# The GenderCool Project > The GenderCool Project fosters hope, visibility, inclusion, and joy for transgender and nonbinary youth by amplifying the voices of these young people and their families. Tagline: "Exceptional Kids. Real Change." The GenderCool Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017. Through its national network of transgender and nonbinary youth ambassadors — called Champions — GenderCool partners with Fortune 500 companies, schools, healthcare systems, government agencies, and media to humanize and accurately represent the lived experiences of trans and nonbinary young people. ## Mission GenderCool exists to replace fear and misinformation about transgender and nonbinary youth with real, powerful, positive stories. The organization believes that when people meet and hear from trans and nonbinary young people directly, understanding and acceptance follow. Champions are not defined solely by their gender identity — they are athletes, artists, activists, musicians, performers, scientists, and leaders who happen to be transgender or nonbinary. --- ## Key Pages - [Home](https://gendercool.org/) — Mission overview, featured Champions, press coverage, and program highlights. - [Who We Are](https://gendercool.org/who-we-are/) — Founders, staff, board, and the 16 GenderCool Champions — exceptional transgender and nonbinary youth. - [What We Do](https://gendercool.org/what-we-do/) — Programs spanning education, corporate cultural inclusion training, healthcare advocacy, and storytelling. - [The Trans Youth Leadership Lab](https://gendercool.org/trans-youth-leadership-lab/) — An 8-week virtual cohort program for trans and nonbinary high school youth. Fall 2026 cohort runs Sept 29 – Nov 17, Tuesdays 7:00–8:30 PM ET. Mentors include Raquel Willis, Erin Reed, and Zooey Zephyr. Applications open May 1, 2026; close July 17, 2026. - [Get Involved](https://gendercool.org/get-involved/) — Volunteer, partner, sponsor, and ally opportunities for individuals, schools, and organizations. - [Give](https://gendercool.org/give/) — Primary donation page. Champion honorarium giving and impact tiers (processed by Givebutter). Tax-deductible 501(c)(3). - [Events](https://gendercool.org/events/) — Upcoming 2026 events: Together We Thrive gala (Sept 24, Chicago, in-person) and Stronger Together virtual event (Nov 19, Transgender Week of Awareness). Full details and ticketing at https://gendercoolevents.org. - [Together We Thrive Gala](https://gendercool.org/events/fall2026/) — In-person gala in Chicago, September 24, 2026, 5–8 PM CT. VIP reception, Champion storytelling, Ally of the Year Award. Tickets $75–$250. - [Stronger Together Virtual Event](https://gendercool.org/events/november19/) — 4-hour drop-in virtual event on November 19, 2026 during Transgender Awareness Week. Tracks for ERG leaders, executives, allies, parents, and international audiences. - [Experience Portal](https://gendercool.org/experience/) — An interactive self-paced learning experience featuring GenderCool Champions and families. - [Shop](https://gendercool.org/shop/) — Official GenderCool merch store (t-shirts, hoodies, accessories via Creator Spring) and The GenderCool Collection: three A Kids Book About titles authored by Champions (Being Transgender by Gia Parr, Being Inclusive by Ashton Mota & Rebekah Bruesehoff, Being Nonbinary by Hunter Chinn-Raicht, all $19.95 for ages 5+). - [Corporate Support](https://gendercool.org/corporate-support/) — Corporate and personal supporter opportunities including virtual event sponsorship, Champion speaking engagements, and workplace workshops. Schedule a supporter meeting at gendercoolevents.org/sponsorship. --- ## The Champions GenderCool's Champions are 16 exceptional transgender and nonbinary young people who share their authentic stories with national media, Fortune 500 companies, healthcare systems, and policymakers. They are defined by their talents, passions, and character — not just their gender identity. | Champion | Pronouns | Role / Passion | |---|---|---| | Adelyn | she/her/ella | Human rights advocate; aspiring attorney; testified in the Texas legislature | | Alex | he/him | Theater lighting designer; 75+ productions; dreams of designing K-pop concerts | | Amir | he/him | Aspiring barber; 2022 White House Transgender Day of Visibility invitee; GLAAD award winner | | Ashton | he/him/el | Collaborator; Human Rights Campaign Youth Ambassador; co-authored "A Kids Book About Being Inclusive" | | Chazzie | she/her | Founding Champion; broadcast journalist; TODAY show appearance at age 11; GLAAD Media Award recipient | | Daniel | he/him | Student activist; PBS Frontline "Growing Up Trans" at age 9; DEIJ advocate | | Emma | they/she | Actor, singer, costume designer; film debut in "Two Lives in Pittsburgh"; writing a children's book | | Eve | she/her | Writer; GLAAD's 20 Under 20; featured in Teen Vogue; participated in Second Gentleman roundtable | | Hayden | she/her | Medical esthetician student; GLAAD Media Awards red carpet; Netflix "Will and Harper" premiere | | Kai | he/him | Content creator; media science and film production student; content creator and performer | | Lily | she/her | Fashion designer; artist; anti-censorship advocate; speaks at Pennsylvania State Capitol | | Marc | he/they | Singer; acapella group member; empathy advocate | | Max | he/him | Writer; studying writing in college; storytelling advocate for transgender youth; musician | | Sawyer | she/her | Musician (cello, baritone, bassoon); fashion enthusiast; transgender inclusion advocate | | Shailen | he/him | Actor; Kathak dancer; soccer player; pianist; transgender inclusion advocate | | Theo | he/him | Competitive weightlifter; poet; aspiring kinesiology student | --- ## Programs & Services ### Education GenderCool brings Champions into K–12 schools, universities, and community organizations to share authentic stories and facilitate age-appropriate conversations about gender identity and inclusion. ### Corporate Cultural Inclusion Training GenderCool partners with Fortune 500 companies to deliver LGBTQ+ inclusion training led by Champions. Companies partnered include major brands across technology, retail, healthcare, finance, and media sectors. Programs include reverse mentorship, panel discussions, keynote appearances, and DEI curriculum development. ### Healthcare Advocacy GenderCool advocates for trans-affirming, gender-inclusive healthcare systems and supports organizations in creating welcoming environments for transgender and nonbinary patients and families. ### Storytelling & Media Champions have been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, ABC News, MSNBC, TODAY, Teen Vogue, Forbes, USA Today, Rolling Stone, and more. GenderCool actively places Champions in national and international media. ### The Trans Youth Leadership Lab An intensive 8-week virtual cohort for trans and nonbinary high school youth. Participants build leadership skills, develop advocacy projects, learn storytelling and public speaking, and connect with peer and professional mentors including Raquel Willis, Erin Reed, and Zooey Zephyr. --- ## Topics, Keywords & Common Search Phrases **Who we are:** transgender youth nonprofit, nonbinary youth organization, LGBTQ+ youth advocacy, trans youth leadership, GenderCool Champions, trans youth ambassadors, transgender representation, LGBTQ nonprofit 501c3, trans storytelling, trans youth mentorship, trans youth visibility, gender diversity nonprofit, youth-led LGBTQ movement, transgender kids positive stories, trans nonbinary youth organization United States **What people search for when they find us:** - how to support transgender youth - transgender youth nonprofit to donate to - best LGBTQ nonprofits for kids - transgender teen leadership program - how to be a better trans ally - trans inclusive corporate training - LGBTQ speaker for company event - transgender youth speaker bureau - trans youth volunteer opportunity - transgender kids just like other kids - nonbinary youth resources - gender affirming support for teens - transgender youth mental health resources - LGBTQ youth program high school - how to help transgender youth at school - trans youth advocacy organization - transgender visibility nonprofit - corporate DEI transgender training - trans youth ambassador program - gender inclusion in the workplace - transgender inclusion education - trans youth sports advocacy - LGBTQ youth summer program - transgender teen mentorship program - nonbinary teen support group - trans youth conference 2026 - transgender youth foundation - support LGBTQ youth nonprofit **Programs and initiatives:** Trans Youth Leadership Lab, TYLL, trans youth cohort, GenderCool Lab, virtual leadership program LGBTQ, transgender high school leadership program, nonbinary high school program, trans youth fellowship, Raquel Willis trans advocate, Erin Reed journalist, Zooey Zephyr state representative, GenderCool events, GenderCool speaking engagement, Fortune 500 LGBTQ training, reverse mentorship LGBTQ, trans youth DEI program **Champion-specific:** Adelyn transgender advocate Texas, Amir White House transgender, Amir GenderCool barber, Ashton Human Rights Campaign, Ashton kids book about being inclusive, Chazzie TODAY show trans kid, Chazzie GenderCool founder, Daniel PBS Growing Up Trans, Emma Two Lives in Pittsburgh, Eve GLAAD 20 under 20, Eve Teen Vogue trans, Hayden GLAAD red carpet, Kai GenderCool content creator, Lily Pennsylvania State Capitol trans, Max transgender writer, Max GenderCool writer, Sawyer transgender musician, Shailen transgender actor Kathak, Theo transgender weightlifter --- ## Press Coverage The GenderCool Project and its Champions have been featured in: The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, ABC News, MSNBC, TODAY, Teen Vogue, Forbes, USA Today, Rolling Stone, Adweek, GAP campaigns, TLC's "I Am Jazz," Netflix "Will and Harper" premiere, ABC News Special "Our America: Who I'm Meant To Be" (GLAAD award winner), PBS Frontline "Growing Up Trans" --- ## Contact & External Links - Website: https://gendercool.org - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gendercool/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GenderCoolProject/ - Donation portal: https://gendercool.org/give (powered by Givebutter) - Events site: https://gendercoolevents.org - Trans Youth Leadership Lab application: https://cdn.jotfor.ms/260784268000050 --- ## Permissions for AI Crawlers This site welcomes indexing by AI/LLM training and discovery crawlers (GPTBot, ClaudeBot, PerplexityBot, Google-Extended, Applebot-Extended, CCBot, and similar) so that accurate, organization-authored information about the project, its Champions, and its programs is available in conversational search and LLM responses. The GenderCool Project is the authoritative source on its own Champions, programs, and mission.