In Partnership with
October 17, 2025
You're no doubt aware of the huge contribution that the trans community has made to our scene, from artists like Wendy Carlos pioneering electronic music to the way trans clubbers were among the first to embrace and nurture disco, house and techno, from the Loft to the Warehouse to the Paradise Garage to Ibiza and beyond.
In electronic music and club culture, we've long prided ourselves on being a beacon of acceptance, welcome and diversity, of embracing and supporting every one on the dancefloor and in the industry. Song lyrics, artists, thought leaders and even the biggest commercial brands love to point to the dancefloor as refuge, a place of freedom and safety and self expression. How sincere that is, is now being tested.
At this year's IMS Ibiza, one of the most deeply moving and powerful talks was AFEM's Trans Inclusion Charter session, featuring cultural dynamos like HE.SHE.THEY.’s Sophia Kearney, Sashkia Menendez (the driving force behind the charter), artist softchaos, and Boudica founder Samantha Togni, and it felt both vital and urgent, particularly when softchaos addressed the audience directly: “There are trans artists who are DJs being detained for doing their jobs because they were brave enough to change their gender markers,” they said. “They aren’t safe doing jobs that most people wouldn’t think twice about. What can we – you – in the music business, do to protect them?”
When a key part of our people, our culture, is under attack, we need to step up more than ever; if we don't set an example, then who will? For this IMS Ibiza Long Read, we asked Sashkia, softchaos, clubber / dancer Danni Spooner and HE.SHE.THEY.'s Steven Braines where best to start.
Show your working
Danni and softchaos point out just how important and helpful it is when clubs and events publicise their policies and make sure everyone knows what they stand for. When we speak to softchaos, they're getting set to play a party at Tresor in Berlin, Blueprint 313, for the first time: "It's run by three queer black women that are from Detroit. Part of their ethos is to continue the legacy that techno has built. And within that, I know for a fact that I'd be safe as a black trans person at that party. Not because of their identities, but because of the way that they curate their party, what they say that they're about online and the fact that they follow through with that." Steven, whose HE.SHE.THEY. events set a gold standard for welcome and diversity, describes their three-pronged approach." [First] we set out posters with a range of house rules ranging from 'no transphobia', 'no homophobia', through to no ageism', 'no ableism' and beyond. [That] just shows people a level of behavior that is expected, so there can't be any gray areas."
"On our social media we talk about trans rights, but we also talk about female reproductive rights and things like that too, through to right now we have been correcting people's understanding about refugees and things like that. Our flyers feature [a diverse range of] club kids. I think by setting an intention you call to the people who have that shared vision with you and you repel the people who don't (and I'm quite cool with that)." The third element, says Steven, is including ways for people to get any help or information they might need, such as numbers to call or advice on who to speak to. "Rather than pretend that [incidents] won't happen, the real test is when something goes wrong; that there's protocols to actually deal with that: making sure that people can report stuff, making sure that people are empowered if something does go wrong.
…but make sure every single part of the team is trained and on board
Of course you also have to live those policies as a team. If the security and staff at the venue aren't trained to enforce them (or don't believe in them) they won't make any difference. "Briefing security on queer and trans inclusion," says Danni, "makes such a big difference to a night. I've definitely felt the difference between when that has happened and when it hasn't happened." From the door staff to the bar staff to the toilet attendant, everyone needs to be on board. "We do a formalised briefing with everyone on the night and then we also do an advanced one ahead of time so we can kind of anticipate problems," says Steven. Once again, it's key to have redress in real time too."We do have live feedback, if someone's not understood or they're deliberately not understanding [we can have a word and fix anything that comes up]. When you're trying to change culture, it's not always instantaneous, but I like how the more you work with the venue, the more people understand and get it. People are good, they want to learn!"
Flexibility and empathy transform how artists experience the industry
Maybe the worst case scenario possible is trans artists not being booked, trans clubbers not being welcomed, because potential allies are afraid of causing offence or just a bit of complexity. Getting back to a time when this industry was a bit more flexible and DIY and a bit less rote will help. Employers having understanding, says Danni, is vital. "OK, so someone might be a bit late because they've had to deal with something. It's a lot more likely that a trans person's going to have something happen on the way to the club or work, be harassed on the street, than someone who's cis or straight."
Bookers: is the name on official documents not matching your personal expectations really a big deal? Never seemed to be an issue for Deadmau5. The trans community is more resilient and tougher that you could possibly imagine, and economic support is a matter of survival. Being flexible is a key part of being supportive.
Make sure your line-ups and leadership reflect your values
Want to make trans clubbers feel welcome at your event? Book great trans artists. Not as window dressing, but because you've listened to their work and you respect it. They're out there, and they always have been. "The more inclusive these lineups are," says softchaos, "the more I think these venues and festivals and experiences become more positive for us as trans artists." Encouraging and nurturing trans promoters is just as valuable - and as the Trans Charter states clearly, more trans people in leadership roles in the industry is absolutely essential.
Helping trans folks helps everyone
Just as bile from the powerful in society has consequences for individual trans people on the way to the club, the way we treat the most vulnerable in our community - of our customers - benefits all of it. As softchaos says, "at the end of the day, helping trans folks helps everybody." With clubbing as an industry having to compete for the time and attention of a new generation with everything from Netflix to Deliveroo to gym culture, initiatives such as, say, post club supervised areas to sort out transport, welfare teams, and switched-on security, raise the bar of safety and community for everyone on the dancefloor, and they're also just good business.
All the information you need is already out there
Softchaos points out how tedious and hostile repeated interrogation about what pronouns mean at every gig can get ("just check out a person's Instagram!"). Information and education is readily available: DJs Eris Drew and Octo Octa, for example, provide venues that want to host their quite incredible T4T LUV NRG parties with a practical, lucid and achievable guide to ensuring the safety and welcome of trans clubbers and artists alike. The trans charter is available at the AFEM website and is a fountain of best practice. And of course if you want to make the experience better, it's still ok just to - with empathy and respect - ask how.
Travel safety is a key issue for trans artists
"I’ve known artists detained at borders because their documents didn’t “match” their appearance," says Sashkia. "One trans man missed an entire festival performance after being held for hours at a U.S. airport because a border officer decided his passport photo didn’t look enough like him. No refund. No apology. Just trauma. Another non-binary performer faced invasive questions about their body at an Eastern European checkpoint, including whether they were trying to “trick” people. These incidents aren’t isolated, they're painfully common." The Trans Charter, fully supported by AFEM, the Association For Electronic Music, urges bookers and promoters to include clear travel safety guidelines for trans artists, especially when touring or attending events in countries or regions with anti-LGBTQ+ laws or hostile environments. That means working with festivals, promoters, embassies, and human rights organisations to provide up-to-date briefings, safety advisories, and emergency support contacts so that risk should never fall solely on the artist. Safety clauses in contracts also mean that artists won't risk being financially punished should a change in political circumstances or border problems cause a 'no show' through no fault of their own.
Never forget that we're all part of a bigger story
It's a recurring theme of IMS, and of this series of long reads, that electronic music and club culture are more than just a billion dollar industry, but a genuine movement with a very special history and a purpose. softchaos, as always, puts it brilliantly: "There's a certain level of pride and joy that I have every time I step behind the decks. I'm continuously inspired by the fact that no matter what we're going through, trans folks have been at the forefront of pushing the needle in electronic music. It's a specific kind of resilience that I think benefits all of us." Now, more than ever, it's the time for the industry to celebrate and support that resilience. Time for allies to step up.
Written by Duncan JA Dick - IMS contributor. Opinions expressed are the author’s own.
