Transsport
Your life on hold for years: that is the daily reality for many transgender people. At this point, the waitingtime to receive gender-affirming care goes up to four years. That’s a long time to not be yourself. That is why Queertopia Foundation initiated ‘Transsport’: six months of intensive support for 50 Amsterdam-based trans people in need of gender-affirming care. Explore your gender identity through sports, individual coaching, social gatherings, and workshops, alleviate gender dysphoria, foster trans joy, and strengthen your sense of community. We promote mental and physical resilience and provide positive examples of trans representation. Transsport is a project for and by trans people.
6
Months
50
Trans people
33
Support sessions
The project
Transsport consists of four elements: sports, social gatherings, workshops, and individual coaching sessions. After the intake where we discuss the needs and wishes of participants one-on-one, phase one starts: ten work-outs in groups based on shared goals, skills, and interests, six community gatherings, the start of the individual coaching sessions, and three thematic workshops. Then follows phase two, in which participants receive a 13-week gym pass, four social gatherings, two thematic workshops, and a continuation of the individual coaching.
Tailored to you
Sports take place at Queertopia Foundation's 'We Are Queer' in Amsterdam East, a gym especially for queer people. In addition, participants partake in individual coaching sessions tailored to their personal goals. This could be personal training in the gym, nutritional coaching, job coaching, or sessions focused on gender euphoria such as speech therapy or make-up courses. The communal workshops range from a film screening and Q&A with a transgender filmmaker, a market with products for trans people, to a cooking workshop. Trans people hosting the workshops contribute to positive representation in the lives of the participants. The community gatherings go in-depth on trans identities. This can be about being transgender and BIPOC, dealing with external negativity, (chosen) family, and trans joy.
Calendar
GROUP SESSIONS
The group sessions of the 5 different groups will start between 30/03 and 05/04 and will run until 16/06. Underneath you will find the days / times on which the sessions will take place. In the sign up form you can let us know which day and time you prefer.
GROUP 1
Saturday @ 13:00
GROUP 2
Sunday @ 13:00
GROUP 3
Monday @ 10:00 uur or Thursday @ 08:00 (depending on demand).
GROUP 4
Thursday @ 19:30.
GROUP 5
Friday @ 19:30.
COMMUNITY GATHERINGS
The 10 community gatherings will be held every 2 weeks on Sunday at 15:00. These gatherings will run from April till September.
WORKSHOPS
The 5 workshops will be held every 4 weeks and on Sunday at 15:00 (but will be on different dates than the community gatherings). These workshops will run from April till the end of September.
INDIVIDUAL COACHING SESSIONS
The individual coaching sessions will be planned according to the participant’s availability.
Timeline
FAQ
Hi! I would love to participate, but I haven't exercised in the past 10 years. What do you expect in terms of fitness?
Come join us! We adapt our groups and gym exercises to the capabilities of the participants. We have no fitness criteria. We hope that you can discover sports at We Are Queer as something enjoyable.
How much time do I spend on this during the week?
Time will be variable throughout the program, but will vary from 1-3 hours per week.
What are the costs for this project?
Thanks to a subsidy from the Municipality of Amsterdam, Queertopia Foundation can offer this program for free to participants.
Ik ben nog geen 18, mag ik deelnemen aan Transsport?
Unfortunately, Transsport is for adults only. Adults of all ages are welcome to participate. Maybe you can participate in a (few) years. If you want to know more about the possibilities of working out at WERQ, contact us through this form.
I am trans but I have not yet registered with my GP. Can I participate?
Transsport focuses specifically on people on the waiting list, thinking about getting a referral or just started their journey at the genderclinic. If you find yourself in a different part of your transition but feel like this project would benefit you greatly, please do not refrain from signing up.
I don't live in Amsterdam. Would I still be allowed to participate?
Due to financing, we can only offer this program to participants who live in Amsterdam. If you do not have a permanent place of residence, please contact us through transsport@queertopia.nl: we may be able to arrange something.
I identify as agender, can I still join Transsport?
Transsport is for all people who identify as trans and are on the waiting list for gender affirming care, including people who identify as a-gender, non-binary, or otherwise.
I really want to participate, but I am also going on holiday for a month in August. Can I still join?
For Transsport we only ask one thing: dedication! We think it is very important that participants complete the entire process so that they can get the most out of it and social connections in the group can flourish. If several people are away for a longer period, this will have an impact on the group. That is why we only expect absence due to circumstances.
Can the program also be followed by English-speaking people?
Transsport is also accessible for English speaking trans folks. The activities can be held in Dutch, English, or a combination, in consultation with the participants.
Have you read up on the project and are you an Amsterdam-based trans person currently on the waiting list to receive gender-affirming care? Register via the registration button below and we will contact you to schedule an intake!
If you are still hesitant about whether or not to sign up, please contact us through transsport@queertopia.nl.
