Trans Lifeline Library:
Welcome to the Club:
Showing Acceptance, Validation
For Parents of Trans Youth
Welcome To The Club
Showing Acceptance, Validation
Studies have repeatedly shown that trans kids who receive support at home are less likely to experience depression, anxiety, or suicidality–being trans doesn’t cause mental illness, but being abandoned or rejected by your family and community does.
Support looks like taking intentional steps to use a person’s correct identifiers, helping to advocate in school and medicine, and offering kindness, celebration, and support through good days, bad days, and milestone moments. Parenting your trans child will still look very similar to parenting your cis child.
Especially if your child is older, helping to give them the “coming of age” experiences that are typically associated with other kids their age/gender can be a huge way of showing acceptance and normalizing their experience. This could mean planning a more gender-neutral b’nei mitzvah instead of a bar/bat mitzvah, taking your trans daughter to buy their first dress for a school dance, or teaching your trans son how to shave.
Resources:
Stand With Trans–Adjusting To New Pronouns
GLAAD–Tips for Allies of Transgender People
HRC–Supporting Your Young Gender Non-Conforming Child (English) (Spanish)
HRC–Supporting and Caring for Transgender Children
PFLAG–Supporting Your LGBTQ+ Grandchild (English) (Spanish)
Family Equality–How To Support Transgender Youth In Your Life
Gender Spectrum–Supportive Parenting
Gender Spectrum–Gender Affirmation Fact Sheet
Gender Spectrum–How Can Parents Support Their Gender Expansive Kids?
Gender Spectrum–Gender Development Fact Sheet
Mayo Clinic–Children and Gender Identity: Supporting Your Child
Next Avenue–How to Support a Transgender Child or Grandchild
Everyday Feminism–7 Ways Parents Can Be More Body Positive Toward Their Queer and Transgender Kids
Mailing Address
23332 Farmington Rd #84
Farmington, MI 48336
Call
248.907.4853