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Background Cisgenderism has led to trans people being studied through an inaccurately transnormative dysphoria-centric lens. Trans-led research on gender euphoria has illuminated a promising perspective on trans communities that transformatively explores the nuances and joys of transness that are recurrently unrepresented.Aims To investigate how trans people perceive trans gender euphoria research findings and practices.Method Six trans-led focus groups were conducted over Zoom with a sample of trans people from across Australia to reflect on Kulesza et al.’s (Citation2025) findings on gender euphoria and research practices. Following transcription, data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. A single follow-up focus group was conducted to reflect on the discussions and member check themes.Results Three themes were developed: 1) Euphoria as authenticity in the face of distrust explores the impact of historical marginalization on our need for authenticity, 2) Research grounded in grassroots connections affirms the importance of trans research being grounded in community, and 3) Decolonizing our sense of gender unpacks the impact of colonization on academic understandings of transness.Conclusions Gender euphoria is an important area of research that seeks to dismantle institutional privilege and transnormativity in trans research. Through adopting community-informed practices, we can move toward trans research that prioritizes nuance, authenticity, and diversity.
Stella Kulesza (Sun,) studied this question.