Gender Identity
Please note: the inclusion of information, organizations & individuals below does not constitute a personal recommendation and/or guaranteed experience—but does identify entities and resources that have been identified gender/neurodiversity/LGBTQIIA+ affirming.
**Here are a few resources that address the recent anti-trans legislation happening in many states, as well as how to be an ally.
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Crisis:
TRANS LIFELINE: (877) 565-8860
Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community,
support, and resources they need to survive and thrive.
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The Trevor Project (serving youth to age 24): (866) 488-7386,
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention
and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning
(LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.
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TrevorChat Confidential, online instant messaging, available 24/7.
Text the word “START” to 678-678.
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Q Chat Space is an online community chat for LGBTQ youth and teens who are questioning their identity, ages 13-19, facilitated by staff and volunteers from LGBTQ community centers around the country. Provides a place to connect and get access to information and resources. Q Chat Space is a program of CenterLink the national organization for LGBTQ community centers.
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National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255 (online chat available)
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that
provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional
distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741-741
Crisis Text Line is free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text from anywhere in the USA
to text with a trained Crisis Counselor.
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The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender National Hotline: (888)843-4564
Both provide telephone, online private one-to-one chat and email peer-support, as well as
factual information and local resources for cities and towns across the United States.
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The GLBT National Youth Talkline (youth serving youth through age 25): (800) 246-7743
The National Runaway Switchboard: (800) RUNAWAY (786-2929) Provides advice and assistance to runaways, including resources, shelter, transportation, assistance in finding counseling, and transitioning back to home life. NRS frontline staff will
also act as advocates and mediators if/as needed.
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Standards of Care, Version 8
World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care Version 8: This is the document currently used to provide clinical guidance to health professionals in the provision of care to transgender and gender diverse individuals.
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Massachusetts:
Statewide Emergency Services Program with links to local 24/7/365 crisis support teams.
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/emergency-services-program-contact-information
New Hampshire:
Emergency Crisis and Mobile Response
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcbcs/bbh/documents/list-map.pdf
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Groups (Youth & Adult):
Massachusetts
McVAGLY (Merrimack Valley Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth), welcomes youth ages 13-23. Check Facebook for updates: https://www.facebook.com/McVagly/timeline Meetings are Mondays, 6:30-8:30 pm at North Parish Unitarian Universalist, 190 Academy Road
Merrimack River Wellness Groups (all virtual) for residents of MA, CT, ME and NH:
Older Adult Group, Age 50+; Young Adult Group for Neurodivergent and Trans Individuals
Rebecca Minor, Transcend Group, Adolescent Group for Trans/Questioning Teens, (Concord, virtual) $75/session
NAGLY (North Shore Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth), a welcoming group for youth ages 14–23, meets every Tuesday. They also have a middle school group which meets every other Monday, and TRANS-cendence (ages 13-23) meets on Fridays. There are parent and educator groups as well. Location: Museum Place Mall, 2 East India Square, Suite #121, Salem MA 01970.
NAGLY North (a satellite of NAGLY in Newburyport) will be having meetings on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Newburyport Recreation Center (40 Milk St. in Newburyport). Meetings are for students in grades 7-12 from any town. No registration or sign up is necessary. Questions about NAGLY North? Contact: Trish Boateng, Coordinator, at TBoateng@CityofNewburyport.com
BAGLY (Boston Alliance of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Youth),
Out MetroWest (3 programs for youth: Nexus, Umbrella and Wagly)
SAYFTEE, Groups for LGBTQIA+ youth and young adults (Boston virtual)
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Adult Groups:
BATS (Boston Area Trans Support): a peer-run support group for transgender young adults who meet every other Tuesday night in Cambridge.
COMPASS A New England area female-to-male (FTM) trans support, information, and social group for people assigned female at birth who feel that is not an accurate or complete description of their gender. First Thursday of the Month. Contact: compassftm@gmail.com
Transgender Club of New England offering transgender social activities for adults and support since the 1970s
Whole Hearted Psych, addyson tucker, psy.d.including Radical Body Acceptance, Self-Compassion & Shame Resilience, Gender Affirming Surgery Group
Sign up for newsletter:
Maine:
MaineTrans.Net, Westbrook, Maine. Online adult groups (during COVID), including: 35+, recovery, QTPOC, Allies, Non-binary groups
New Hampshire:
Youth Groups | Seacoast Outright (to age 22)
North County Transgender Support, Lancaster NH, meetings 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month. Generally teens, but would accept pre-teens (11-12). Parents group held simultaneously. Contact Leo Breault, l_breault@yahoo.com
Maine
Trans Youth Equality: Maine based–provides education, advocacy and support for transgender and gender non-conforming children and youth and their families. Our mission is to share information about the unique needs of this community, partnering with families, educators and service providers to help foster a healthy, caring, and safe environment for all transgender children.
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Parent Support for Parents of Transgender, Non-binary or Questioning Youth and Adults:
Merrimack River Wellness Groups (all virtual) for residents of MA, ME, CT, VT and NH:
Parent Groups for Parents of Trans/Questioning Children Under 18, Over Age 18, and Parents of Children who are Autistic and Trans, https://www.merrimackriverwellness.com/parent
Greater Boston PFLAG, fostering LGBTQ inclusive families schools and communities. Sign up for their newsletter and stay informed: http://www.gbpflag.org
Parent caregiver helpline: 866-427-3524 http://www.gbpflag.org/helpline/
Monthly support groups - info: https://gbpflag.org/support-groups/
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New Hampshire:
Seacoast Outright- virtual and in-person parent groups
Maine:
National:
LGBTQ Family Acceptance Project: Resource to increase family and community support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer-identified (LGBTQ) children and youth to decrease health and mental health risks and to promote well-being.
Trans Family Support Services (TFSS),
Online groups
Parents of Littles (3-10)
Parents of Pre-Teens and Teens (11-17)
Spanish speaking Parent Group
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Reading Recommendations:
Children:
Wonderful LGBTQ+ library with links to books read aloud.
Gender Diverse Books with Transgender, Gender Expansive and Non-Binary Characters
Be Who You Are, by Todd Parr: encourages and emphasizes the beauty of our differences
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Who are You? The Kid's Guide to Gender Identity by Brook Pessin-Whedbee: A straightforward introduction to gender for ages 3+.
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I am Jazz, by Jazz Jennings and Jessica Herthel: easy storybook explaining what it means to be transgender.
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Pink is for Boys by Robb Pearlman: shows diverse gender expression and reminds kids there are not "boy" and "girl" things or colors.
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10,000 Dresses by Marcus Ewart:
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Introducing Teddy: A Gentle Story About Gender and Friendship, by Jessica Walton: Positive representation of talking about transgender individuals and the importance of loving and accepting them when they tell us their truth.
Jacob's New Dress by Sarah Hoffman: The story of the unique challenges faced by boys who do not identify with traditional gender roles.
Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall: Colorful picture book about finding the courage to be true to your inner self.
Neither by Airlie Anderson: Explores gender and helps kids understand that it is not always binary.
Sparkle Boy by Leslea Newman: A story of acceptance and the freedom to express gender.
From the Stars in the Sky to the Fish in the Sea by Kai Cheng Tom: A story exploring gender, identity, and acceptance of differences.
Middle School:
George by Alex Gino: A fictional story of a transgender girl and her desire to play the part of Charlotte in a school performance of Charlotte's Web
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Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky: The fictional story of an introverted sixth grade transgender girl.
High School:
Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen, by Jazz Jennings: Memoir by trailblazer and advocate, Jazz Jennings about what it is like to be a transgender teen.
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The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson: The fictional story of a transgender boy who enters a new school and how he navigates friendships and relationships.
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Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Mills: The fictional story of a transgender girl who becomes an underground hit as a radio DJ--but is challenged when outed by a girl at school.
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If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo: A fictional story of a transgender girl who reconnects with her estranged father and falls in love for the first time.
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Some Assembly Required by Arin Andrews: A true story of a 17-year-old transgender male and his transition.
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Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger: Fictional account of two transgender teens and their school experiences.
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Symptoms of Being Human by Jeff Garvin: Fictional story of a gender fluid teenager working through gender identity issues
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Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out (2015) Interviews with transgender and gender non-conforming young adults
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Books for Adults:
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Trans Bodies, Trans Selves: A Resource for the Transgender Community Edited by Laura Erickson-Schroth
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You and Your Gender Identity: A Guide to Discovery by Dara Hoffman-Fox; super useful for clients, especially for folks who are figuring out aspects of their identity.
Videos: ​​https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzL0lKhretbC9t-H4ifd1Bdfh8Iju1Oje
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The Queer and Transgender Resilience Workbook: Has worksheets and various prompts/exercises
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The Gender Book: multiple pages are viewable online for free. Very accessible with illustrations/graphic style, a useful resource.
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The Gender Dysphoria Bible, living document created by Jocelyn Badgley,
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To My Trans Sisters, by Charlie Craggs (2017)
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Transgender 101: A Simple Guide to a Complex Issue, Nicholas Teich, (2018)
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Parents:
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Our Trans Loved Ones, PFLAG publication
Website
Gender Spectrum, Understanding Gender
What We Know Project: What Does the Scholarly Research Say about the Effect of Gender Transition on Transgender Well-Being? Cornell University, 2018
Article: Gender Fluidity: What it means and why support matters
By Sabra Katz-Wise, Harvard Health Publishing, 12/3/20
Article: For the Parents of Gender Non-Conforming Kids, A New Approach to Care
By Tey Meadow, 8/29/18
Article: How to Support a Loved One if they Come Out as Trans,
By Brittany Wong, Huffington Post, 12/20/20
Article: Calling Trans Kids By Their Chosen Name Lowers Risk of Depression, Suicide, By Jenna Amatulli, Huffington Post, 4/5/18
Article: Explaining Nonbinary: How to Talk to Kids About Gender
Article: What Does it Mean to Be Nonbinary?, by Elizabeth Boskey PhD
Books for Parents:
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My Child Told Me They're Trans...What Do I Do?
By Brynn Tannehill
The Transgender Child, Stephanie A. Brill and Rachel Pepper
Through extensive research and interviews, this comprehensive first-of-its-kind guidebook explores the unique challenges that thousands of families face every day raising their children in every city and state.
The Transgender Teen, Stephanie A. Brill
Guides readers through the steep learning curve that often comes with supporting a transgender or non-binary teenager through their gender journey and helping them navigate their daily lives. This book is a must read for parents and professionals.
What We Will Become: A Mother, a Son, and a Journey of Transformation, by Mimi Lemay
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My Daughter He: Transitioning with our Transgender Children, by Candace Waldron
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Becoming Nicole, by Amy Ellis Nutt
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The Gender Creative Child: Pathways for Nurturing and Supporting Children Who Live Outside Gender Boxes by Diane Ehrensaft PhD and Norman Spack MD
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Gender Born, Gender Made: Raising Healthy Gender-Nonconforming Children by Diane Ehrensaft PhD and Edgardo Menvielle MD MSHS
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Transgender Children and Youth Cultivating Pride and Joy With Families in Transition by Elijah Nealy
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Transitions of the Heart by Rachel Pepper
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