Indya Moore knows all too well what it’s like to go without during the holidays.
This year, Moore decided they would no longer allow the same thing to happen to other children. The 25-year-old Pose actor launched TranSanta, a crowdsourced initiative that lets users anonymously gift presents to trans kids and young adults in need.
“Trans issues don’t receive much visibility or attention unfortunately, but this year has been the most violent and deadly for my community,” Moore, wrote on Instagram. “It has been very upsetting.”
In the video, Moore explains how they developed the idea for TranSanta with friends Kyle Lasky, Chase Strangio and Pidgeon Pagonis. The TranSanta official Instagram account features hundreds of letters penned by trans youth, revealing their Christmas wish lists. From there, donors can click the link in the bio that leads to a Target registry for each individual child.
“I didn’t have a chimney growing up in the Bronx or in foster care, but I do have my community now,” Moore added. “My friends and I want to make sure that trans kids feel like they are a gift to this world because they are. Acceptance and love are gifts we all deserve all year.”
For Moore, the TranSanta project reinforces to trans youth that they are loved and their livelihoods matter — something they should be experiencing all year long and not just during the holidays. Moore’s initiative is one step closer in affirming this.
Since its launch on December 5, TranSanta has already received dozens of wishlists, and submissions include handwritten notes, adorable drawings, and additional calls for support.