Help Prevent Trans Suicide & Create Trans Joy

Hi, friends and allies—

My name is Shannon Schneider (he/him), and I’m honored to hold the title of Mr. Trans Great Lakes 2025. This title represents not just the people, but the land, water, and spirit of one of the most beautiful and healing regions in the world.

The Great Lakes states—Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and New York—are my home. These lakes and forests, rivers and cliffs, starlit skies and roaring falls—they reminded me that even when the world feels heavy and dark, beauty still exists.

I've spent more time in nature than anywhere else in my life. When I felt lost, it was the wild that saved me. When I felt invisible, it was the stars that whispered, "keep going." The lighthouses along these Great Lakes showed me that there’s always light in the dark—you just have to know where to find it.

This November, I’ll travel to Washington, D.C. to compete in the TransUSA National Pageant, using my platform to be a lighthouse for others, especially those who are struggling with their identity or feeling isolated. Trans people—especially youth—face an alarming risk of suicide. That’s why this GoFundMe is split 50/50:

50% will support my journey to Nationals, covering travel, lodging, and competition costs.

50% will be donated to The Trevor Project, the leading national organization focused on suicide prevention and crisis support for LGBTQ+ youth.

Here’s how each of the Great Lakes states has shaped my journey—and why your support matters:

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OHIO

This is where I live today. I helped build queer community through Queer Climbing Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus. I’ve worked with anti–sex trafficking organizations in Toledo and supported countless LGBTQ+ folks finding strength in outdoor spaces. Ohio gave me stability—and it’s where I met my fiancé, who ran the Detroit Marathon and shows me every day what love and resilience look like.

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MICHIGAN

I’ve spent nights chasing the aurora borealis in Mackinac Island and the International Dark Sky Park, finding magic in the stars. I’ve sea kayaked Lake Superior from Bayfield to the Apostle Islands, and I serve as a steward of the land through the Upper Peninsula Climbers Coalition. I plan to attend Slug Fest, celebrating conservation and climbing in the U.P. Michigan taught me to look up—and forward.

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INDIANA

In Indiana, I walked the sandy stretches of the Indiana Dunes, reflecting on the path behind me and feeling peace in the simplicity of the lake breeze. Sometimes the smallest places hold the biggest lessons.

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ILLINOIS

Chicago is home to so many I love—my trans mom who adopted me, my nieces and nephew, my drag mom, and the college friend who helped me through my transition. Illinois gave me chosen family when I needed it most—and a reminder that we don’t have to walk this world alone.

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WISCONSIN

Born and raised in Milwaukee, I’m a lifelong Packers fan, fisherman, and Northwoods environmentalist. I’ve camped, hiked, and climbed across the state, finding home in the wild. Wisconsin taught me how to care for the land—and in turn, it cared for me.

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MINNESOTA

I’ve kayaked Minnesota’s rivers, played in the Gay Softball World Series, and gone so far north that Canada was south of me. I stood on the sacred grounds of Pipestone National Monument, learning the true history of this land through Indigenous eyes. Minnesota showed me that healing is not just about nature—but about listening, truth, and honoring those who came before us.

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PENNSYLVANIA

In State College, I helped launch a queer climbing nonprofit, helping LGBTQ+ folks feel strong and empowered through movement. Pennsylvania reminded me that community can be created anywhere—even in places where you least expect it.

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NEW YORK

During Occupy Wall Street, I was homeless in New York City, carrying more grief than hope. But standing at the edge of Lake Ontario, I found beauty again. That lake helped me hold on—and begin the journey back to myself.

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These aren’t just places I’ve visited. They’re chapters of my healing, the landscapes of my joy, and the reasons I keep fighting.

This campaign supports trans youth like I once was—so that maybe, they won’t have to struggle the way I did.

Making the world a better place through healing is my mission.

So please—if you can—donate, share, and uplift this mission. Let’s raise funds not just for a competition, but for a cause. Let’s invest in trans futures, trans joy, and the communities that help us survive.

Because sometimes, all it takes is one beam of light to guide someone home.

With love, pride, and purpose,

Shannon Schneider

Mr. Trans Great Lakes 2025

(Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and New York)