Joy Through Community
"It was the first time I have felt truly at ease in years."
Too often, trans folks are forced to isolate themselves due to experiences of discrimination and violence. Simply being able to exist in your own body is a privilege often denied to trans folks. Something magical happens when you are a trans person surrounded by other trans folks - a sense of normalcy and ease that allows you to simply enjoy the moment. When you are able to connect with other members of your community, you are able to discuss, learn, trade, heal, and grow.
Our events aim to go beyond entertainment to nurture meaningful relationships that allow us to
support each other in more sustainable ways than what is provided by mainstream culture.
About Trans Joy KC
Mission & Vision
Mission: Trans Joy KC serves all-ages trans and gender non-conforming residents and visitors to the
Kansas City Metro Area by providing opportunities for collective community support and connection.
Trans Joy KC is committed to providing a restorative space for spirits to rest and meet the world with resilience, and above all, facilitating joy in the trans experience.
Mission Highlights:
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Focus on spiritual growth - connection to self and others
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Emphasis on community support building - interdependence over independence
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Building healthier lives through holistic support
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We seek to redefine the trans community by our joy, rather than our oppression
Vision: We envision a world where all transgender people have the community support they need to live their most joyful life.
Vision Highlights:
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The trans and gender non-conforming community has everything it needs to be able to support itself.
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When trans folks come together to support one another, the result is sustainable joy.
Meet Our Team
Trans Joy is proudly owned and operated by trans folks, for trans folks
Founder & CEO
Kipp Ellis (they/them)
A nurse by trade, Kipp got involved in transgender activism while working as the Gender-Affirming Care Coordinator & LGBT+ Educator for a local clinic. They now work as a pediatrics nurse and public speaker on topics of transness and healthcare. Proud autistic, Kipp is working to create Trans Joy into an organization that connects & supports transgender people from all walks of life. On the rare occasion that they aren't working, you can find Kipp at home watching Steven Universe with their nesting partner, building miniatures, or snuggling with their dog Lola.
Please contact Kipp if your organization wants to collaborate with Trans Joy for events, speaking engagements, etc.
To contact Kipp, please reach out to: transjoykc@gmail.com
Director of Organizational Development
Parker Comer (they/she)
Parker was born & raised in Kansas City. They are a parent of seven and have multiple unofficial foster kids. They started out with the MO Dept. of Corrections after getting a degree in Forensic Investigation, but changed careers to Nursing when their last child was born autistic/deaf/blind. They have since received their MBA from KU (Rock Chalk!) and serve on the board of several organizations including as Naka-Kon's Director of Accessibility. Parker is proudly poly, demi, & pan and is fluent in ASL. Parker focuses on empowerment for others, reducing disparities in organizational management, and strategic development for charitible organizations. They are working to help Trans Joy grow in a sustainable way.
Please contact Parker if you have a fundraising opportunity or questions about donating.
To contact Parker, please reach out to: parker.transjoy@gmail.com
Volunteer Coordinator
K Bowers (they/them)
K or KB was born and raised in KC. They have a background in event coordination and client relations management. They have two furry gremlins that happily consume their paycheck. You can catch them playing kickball, drinking at the Renaissance festival, planning a weekend trip, or hosting a themed event at their house. KB's focus is to help plan fun things for their trans KC family by managing Trans Joy's volunteer pool, including as Co-Director of Trans Joy Camp.
Please contact KB if you have questions about volunteer opportunities.
To contact KB, please reach out to: kb.transjoy@gmail.com
Origin Story
Trans Joy KC was founded by Kipp Ellis in the Spring of 2023. A rise in anti-trans legislation at the time coincided with Transgender Day of Visibility, leading trans people to take to the streets and raise their voices in defiance of what felt like an unstoppable wave of oppression. The power was palpable. However, it left some of us wondering - when do we get to rest? How can we revel in the joy of the trans experience when we are only being defined by our struggles? In answer to these questions, the first Trans Joy in the Park event was hosted on the Nelson Museum lawn as a place for trans and gender non-conforming folks to come together and just be in all our gender-bending glory. Over a hundred people of transgender experience showed up to this first event, and Trans Joy KC was born.
As summer of 2023 approached, Kipp was inspired by their childhood summer camp experiences to create a similar space for the Trans Joy KC community to commune together in nature. Kipp put together the first Trans Joy Camp with a small group of volunteers and created the Trans Joy LLC to process ticket sales. Trans Joy Camp proved to be a life-changing experience for those involved, and motivated continued growth of Trans Joy KC as an organization. As fall turned to winter, Kipp realized they were going to need help from like-minded individuals if they were going to be able to grow Trans Joy KC to its true potential. K Bowers and Parker Comer joined Trans Joy KC in the early months of 2024 as founding board members alongside Kipp. With the help of additional volunteers, Trans Joy KC has been able to continue hosting monthly events and expand the attendance for our 2024 Trans Joy Summer Camp. As of Spring 2025, we are focusing on redesigning our website, bringing on volunteers to host more events, and preparing for Trans Joy Camp 2025.