Martin Van Boekel, students, and community members announce Happiness in the Closet

Dr. Martin Van Boekel, teaching assistant professor in the Department of Educational Psychology's psychological foundations of education program, Ed Psych students Chris Steadman and Shelby Weisen, psychology students Annabel Bruton and Will Boomer, and Tor Chavarria, a management analyst for the city of Minneapolis, have recently announced Happiness in the Closet. This endeavor encompasses a research group, a podcast, and a broader movement aimed at celebrating trans and non-binary joy.

The Happiness in the Closet collaborative strives to highlight the resilience and sources of happiness within the trans and non-binary community through research. The first study of this initiative explored the intersection of gender, fashion, and well-being, aiming to shed light on how these elements contribute to individual happiness.

In each episode of the Happiness in the Closet podcast, a collaborator from the Happiness in the Closet collaborative speaks with a guest, ranging from assistant professor Dr. Kay Simon from the College of Education and Human Development to 9-year-old Russel. They cover topics such as research on gender, individuals' gender journeys, key issues facing the transgender and non-binary community, and, of course, non-binary joy.

Learn more about the Happiness in the Closet on the group's website. The first episode of the Happiness in the Closet podcast is also available on the website and Spotify. Martin also extends an invitation to those who would like to be on the podcast or join the collaborative to email them at vanbo024@umn.edu.