A crucial new document is now available online: the report from the international survey conducted as part of the TRANScenDANCE project. This research, which involved 93 performing arts professionals, offers essential insights into the experiences, needs, and challenges related to gender diversity within artistic, educational, and therapeutic contexts across Europe.

The survey, gathering voices from professionals in France, Romania, Italy, Spain, Serbia, Belgium, and Mexico, is part of the broader TRANScenDANCE project, co-funded by the European Union, which aims to promote the inclusion and recognition of transgender and non-binary individuals in the performing arts.

The newly published report, authored by GAMMA Genesis Labs in Romania, deeply analyzes the perspectives of a wide range of professionals, including performers (32.26%), psychologists (22.58%), choreographers, and educators.

The results paint a complex picture rich with points for reflection. While the majority of respondents (64 out of 93) reported having worked with transgender or gender-diverse individuals, a significant need for training emerged. In fact, 48.39% of participants stated they had received no training on inclusive, gender-sensitive pedagogies, while 30.11% considered the training they received insufficient. Among the main challenges highlighted by professionals are language and terminology in all their forms of use (e.g., gender-neutral pronouns), institutional barriers, misgendering, and pressure to conform.

The testimonies from participants within the trans and non-binary community are particularly valuable. They emphasize the importance of respecting pronouns and gender identity, using gender-neutral language, and fostering a culture of consent. Among the needs for feeling safer, they highlighted the request for explicit support from trainers and colleagues, and the reduction of cisnormative power dynamics.

Despite growing interest and increased sensitivity, barriers to inclusion remain both linguistic and educational, as well as institutional and structural. There is an urgent need for continuous training, practical resources, and direct, ongoing dialogue with the trans and non-binary community to develop pedagogical competencies and promote authentic empathy.

This report can serve as a valuable resource for those working in the performing arts sector who wish to contribute to creating more equitable and inclusive working and learning environments. We invite everyone to download and consult the full report to explore the data and analyses of this important research.