In May 2025, Micro Rainbow launched the Trans Zine of Knowledge, a creative project bringing together trans and non-binary members of our community to make a zine by and for trans migrants living in the UK.
Over the course of a year, community members met monthly to take part in creative workshops exploring wellbeing, community, freedom, healthcare and identity. The project grew into a collective publication shaped by the ideas, experiences, creativity and knowledge of everyone who took part.
Shaping the vision together
In the first workshop, participants used games, theatre and movement exercises to get to know one another and create a supportive environment for creativity. Together, the group established ways of working, looked at examples of zines, and discussed what they wanted their own publication to include, from imagery and colours to themes and content.
From the outset, participants were clear about what they wanted the zine to be.
They wanted it to offer guidance and advice for trans migrants in the UK, to challenge systems that restrict people from living freely, and to showcase creativity, joy and community. They wanted to create something that recognised struggle without being defined by it.
The group explored themes including ‘we have always been here’, health and wellbeing, pride and community, and freedom.
As the months passed, different workshops contributed new ideas and creative materials to the publication.
Taking our message to London Trans+ Pride
In July 2025, participants designed and painted a banner for London Trans+ Pride after discussing shared values, global struggles and injustice. The finished banner carried the message:
“We will make history here and globally. We will make music and dance until all displaced LGBTQ+ are free.”
The group marched with the banner at Trans+ Pride, sharing their message of solidarity and collective liberation.
Exploring healthcare and wellbeing
Several workshops focused on wellbeing and healthcare. Through theatre exercises, participants explored the barriers many trans people face when accessing healthcare in the UK.
These conversations reflected experiences familiar to many trans people seeking asylum, including difficulties accessing hormones and gender-affirming care, navigating complex systems, and having their identities questioned.
Following these discussions, participants created collages, shared practical information, and learned medical and administrative terminology that can help people navigate services.
In another workshop, participants used objects to represent their wellbeing needs and created wellbeing maps of London. These individual maps were later combined into a single reimagined queer map of the city, which appears on the second page of the zine.
Experimenting with different creative methods
In February 2026, participants experimented with creating chemigrams, a photographic process that does not require a camera. Using glue, citrus fruits, honey, coffee, ink, stickers and other materials, they altered the development process of photographic paper to create striking abstract images.
These artworks became the backgrounds throughout the zine and appear together as a collage on the back cover.
Poems, messages and collective wisdom
Throughout the project, participants wrote collective poems by responding to questions about freedom and wellbeing.
Messages of care, strength and solidarity were gathered from community members at QueerSwap’s Trans(formations) Day at Goldie Saloon, alongside reflections written by participants themselves.
In one of the final workshops, the group explored feelings of being weighed down and letting go through movement and dance, reflecting on what they wanted to release and what they wanted to carry forward.
A message to trans and non-binary migrants
The project grew as a living, evolving community effort, shaped by the perspectives, ideas and desires of everyone who joined the workshops. Through this publication, we want to send a message to trans migrants arriving in the UK, past, present and future: you are not alone.
The Trans Zine of Knowledge is the result of a year of collaboration, creativity and community-building. It reflects the experiences of the people who made it and the importance of creating spaces where trans and non-binary people can connect, learn from one another and share knowledge.
Thank you to all collaborating artists and facilitators, and to every community member who contributed to the project. River Álmos Újhadbor was the lead artist and facilitator of this project.
Support our work with trans refugees and people seeking asylum
Projects like the Trans Zine of Knowledge are only possible because of the support of our community and allies.
We have a limited number of the zines available to send to anyone in the UK who makes a minimum £10 donation to support our work with trans+ migrants. If you’d like to order one, please email info@mrifoundation.global and we will send you instructions on how to make your donation and receive the zine.
