Preliminaries
Trans USA 2026
April 10-12 (Milwaukee, WI)
Trans USA 2026 will combine the artistry and empowerment of our respected, service-oriented national pageantry platform with the inaugural National Trans Access Conference, cultivating a space where celebration meets strategy, and where visibility meets action.
Honoring Black Trans Leaders: Past, Present, and Future
Hosted in our home city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the weekend's theme—Black Nite Rising—honors the 1961 Black Nite Uprising, one of the earliest documented LGBTQ+ uprisings in U.S. history, which took place 8 years before Stonewall. By grounding this event in Milwaukee’s own legacy of resilience, we intentionally shine a light on the leaders and communities whose contributions have too often gone unrecognized in mainstream outlets.
​
Our pageant theme, "Melanin Magic", also celebrates a historic milestone: the reign of the first all-Black Trans USA court. The symbolism is intentional. Just as stars shine brightest against the night sky, today’s Black trans leaders rise against a backdrop of courageous ancestors whose advocacy, resilience, and sacrifice made this moment possible. The legacy of past leaders forms the night sky; today’s leaders are the stars guiding us forward.
​
This historic, multi-day community event will feature the launch of the National Trans Access Conference—a powerful, unified gathering designed to empower, educate, and connect community members and allies from across the country.
A Pivotal Moment for Milwaukee
Trans USA 2026 was originally slated to take place in Washington, DC (November 2025). However, due to evolving safety concerns within the region, community feedback, and the broader climate affecting transgender communities nationwide, the event has been thoughtfully relocated to our home city of Milwaukee.
​
This shift presents Milwaukee with a powerful opportunity.
As the historic site of the Black Nite Uprising and the birthplace of Trans USA, Milwaukee is uniquely positioned to host a gathering rooted in both legacy and forward momentum.
Milwaukee has the opportunity to demonstrate itself as a city that is progressive, community-centered, and committed to safety, inclusion, and civic partnership.
​
At a time when many communities are watching how cities respond to the needs of transgender residents and visitors, Milwaukee can stand as a model, showing that economic impact, cultural vibrancy, and equity go hand in hand. Hosting this event places Milwaukee at the forefront of a national conversation about belonging, leadership, and visibility.
​
Right: Tony Snell Rodriguez, Director of Community Engagement and Inclusion with Visit Milwaukee, at Trans USA National Registration in 2024.
Building Bridges: Milwaukee and Beyond
Trans USA’s Milwaukee homecoming draws on the strength of our 2024 partnerships with Hilton Milwaukee City Center, Milwaukee Turners, the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, This is It!, Mayor Cavalier-Johnson, Tu Casa, Villanas, Milwaukee Area Technical College, the Milwaukee Police Department, Wisconsin Emergency Management, the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, 16th Street Center, and the Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission.
​
These hometown partnerships and displays of solidarity set the stage for Trans USA’s intensive partnership with World Pride and dozens of local organizations in Washington, DC, where our reigning representatives and national director presented a panel discussion at the International Human Rights Conference and were featured at numerous official World Pride events. The team was also selected for a prime workshop slot to present on the final day of the National LGBTQ+ Task Force’s Creating Change Conference in Washington, DC, this January.
​
The National Trans Access Conference has also received a small amount of funding through the Action for Transformation Fund of the Transgender Law Center to assist in the development of our conference programming, in solidarity and collaboration with other local, regional, and national groups.