Trans*cendent, an underground rave curated by and for trans women and their allies, has become a rare and vital gathering in Los Angeles. After three years of creating a space emphasizing community, music, and self-expression, the party is now in danger of closing due to rising costs, its organizers report.
Valerie Dean, a bartender and musician who has worked at Trans*cendent since its early days in a Boyle Heights basement, highlighted the scarcity of such venues. She notes that it's uncommon for trans women to feel at ease in public. Dean described the experience of being in a place where "you’re the norm," feeling akin to "taking your bra off." She also compared the atmosphere to old-school lesbian bars, which fostered tight-knit communities but are now extremely rare, with only 36 reportedly remaining open in the U.S., none specifically catering to trans women. Dean lovingly describes some attendees as "absolute babies" who are new to their transitions, and finds joy in simply being "normal to people who aren’t used to being treated normal," a sentiment she explains translates to "you’re welcome here. I got you."
The party, which takes over various secret locations across L.A. announced hours before to ticketholders, operates on a shoestring budget. Creator Lydia Savage, who started the party with collaborators Sabrina, Naomi, Marc, and Elith, was motivated to create a space where trans women could feel free both behind the DJ decks and on the dancefloor. She explains that trans women DJs are often at the forefront of new, heavy, beat-driven electronic music genres like hard groove, donk, and sex trance. Trans*cendent prioritizes queer women DJs who craft sets responsively to the crowd, an intentional intervention against what Savage described as a "boys club" electronic dance music scene where many DJs have become "lazy." The rave also features live lighting and effects, using a custom-made rig and proprietary software built by Marc, who Savage credits for making the party "as cool as possible for the community" through his donated tech skills and gear.
Beyond the music, Trans*cendent fosters a strong sense of community and self-expression. DJ and attendee Sarah Graves values the queer vendors selling accessories, offering harm-reduction materials, and zines, along with a frequent Piercings by Mire booth. She emphasizes the importance of self-expression for trans individuals, noting that safe body modifications are crucial in such a space. She also highlighted the chillout room, all-gender bathrooms, and gaming station as special components. Another ravegoer, Alice, who has attended nearly every event, recalled the basement days and emphasized that "Trans*cendent has always been about community first and foremost." Alice also mentioned that the space was built "from the ground up to make it a genuinely welcoming space," especially for those who feel alienated or unsafe in other party scenes. Even when Alice was unemployed, Savage covered her entrance cost. The party’s entry fee is sliding scale for the trans community, with no one turned away for lack of funds, a vital policy given that a Human Rights Campaign (HRC) study cited in the source found trans women earn only 60 cents for every dollar a "typical worker" makes, compared to 70 cents for trans men and nonbinary people.
Despite its unique importance, Trans*cendent faces significant financial hurdles. Savage explained that unlike traditional live music venues, most rave warehouses are owned by individuals — "trust fund kids, real estate investors and tech bros" — who often "gatekeep" their spaces from queer and innovative parties. The small warehouses Trans*cendent typically books have become unaffordable, forcing Savage to pay a "significant amount" out of her own pocket. She described it as "too much considering we’re a niche party," noting that they are "lucky to break 150 because mostly only trans people come." Savage leads the security team herself, supported by a crew of dedicated lesbians and a few men with guard cards, who ensure no weapons enter and practice de-escalation. Savage's intention is to create an environment focused on ambiance, music, and the people, where trans women don't feel "constant eyes on them," and to help people discover queer and trans DJs like SOFFPUPPY, Ava Blank, Eva Mayra May, Kaitlyn, Initial Rhi, and Alyxxx, who often create music in their bedrooms.
The party's continuation relies on navigating these rising costs to keep providing a fun and sexy respite from transphobia for its community.
