PHX Beyond Binary

We're building this WITH you, targeting 2025-2026. The timeline depends on securing the right physical space and building our founding member base. We have the infrastructure and commitment ready - now we're gathering the community to shape what this becomes. Your participation helps us prioritize features and ensures we open strong with a thriving community from day one.

We'll offer a sliding scale membership model because we know not everyone is in the same financial situation. The goal is to make this accessible while keeping the space sustainable. There will be volunteer options for folks who can't afford dues - you can contribute time and skills instead. We're also exploring options for supporting memberships where folks who can afford to pay more help subsidize sliding scale spots. Your survey input is really important here - it helps us understand what pricing structure works for the community.

We're targeting spaces near the 101/17 interchange area. The exact location will depend on a few factors: what commercial spaces are available, accessibility (transit, parking), safety, and what makes sense for the community. We want somewhere that's reasonably easy to get to and feels safe for members. Once we have enough committed interest, we'll narrow down to specific locations and get community input on the final choice.

This space is built for trans people - that's the core. Most tech spaces say they're 'LGBTQ-friendly,' but they're still built with cis people in mind. We wanted something different - a trans-centered space where trans folks don't have to explain ourselves or deal with that constant low-level anxiety about acceptance. The space is led by LGBTQ+ community members who are deeply committed to keeping it trans-centered. We welcome other LGBTQ+ folks and allies who respect and support our mission. The key is that this remains trans-centered: trans safety and comfort are the priority, and our community culture is shaped by trans experiences. If you're coming as an ally, we expect you to meaningfully support the space and respect the trans-centered nature of our community.

Nope! Whether you're a senior dev with 20 years of experience or you're just learning to code through online tutorials, you're welcome here. That's what makes a hackerspace and makerspace great - same goes for all the other maker interests like 3D printing, servers, robotics, or just thinking computers are neat. All skill levels, all interests, all welcome. The point is to learn, make stuff, and hang out with people who get it. Some of the best collaborations happen when people with different skill levels work together.

Starting with adults (18+) keeps things simpler as we get established. Running a youth program properly requires different insurance, background checks, specific safety protocols, and usually dedicated youth programming staff - it's a whole different operational structure. As a grassroots organization just getting started, we need to focus our limited resources on getting the space up and running first. That said, we'd absolutely love to add youth programming down the line once we're stable and have the capacity to do it right. Trans youth deserve these kinds of spaces too, and it's definitely on our radar for the future.

Yes - this is happening. We've already got the server infrastructure, equipment, and the technical know-how to run it. We're ready to commit to a physical space once we've built a strong founding member base. Your participation in the survey, sharing this with friends, and engaging with the project helps us understand what features to prioritize and ensures we open strong with a thriving community from day one.

Absolutely! First, take the survey and let us know you're interested. Beyond that, we'll need founding members and people with all kinds of skills - not just tech stuff. Things like: helping set up the physical space, community moderation, event planning, social media, graphic design, grant writing, or just being an enthusiastic community member. If you have specific skills or ideas you want to contribute, mention it in the survey. We'll be reaching out to folks who express interest in being more involved as we move forward with planning.