Centering Resistance Amid the Vitriol: Explanatory Sequential Study of Motivators for Participation in Activism and Policy Action for Transgender and Gender Diverse Justice

This study examines transgender and gender diverse (TGD) activism and policy action, underexplored areas despite rising anti-TGD legislation in the U.S. Utilizing a two-phase explanatory sequential mixed methods design, it queers mixed methods by integrating desire-based design, embodying the politicization of TGD issues, and emphasizes personal-professional integration. Structural equation modeling identified gender-specific motivators for TGD activism and policy action. Phase 2 involved six focus groups, uncovering themes such as the impact of gender on participation, personal connections to TGD justice, performative allyship, barriers to policy action, and the role of social movement organizations in reducing barriers. These insights guide strategies for community mobilization and organizing to support TGD justice.