Conducts gender-fluid performances (9)
I believe the answer is:
transacts
'conducts' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I can't see how they can define each other.
'gender-fluid performances' is the wordplay.
'gender-fluid' becomes 'trans' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'performances' becomes 'acts' (act is a kind of performance).
'trans'+'acts'='TRANSACTS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for transacts that I've seen is " Performs, carries out business".)