Welcome to the Permanence Project!

Hello all!

Thank you for checking out the site! Whether you're reading this openly or safely in the closet, this site is for all transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming folx, their parents, and potential allies regardless of race, background, or location.

My name is Angela Wicke (she/her), I go by Angie, and I'm the editor of the Permanence Project. I am a transgender woman, a LGBTQ+ rights activist, and writer based in southeast Connecticut.

As hateful misinformation has spread, transphobic bills have been introduced and implemented all across the country, and another divisive presidential election is on the horizon, it is a dangerous time to be transgender. Performative fearmongering by politicians, influencers, and media outlets has disastrous impacts on our community, fostering an environment of hate, intolerance, and medical discrimination, forcing many in the transgender community--especially our younger and BIPOC siblings--into isolation, depression, and suicide. In my experience, even well-meaning cisgender allies have a tendency to speak over or for trans individuals, usually with a fundamental misunderstanding of what it really means to be a part of our community. Transgender folx have largely been denied the means to freely discuss their experiences, unique perspectives, and struggles in a safe environment, and as such many of us hide our authentic selves out of fear of violent and/or economic retaliation.

To counteract this, I decided to start working on the Permanence Project. I plan to meet with interested transgender individuals or the parents of transgender individuals, interview them about their experiences, and then edit their responses to build their story in their own words while only censoring what information is necessary to preserve the speaker's anonymity. Once I have a good number of stories collected, I'll publish an anthology of them so that as many people can access it as possible.

Essentially, this project is designed to be a way for transgender individuals from all around the country to safely share their experiences and learn about the experiences of others. Most transgender stories have at least some elements in common, but no two individuals have the exact same experience. Community and acceptance comes from being able to feel a part of a group that can relate to you while celebrating and embracing your differences. It is my hope to build bridges between the members of our community through mutual understanding and respect, and let everyone in our community--especially scared and lonely kids suffering in isolation--know that you aren't alone. You have value, and your story, no matter what challenges you've experienced, is worth telling and preserving. Permanently.

You can read the first two stories I've completed so far under the Stories tab, or If you're interested in telling your story, have any concerns, or would like to suggest a resource you find helpful to add to our list, you can find more information in the Contact Us and Get Involved tab.

Let's tell our stories to write a better one for us all.

-Angie