for literary internet creators (mostly on TikTok and Instagram) to read only trans books (preferably books by trans authors, but may also include books with trans characters and themes) during the week of March 20th through 27th. These creators will each run their own campaign among their followers to raise money for a trans-positive organization of their choice, either through flat donations or based on the number of pages, chapters, or books that they read that week.
Twintellectuals Campaign
In my case, I’ve asked my twin sister to join me in creating a new TikTok channel called Twintellectuals, where we will run our campaign to benefit the Transgender Law Center, which provides legal and policy advocacy for trans people across the United States. My sister is a lawyer and has worked with this organization in the past. To make things interesting, we’ve made it into a competition: whoever reads the most trans books next week, we will use their book count to gather per-book pledges from our supporters.
The Rules of the Challenge
We will count any media written by or featuring trans authors, characters, culture, history, or themes counts as a book. This can include non-traditional media such as webcomics, graphic novels, zines, newspaper articles, short stories, and picture books.
All books must be included in a review video on the channel to be counted, but we can review multiple books in a single video
Readathon Goals
Our goal is to raise $250 total. This would double the impact that we would be able to have on our own, since I anticipate donating about $200 across several campaigns, including a $5 per book donation on this campaign. My sister is in a more delicate financial situation, so she will be donating $1 per book.
We’ll each be posting more videos this week in preparation for the Readathon with book recommendations and lists of the books we plan to read. I’ll be reading books listed on the free LGBTQ+ literature post I made last year for Pride month. We’ll each aim for at least 1 video per day next week to update you on our progress.
How can you help?
We’re asking anyone reading this, if they are financially able, to go tour PledgeIt page and pledge a flat or per book donation. If that’s not in your budget, whether because you are pledging to other creators or have other financial commitments, we invite you to engage with the Readathon by reading trans books this coming week, watching videos with the #transrightsreadathon on TikTok, liking, commenting, and sharing on those videos, and being vocal about supporting trans rights with the people in your life and with your congressional representatives if you live in the United States. This map will show you what anti-LGBTQ laws are in the works in your area. Even in “safe” states, you can ask your representatives to protect trans rights at the national level. In the comments, let us know how you’ll be participating!
Thank you for caring about trans rights and trans people. Hope to see you on TikTok. Otherwise, we’ll be back to your regularly scheduled epistolary literature.