"I founded the Queer Trans Project during a time when I had just gotten comfortable with my sexuality, and then my mind was like, 'Wait, gender?'" Sunsarae said.

While navigating his coming-of-gender journey, Sunsarae sought help from nonprofits and grassroots organizations that aid and advocate for Queer and Trans people. "There were either none, or the resources that were available were very restrictive," he recalled.

"Some organizations will only give resources to individuals who identify a certain way, or if they're a certain age, or if they live in a certain city or zip code," he said. "I just think that's very restrictive, because you don't stop being Queer or Trans or Lesbian because of your age or where you live."

After noticing the gap in LGBTQ+-specific mutual aid programs, he started the Queer Trans Project. The organization stands on three principles: providing resources to everybody regardless of age, gender, or location; working within the community and not competing for resources with other LGBTQ+-focused nonprofits; and prioritizing the experiences of BIPOC people.

Build-A-Queer kits
When Sunsarae first started the Queer Trans Project, his main goal was to give aid to LGBTQ+ people however they needed it. The organization provided Trans-self-defense kits, a VR museum for BIPOC artists, and a mutual aid fund for anyone who needed financial help to access gender-affirming care. The most popular item on the website was a Build-A-Queer kit.

"Our Build-A-Queer kit program is ...an online website where all our products are listed, but everything is free, including shipping," Sunsarae explained. "We have things like binders, packers, and Trans tape for [those] who tuck. Makeup, toys, things like that. It's fully customizable, so they can get as much or as little as they need, within reason."

People can add whatever they need to their cart, including socks, T-shirts, literature, and sexual health items. Sunsarae asks that people take what they need and leave what they don't.

The kits are available on the website and split between Trans-masculine and Trans-feminine items. "We know that items aren't gendered, but, for example, a Trans femme [person] doesn't necessarily need a binder, so it's just for nuance," Sunsarae said.

Because BIPOC people, especially in the Queer and Trans communities, are more likely to face additional challenges when accessing gender-affirming care, the Queer Trans Project prioritizes them by making all of its Build-A-Queer kits available to Black and Brown customers a half hour earlier. "We know all the economic and societal impacts that have an impact on BIPOC communities, for example, not having steady access to the internet and things like that, so we just try to make it as equitable as possible," Sunsarae said.

Though Sunsarae has a team of dedicated board members located across the country, most of the labor that goes into the Build-A-Queer kits is his and that of his partner. "It's only me here in Jacksonville, Florida, with my partner, behind the scenes getting all those orders packed."

After seeing how popular the Build-A-Queer kits were, Sunsarae and his team decided to restructure their programming to serve the needs of those in the LGBTQ+ community more efficiently. "A month ago, we had a different program, but we've since restructured to focus better on the quality of the resources we give over the quantity," he explained. "I didn't want to lose focus on our mission and spread myself too thin, so ...now we're only focusing on the Build-A-Queer kits and the gender-affirming care flights."

Gender-affirming care flights
On top of providing free resources, like binders, tape, and makeup for Trans and Nonbinary people, the Queer Trans Project also helps connect those in need with free flights to states where they can access medical care, doctors, and other resources necessary for their transitions.

Just like the Build-A-Queer kits, gender-affirming care flights are always free. The Queer Trans Project partners with a volunteer pilot program called Elevated Access, which transports patients at no cost to get the healthcare they need. Those interested in using this transportation service can contact the Queer Trans Project, which will then send a referral.

"They just have to hit us up in our email, and we will ensure they meet the requirements," Sunsarae explained. "Our only requirement is that they identify as a Transgender individual and have an upcoming need to receive gender-affirming care. For example, if the [person] needs surgery or a consultation, they provide us with proof."

Fundraising for the next launch
The Build-A-Queer kits are available only a few times a year and often sell out very quickly. "At first, that was an exciting thing to hear — it's exhilarating, and it shows the need we have and the need the community has," Sunsarae said. "However, it led to people thinking we were a scam, because although X [number] of people were getting it, these many people weren't. I didn't like that, especially since we were dropping quarterly. Now we're working to have rolling availability."

The Queer Trans Project is fundraising and applying for grants to provide more kits for people in need. In its first year, it received $35,000 in grants and started a partnership with G2CB, which donates all the binders the organization gives away.

It also relies heavily on donations from community members. "We had a drag crew in Nebraska raise $1,000 for us in one night, and that alone is going to help us provide items for 500 more kits," Sunsarae said. "It may seem like a little bit, but everything helps, big or small. Anything makes a difference."

Recently, the Queer Trans Project partnered with Lush, which now provides free items in each Build-A-Queer kit. Cantiq LA also ran a drive the first week of June and donated one product to Queer Trans Project for every item sold.

The project is getting ready for the next launch, which will be sometime in September. The fundraising goal is $50,000.

The Queer Trans Project is always open to people willing to donate their time or money to help the organization. There's a "Take Action" tab on the website, which provides all the information needed on how to donate directly or start a fundraiser.

"The other way to volunteer is what we need the most — handwritten letters," Sunsarae said. "Each Build-A-Queer kit comes with handwritten letters, and we send out a lot of them."

On the frontlines
The Queer Trans Project currently serves people in nearly every state in the US and is looking to expand globally soon. It sends the most kits to Texas and Florida.

"What the numbers show here, especially with all the anti-Queer and anti-Trans laws going on, [is that] these people's lives are at stake, and we're doing lifesaving work," Sunsarae said. "You see Florida there. You see Texas there as well. Those are dangerous states right now."

No matter how dangerous it gets in these Southern states, Sunsarae says he will continue to provide Build-A-Queer kits and gender-affirming care flights to anyone who needs them.

"The work we do is not only gender empowering and provides [people] with a better sense of who they are and can make them feel confident and powerful and themselves, but it's lifesaving work," he said.

He knows he is making a difference in the world, especially when he received reviews from satisfied customers like Jayden Ybarra, who said, "I've never been able to find or make a binder that could make my chest flat. Not until I found you guys. I cried tears of joy when I put my binder on. You guys made a lost dream come true for me."

A message to the Queer and Trans community
"Our community believes in us, and we pass that around to [others] in need. Those are two bases for me founding the Queer Trans Project," Sunsarae said.

His biggest goal for the next year is to provide more. Donations are essential to keeping the project going. "For [those] who want to help out, the first thing is to donate. The drag queens who raised money for us in Nebraska, they're probably thinking $1,000 might not be much, but this is what we have to offer. That does a lot. That's 500 more kits," Sunsarae said.

Even interacting with the Queer Trans Project on social media helps boost its presence. Every week, the organization hosts "Tag 'em Tuesdays," when it chooses one celebrity or organization with influence to tag on all its posts so as to bring more attention to the cause. Recently it reached out to Lizzo, following the news of her new gender-affirming clothing line.

The Queer Trans Project is fighting on the frontlines in one of the most dangerous states for LGBTQ+ people. Despite the risk, Sunsarae is determined to show love and kindness to everyone in his community who needs it.

"I just want to leave a message to our Queer and Trans community," he said. "There is a lot of hate in this world right now, and a lot of it is because of ignorance and misinformation causing a lot of mass hysteria. No matter what it takes, we will get you the resources you need. I'm not getting paid for this, but I'm going to keep doing this, because this is what I love. You are family, and you are cared for."