Building a powerful movement standing up for all trans and gender diverse people

Over the last 10 years as an organiser and campaigner, this weeks Pro Bono Australia change maker, Jackie Turner has led national mobilisations, trained and mentored hundreds of volunteers, and run campaigns across movements for climate and economic justice.

In the face of the growing threat of the anti-trans lobby, both overseas and in Australia, she founded the Trans Justice Project in February 2023. The Trans Justice Project is the first trans-led national campaigning organisation in the country. Their mission is to build a powerful movement standing up for freedom, justice, and equality for all trans and gender diverse people. Read on for our interview with Jackie!

Describe your career trajectory and how you got to your current position.

I started out as a volunteer community organiser in Queensland working to stop the expansion of coal ports up the coast of the Great Barrier Reef. It was being involved in local community groups, petitioning, having conversations, and organising actions that really taught me about the importance of local action and relationships. It was also just a lot of fun!

From there I ended up moving to Sydney to pursue a more senior role as a national organiser where I got to work with heaps of local groups across the country, running trainings, coaching and supporting people, and helping coordinate big national days of action.

I started the Trans Justice Project because I could see that the anti-trans campaigns from the US and the UK would soon make their way to Australia. We needed an organisation that could push back against that threat by building power in our communities, engaging with allies, and helping to shift the narrative on trans lives.

What does this role mean to you?

This role means a lot to me. It is incredibly hard and complex work, and it is also incredibly personal. What really makes it worth it though is having had the privilege of meeting so many trans people over the last two years.

Prior to me affirming my own gender I didn’t know many trans people – now I know literally hundreds.

As trans people we often search our whole lives to find belonging and community. Being a trans campaigner has given me a deeper understanding of myself and the lineage of trans change-makers that we all belong to.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve encountered in your career, and how did you overcome it?

In 2015 I suffered an extreme episode of burnout after organising a huge rally. I was basically unable to function, I was extremely depressed, and almost didn’t return to campaigning at all. It honestly took years for me to recover from it. I think I only really started to heal from that experience after I came out as trans and was able to accept myself and be open about who I am.

If you could go back in time, what piece of advice would you give yourself as you first embarked on your career?

So much of my early career was spent trying to become more productive, get more done, and to work harder. Looking back now I can see that this was really about avoidance – trying to push down who I was and avoid the truth. I was terrified even then that if I affirmed my gender I might never be able to be a campaigner, let alone a director.

If I could go back I would tell myself to invest more in myself and my spiritual connection to this work. I’d let myself know that it is a marathon, not a sprint and to have faith in the process.

I would probably also tell myself to get assessed for ADHD.

How do you unwind after work?

I try to go for a walk with my wife in the afternoon. I also love cooking, playing music (I play in a punk band called Final Girls), and taking long baths. I find that time with my phone off and out of my line of sight is incredibly important for my brain to relax.

I also watch a lot of horror movies. Like a lot of them. During a period where I experienced severe burnout I got obsessed with them and have been a veracious watcher ever since. While I am working I will often have one playing in the background, I find it really helps me concentrate.

What was the last thing you watched, read or listened to?

It’s not a very cool answer but I am a big fan of punk music and am currently listening to the new The Story So Far album – I Want to Disappear.