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Last updated on August 07, 2025
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Transgender and nonbinary youth in America have been resilient in the face of ongoing attacks for the last several years. While harmful legislation has been passed at both the federal and state-level, trans youth have continued to focus on the things that give them strength, purpose, and joy.
This is why, as part of ACLU’s Freedom to Be campaign, the ACLU of NC is is proud to launch 5 short animations and a children's book focusing on the happiness of trans and nonbinary youth. Through this proect, we are uplifting and highlighting the voices of real trans and nonbinary North Carolinian youth right here in our communities. They proudly demonstrate that no amount of hateful rhetoric or legislation can steal their freedom to be happy.
The ACLU of NC would like to thank the Rainbow Collective for Change, Time Out Youth, PFLAG Charlotte, and the LGBT Center of Raleigh for their support in this project, as well as all the trans and nonbinary youth in North Carolina who shared their stories with us. This project wouldn't exist without you, and the world is a better place because you're in it.
Animations
The following animations are based on the experiences and stories of trans and nonbinary youth in North Carolina that were collected by the ACLU of NC via interviews. Identities of these youth, absent of age and pronouns, have been redacted for their safety. Animations do not represent the youth interviewed and any likenesses are coincidental.
