This L.A. dance party is a rare 'utopia' for trans women. But now it's in danger of closing

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Set us as preferred “There are so few spaces for us,” bartender and musician Valerie Dean says.She’s been slinging Red Bull vodkas and White Claws for Trans*cendent partygoers on and off since the event’s early days in a Boyle Heights basement, which to her felt like a DIY punk gig.

It’s rare for trans women to feel a sense of ease in public space.But multiple times a year Trans*cendent takes over locations around L.A.

creating one of the only underground raves curated by and for trans women and their allies.Prompted by a lack of spaces for trans people, Lydia Savage, along with collaborators Sabrina, Naomi, Marc and Elith (all asked to not include their last names), decided to create Trans*cendent in 2023.After three years, the one-of-a-kind party is in danger of closing.

Not because of a lack of care from the community or bad curation, but because, like most parties in Los Angeles, costs are rising and they are simply not making enough money.Trans*cendent is something between a public and private event, emphasizing music and dancing, creating community gatherings held in secret locations which are announced hours before the party to ticketholders only.It operates on a shoestring budget, providing a fun and sexy respite from the dangers and stressors of transphobia for a few hours, set to a soundtrack created by trans and queer DJs.DJ and party attendee Sarah Graves loves the queer vendors selling accessories, giving out harm-reduction materials, and zines, and the Piercings by Mire booth that frequently pops up at the rave.

“Self-expression is such an important part of living your truth as a trans person,” she says, so “it’s only right to see body modifications being available safely in a place like this.” She also notes that the chillout room upstairs, all-gender bathrooms and gaming station are...