Trans (on) YouTube: Localizing transnational narratives on two Polish trans YouTube channels

Abstract

Abstract This article explores genres and narratives of gender transition on two Polish YouTube channels (forming one collective) to illustrate negotiations between transnational and local understandings, performances, and interpretations of (trans)gender identity. “Trans YouTube” is a valuable performative and discursive space, allowing (especially young) trans creators to maintain, present, and communicate the desired sense of self. The article explores multilingual and multimodal practices on Polish trans YouTube and discusses their role in localizing the transnational LGBTQ+ discourse within the local socio-cultural context. Applying the perspective of translation studies and exploring the role of translation (and non-translation) in localizing the transnational concepts of gender and sexuality makes it possible to trace the process of trans-creating the new language of the Polish trans community, a language that emphasizes trans social media users’ agency and is capable of expressing their individualized and localized gender transition experiences.