RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES OF TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS
Maintained by Parents of Transgender Individuals (PTI) chapters of PFLAG of Northern Illinois
DISCLAIMER: These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by PFLAG Council of Northern Illinois of any of the products, services or opinions expressed on external sites. PFLAG Council of Northern Illinois bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of external sites or for that of subsequent links.
TRANSGENDER NATIONAL CONVENTIONS
- BOOKS FOR PARENTS OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN
- BOOKS FOR TRANSGENDER CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS
- BOOKS FOR GENERAL EDUCATION ON TRANSGENDER ISSUES
FREE GUIDES
- Our Trans Loved Ones: Questions and Answers for Parents, Families, and Friends of People Who Are Transgender and Gender ExpansiveThere is a link to a PDF file at the bottom of the page. IF YOU ARE NEW TO THIS, START HERE
- A Guide to Name and Gender Marker Changes by Equality Illinois
- A Guide on creating a “Safe” Folder by TransYouth Family Allies
- What Not to Say When Your Child Comes Out as Transgender – an article by Heather Zawislak, MA, LCSW
- Trans Youth Handbook – a comprehensive legal resource guide covering the rights of trans youth across a wide spectrum of situations, including identity documents, school, health care, non-affirming care environments, and work. Prepared by the Harvard Law School LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic
- Traveling while transgender: Tips to stay safe and avoid stress – an article to help members of the community navigate airport security and get through TSA with ease.
HEALTHCARE RESOURCES
- The Gender & Sex Development Program at Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
- Trans and Gender Non-Conforming Health program at Howard Brown Health
- Northwestern Medicine Gender Pathways Program
- World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH):
- World Professional Association for Transgender Health. (2012). Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People [7th Version] – PDF document, available in multiple languages, 120 pages in the English edition
- Provider Directory Search
- Gender Spectrum
- Speech Therapy Resources:
- Northwestern University, Center for Audiology, Speech, Language, and Learning
- NatFem is dedicated to helping transgender women feminize and align their voices with their authentic selves, as well as offering classical and contemporary singing instruction
- CHAT Life Changing Speech Therapy
- Southern Illinois University, Speech-Language Pathology
- Gender Life Free Transgender Voice Resources – free software and other materials for voice feminization
- Finding Your True Voice: A Guide to Gender-Affirming Verbal Communication – article
- Harmonic Speech Therapy – private practice providing gender aligning voice training
- Constellation Collective – LGBTQ+ therapy
ILLINOIS HOUSING AND SHELTER
- Chicago House – Trans Life Care – Free healthcare and social services to vulnerable individuals who identify themselves as trans, non-binary, or gender expansive. Support for housing, legal, medical, sexual health, and employment. 3 locations in Chicago.
- Night Ministry – assistance to teens and young adults experiencing homelessness, housing instability, or poverty.
- Homeless Service providers listed by Queery Chicago
SCIENCE AND RESEARCH
- American Psychological Association: Transgender People, Gender Identity and Gender Expression – From this page you may download the pamphlet in PDF format in different languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, and Russian
- Article by the American Academy of Pediatrics – Ensuring Comprehensive Care and Support for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children and Adolescents
- Transgender Population Size in the United States: a Meta-Regression of Population-Based Probability Samples
Esther L. Meerwijk, PhD and Jae M. Sevelius, PhD,
February 2017
US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health - 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey Report – From this page you may download the full report or its summary in PDF format.
- 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey Report – 2022 reports are coming soon
- Public Support for Transgender Rights: A Twenty-three Country Survey
Andrew R. Flores, Taylor N.T. Brown, Andrew S. Park
December 2016
The Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law
This is a link to a PDF file. If your browser asks if you want to open the file, then click “Open” and then “Allow”.
WEB SITES
GENERAL SITES
- Illinois Safe Schools Alliance – the Alliance is to promote safety, support and healthy development for LGBTQ youth, in Illinois schools and communities, through advocacy, education, youth organizing and research.
- NEW! The List is a Chicagoland-based collection of resources for Trans and Gender Nonconforming folx and those who support them – www.thelistforus.com
- LGBTQ Chicagoland Services Directory
- Stand with Trans provides the tools needed by transgender youth so they will be empowered, supported and validated as they transition to their authentic life.
- The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.
- GLAAD is an American non-governmental media monitoring organization, founded as a protest against defamatory coverage of LGBT people.
- 500 Queer Scientists – A visibility campaign for LGBTQ+ people and their allies working in STEM and STEM-supporting jobs.
- Lesbians Who Tech & Allies is a community of LGBTQ women, non-binary and trans individuals in and around tech (and the people who support them).
- Tips for Allies of Transgender People
- National Center for Transgender Equality
- Know your Rights – Transgender People and the Law
- Family Equality Council – works to ensure equality for LGBT families by building community, changing hearts and minds, and advancing social justice for all families.
- TransParent USA – a network of support groups, links to blogs and forums, books, videos, educational materials, and other resources
- FTM International – Female to male transgender site. Books, news, etc.
- National LGBTQ Task Force – advances full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people.
- National Transgender Law Institute – Transgender legal affairs activist site. Weekly announcements of changes in state or federal law affecting trans people. Searchable database on college and employer transgender policies, hate crime laws.
- TransFamily – transgender support group in the Cleveland, Ohio area. The site maintains a list of
resources and operates several e-mail based mailing lists. - Gender Spectrum – excellent West Coast web site for gender variant children and their families.
- Matt Kailey’s Tranifesto – Transgender & Transsexual Issues, Information, Advice, & Opinion
- Trans*Resources in Boulder County, CO
- www.campuspride.org – Support on college campuses.
- Resource list for trans+ and non-binary individuals, their families, allies, and providers in Illinois, maintained by Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
YOUTH RESOURCE SITES
- The LGBT Health & Development Program at Northwerstern University – Resources for Transgender Youth and Parents
- Advocates for Youth – champions efforts that help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health.
- Camp Aranu’tiq of Harbor Camps – a nonprofit program serving transgender & gender-variant youth & their families.
- TransYouth Family Allies – coalition of parents, friends and caring adults dedicated to educating and raising public awareness about the medical and cultural challenges faced by children with gender variant and gender questioning identities and the families who love them.
- Mermaids – UK site providing support for children and young people up to 20 years old who are gender diverse, and their families, and professionals involved in their care.
- Safe Schools Coalition – public-private partnership in Washington State, in support of LGBTQ youth, working to help schools become safe places where every family can belong, where every educator can teach, and where every child can learn, regardless of gender, gender identity or sexual orientation.
- The Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals – member-based organization working towards the liberation of LGBTQ people in higher education.
- Transgender Law and Policy Institute (TLPI) – a non-profit organization dedicated to engaging in effective advocacy for transgender people in our society. The TLPI brings experts and advocates together to work on law and policy initiatives designed to advance transgender equality.
- Campus Pride – represents the leading national nonprofit organization for student leaders and campus groups working
to create a safer college environment for LGBTQ students. - The Trevor Project – the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people.
- Trans Youth Equality Foundation – provides education, advocacy and support for transgender and gender non-conforming children and youth and their families.
- Families Like Mine – site for children of LGBT parents
SUPPORT GROUPS
- Parents of Transgender Individuals (PTI) in the PFLAG Northern Illinois Council
- Center on Halsted – provides a vast array of programs and services designed to advance Chicago’s LGBTQ and allied community
- Lurie Children’s Hospital – playgroup for kids/support for parents (for patients of the program)
- Howard Brown Health Support Groups For Trans and Gender Non-conforming People:
TYRA (Transgender Youth Resource and Advocacy Group) – a support group for transgender and questioning youth, 24 and under, to meet people, get informed, and be supported by their peers.
T-Time Transgender & Intersex Support Group – an open group for transgender, gender variant, two-spirit, gender non-conforming, intersex, and gender questioning individuals. - The Pride Youth Program at Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook serves LGBTQ+ children and youth ages 4-24 and their families across the northern suburbs through social events, support groups, leadership development, and education.
- Broadway Youth Center (BYC) of Howard Brown Health – serves as a safe haven for LGBTQ youth.
- FUMCAH First United Methodist Church Arlington Heights
Pinwheels – LGBTQ-specific program, for trans-children and their families.
Rainbow Circle – a meeting place for LGBTQ+ persons and their allies. - Youth Outlook – the first social service agency in Illinois dedicated solely to the support of LGBTQ+ youth
- IntraSpectrum – offers several psychotherapy and support groups
TRANSGENDER NATIONAL CONVENTIONS
BOOKS
BOOKS FOR PARENTS OF TRANSGENDER CHILDREN
- Raising the transgender child : a complete guide for parents, families, & caregivers, Dr. Michele Angello & Alisa Bowman, 2016
- Becoming an ally to the gender-expansive child : a guide for parents and carers, Anna Bianchi, 2017
- Found in transition : a mother’s evolution during her child’s gender change, Paria Hassouri, MD, 2020
- He’s always been my son : a mother’s story about raising her transgender son, Janna Barkin, 2017
- Trans Forming Families by Mary Boenke
- He’s My Daughter: A Mother’s Journey to Acceptance by Eve Langley
- Transgender Emergence: Therapeutic Guidelines for Working with Gender-Variant People and Their Families by Arlene Istar Lev.
This comprehensive book provides you with a clinical and theoretical overview on the issues facing transgender/transsexual people and their families. - Helping Your Transgender Teen: A Guide for Parents by Irwin Krieger
- TrueSelves: Understanding Transsexualism-For Families, Friends, Coworkers, and Helping Professionals by Mildred L. Brown, Chloe Ann Rounsley.
A serious book by a therapist with over 25 years of working with transgender individuals - The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals by Stephanie A. Brill, Rachel Pepper.
The Transgender Child is the first of its kind – a thoughtful manual for parents and caregivers of transgender children, written by one of our country’s most respected gender therapists and an experienced researcher and author of books related to the GLBT community and gender variance. Detailed, up-to-date, and easy to read, this book should be the prime resource for parents of transgender children and teens, and anyone who deals with them. Highly recommended. - Raising My Rainbow: Adventures in Raising a Fabulous, Gender Creative Son by Lori Duron.
The heart of this memoir is love. Ms. Duron is a strong, loving mother. She doesn’t just support her child C.J., but listens and respects his personal emotional needs. In this book we see and acknowledge the struggles of a mother fighting for her child’s right to be himself. She does so even as she herself is berated for not forcing her child to conform to the standards of gender presentation in our society to be someone he is not. The book covers the period from Ms. Duron’s early first awareness that C.J.’s interests differ from his typical older brother Chase’s through C.J.’s entry into first grade. It details Ms. Duron’s initial tolerance, then acceptance, of C.J.’s interests and creative gender expression. It shows the general societal resistance to a boy who likes “girl” things. The efforts Ms. Duron puts forth to support C.J. throughout this period reflect the love of this exceptional mother for her gender-creative child. This continuing story can also be followed on Ms. Duron’s blog -http://raisingmyrainbow.com. It would be especially valuable for any parent of a questioning or creative child. - Trans-Kin: A Guide for Family and Friends of Transgender People by Eleanor A. Hubbard
(Editor), Cameron T. Whitley (Editor), Cat Moran - Mom, I Need to be a Girl by Just Evelyn
A wonderful story of one family’s journey with their teenage child’s transition from male to female. - Always My Child: Kevin Jennings, Executive Director of GLSEN and Pat Shapiro, MSW
A superb book on dealing with GLBTQ children, especially during the coming outprocess. Many of the principles apply to dealing with ALL children. - Confessions of a Gender Defender: Randi Ettner, Ph.D.
Although published in 1996, this book is still relevant today. Newcomers to transgender are showing up daily – especially parents of young children – who need her perspective. “Confessions” is made up of a series of anecdotes, notes, and memories accumulated over nearly three decades as a therapist. It encompasses segments about transgender patients ranging from young children to octogenarians. Dr. Ettner includes stories both happy and sad, as seen through her eyes. - My Daughter He – Transitioning With Our Transgender Children by Candace Waldron
- Gender Born, Gender Made – Raising Healthy Gender-Nonconforming Children by Diane Ehrensaft, PhD
BOOKS FOR TRANSGENDER CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS
- I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel, Jazz Jennings, Shelagh McNicholas (Illustrator) – children’s book
- Be Who You Are by Jennifer Carr – children’s book
- The Gender Quest Workbook: A Guide for Teens and Young Adults Exploring Gender Identity by Rylan Jay Testa, Deborah Coolhart, Jayme Peta
- Parrotfish by Ellen Wittlinger
Parrotfish is a peek into the life of one high-school student as he struggles with the pressures of bullying, isolation and the unknown. Grady was born a girl. When he announced that he was actually a boy, his mother was devastated, his sister was horrified, and his father was…. well, at least his father was trying to be understanding. Grady’s best friend since childhood, Eve, refuses to even look at him in school. She becomes part of the gang of girls whose primary reason for living is to torture Grady. Grady feels totally alienated and alone. - Luna by Julie Ann Peters
Here is a wonderful book for teens (targeted for 15 and older) written from the perspective of Regan, a female high school sophomore. Her brother Liam, a brilliant senior, can’t stand the person he is during the day. His true self, Luna, reveals herself only at night. For years, Liam has transformed himself into the beautiful girl he longs to be with help from his sister’s clothes and makeup in the secrecy of their basement bedrooms. Now everything is about to change. Luna is preparing to emerge from her cocoon. - Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher
A well-done tale of high school romance with a new twist. Logan is a depressed high school senior in a western Missouri small town. His long-time girlfriend Brenda has recently dumped him. When a new girl at school –Sage – joins Logan and his buddy Tim’s “team” in biology class, Logan quickly is attracted to her. Similarly, Sage is attracted to him. As they get to know one another and spend time together, Logan’s typical male instincts lead him toward making out with Sage – but she resists. Logan is frustrated and angry, but still wants to be with Sage and Sage still wants to be friends with him. As Logan tries to understand why this beautiful girl is unwilling to make out, with even light petting, Sage finally tells him her secret – she is transgender. Logan freaks out – if this gets out, his buddies will think he is gay!!
BOOKS FOR GENERAL EDUCATION ON TRANSGENDER ISSUES
- Beyond magenta : transgender teens speak out, Susan Kuklin, 2015
- The trans generation : how trans kids (and their parents) are creating a gender revolution, Ann Travers, 2018
- Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity by Julia Serano
- Gendered Situations, Gendered Selves: A Gender Lens on Social Psychology by Judith A. Howard
- Transgender Explained for Those Who Are Not by Joanne Herman
- Transgender 101: A Simple Guide to a Complex Issue by Nicholas M. Teich
- Transgender Warriors: Making History from Joan of Arc to Dennis Rodman by Leslie Feinberg
This book (published 1996), is often recommended to newcomers to the transgender phenomenon; the historical information is quite valuable. Feinberg starts with his own history, showing how he was led to investigate the history of transsexualism while working with the Workers World Party. His studies led to investigation of transgender throughout history. Avoiding the overall conflict about the definitions of various “levels” of transgender, Feinberg uses transgender in his book as an umbrella term for all persons who challenge the socially acceptable or cultural boundaries of sex and gender. All those who fall under this definition have experienced oppression, and representatives of all have fought back. These are the transgender warriors. - Transgender Emergence: Therapeutic Guidelines for Working with Gender-Variant People and Their Families by Arlene Istar Lev
An outstanding book of historical and current guidelines for addressing the needs of all gender-variant people, including transgender children and youth. - Becoming a Visible Man by Jamison Green
There are far fewer books about female-to-male (FtM) transition than there are about male-to-female (MtF). When a leading activist and advocate for FtM presents his autobiography, it instantly becomes an important work. When it is well written and insightful, it becomes a must-have book for anyone interested in transsexual experience and history. Green’s book exceeds these standards. - FTM: Female-to-Male Transsexuals in Society by Holly Devor
- Trans Liberation: Beyond Pink or Blue by Leslie Feinberg
- Finding the Real Me: True Tales of Sex and Gender Diversity by Tracie O’Keefe
A compilation of stories by transgenders about their accepting,
transitioning, and coming out process. - The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You by S. Bear Bergman
- Gender Outlaws: The Next Generation by Kate Bornstein, S. Bear Bergman
- Sex Changes: The Politics of Transgenderism by Patrick Califia-Rice
- She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders by Jennifer Finney Boylan
- The Transgender Guidebook: Keys to a Successful Transition by Anne L. Boedecker
- Beyond Magenta, Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin
- Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family by Amy Ellis Nutt
- The Social Justice Advocate’s Handbook: A Guide to Gender by Sam Killermann
- The Transgender Teen: A Handbook for Parents and Professionals Supporting Transgender and Non-Binary Teens by Stephanie A. Brill
VIDEO
ONLINE LISTS
MOVIES AND DOCUMENTARIES
- Growing Up Trans, Frontline PBS, documentary, 2015, 83 minutes – Inside the struggles and choices facing transgender kids and their families, in an era where they have more medical options than ever before.
- 3 Generations (2015) – After Ray decides to transition from female to male, Ray’s mother, Maggie, must come to terms with the decision while tracking down Ray’s biological father to get his legal consent.
- Real Boy (2016) – An intimate story of a family in transitions. As 19-year-old Bennett Wallace navigates early sobriety, late adolescence, and the evolution of his gender identity, his mother makes her own transformation from resistance to acceptance of her trans son. Along the way, both mother and son find support in their communities, reminding us that families are not only given, but chosen.
- The Danish Girl (2015) – A fictitious love story loosely inspired by the lives of Danish artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. Lili and Gerda’s marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili’s groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer.
- Becoming Us (2015) – 10 episode documentary made by a teenage son documenting his father’s transition from male to female. The son goes through many of the emotions that parents go through. Filmed in Evanston, IL.
- Trans (2012) – A variety of trans people speak of their lives, including a Trans female surgeon who performs sexual reassignment surgeries.
- Becoming Chaz (2011) – Documentary following Chaz (formerly Chastity) Bono’s gender transition. Includes interviews with family members and friends as the transition is followed.
- Boy Meets Girl (2014) – A romantic comedy.
- Boys Don’t Cry (1999) – A movie based on the true story of Brandon who was murdered by his buddies when they discovered he was a female to male transgender man. CONTENT WARNING: violence, rape.
- The Brandon Teena Story (1998) – A documentary about Brandon Teena (the movie Boys Don’t Cry is based on the same true story).
- XXY (2007) – This is the dramatic story of a intersexed 15-year-old. She lives with her parents, who have to cope with the challenges of her medical condition.
- She’s a Boy I Knew (2007)– Using interviews, animation, old family footage, and voice mail, Vancouver filmmaker Gwen Haworth documents her male-to-female gender transition partially through the voices of her anxious but loving family, best friend, and wife.
- Soldier’s Girl (2003)– The true story of a young soldier beaten to death for falling in love with a transgender nightclub performer.
- Transamerica (2005) – A pre-operative male-to-female transsexual takes an unexpected journey when she learns that she fathered a son, now a teenage runaway hustling on the streets of New York. As they travel across country she hides who she is while they forge a relationship.
- Tomboy (2011) – A 10-year-old girl, settling into her new neighborhood outside Paris, is mistaken for a boy and has to live up to this new identity since it’s too late for the mistake to be clarified.
- Ma Vie en Rose (1997)– Ludovic is a young transgender girl who is coming out. She talks of marrying her neighbor’s son and can not understand why everyone is so surprised about it. Her family and neighbors struggle.
- Southern Comfort (2001) – Southern Comfort documents the final year in the life of Robert Eads, a female-to-male transsexual. Eads, diagnosed with ovarian cancer, was turned down for treatment by two dozen doctors out of fear that treating such a patient would hurt their reputations. By the time Eads received treatment, the
cancer was too advanced to save his life. Filmmaker Kate Davis follows Robert and a group of trans-gendered Southerners in this captivating and truly touching documentary. - Beautiful Boxer (2004) – Based on the real life story of Parinya Charoenphol, a Muaythai boxer who underwent a sex change operation to become a woman. The movie chronicles her life from a young boy who likes to wear lipstick and wear flowers to her sensational career as kickboxer whose specialty is ancient Muaythai boxing moves which she can execute expertly with grace and finally her confrontation with her own sexuality which led to her sex change op.
- Normal (2003) -A Midwestern husband and father announces his plan to have a sex change operation.
- Middle Sexes: Redefining He and She (2005) – Examines the diversity of human sexual and gender variance around the globe, with commentary by scientific experts and first-hand accounts of people who do not conform to a simple male/female binary.
- Red Without Blue (2007) – The intimate bond between two identical twin brothers is challenged when one decides to transition from male to female; this is the story of their evolving relationship, and the resurrection of their family from a darker past.
- Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton’s Cafeteria (2005) – The pre-Stonewall riot in the Tenderloin of San Francisco by trans women and male prostitutes.
- Gen Silent (2011) – About older LGBT people including a transwoman dying of lung cancer.
- No Dumb Questions (2001) – Three young sisters with their parents ponder how their Uncle is becoming their Aunt.
- Just Call Me Kade (2002) – Trans FTM teen’s family and friends give him lots of love and support.
TV SHOWS
- Transparent (2014-)
- TransGeneration (2005) – A look at the lives of four college students undergoing gender transition.
- Sex Change Hospital (2007-)
ONLINE VIDEOS
- Documentary by National Geographic Gender Revolution: A Journey with Katie Couric
- TED Talk How I help transgender teens become who they want to be by Dr. Norman Spack
WEBSITES ABOUT FILMS AND DOCUMENTARIES
- http://www.frameline.org/ Frameline organizes the annual San Francisco LGBT Film Festival and sells and rents DVDs. Click on the “Distribution” link, or “Distribution Catalog.”
- http://groundspark.org/
- http://www.wolfevideo.com/
- http://firstrunfeatures.com/lgbt.html
- https://www.newday.com
– LGBTQ subject - http://www.outcast-films.com/
- http://www.logotv.com/
PAMPHLETS
- The Agony of Nurturing the Spirit – A Mother’s Recount of Raising a Transgender Child
- Welcoming Our Trans Family & Friends – a PFLAG publication. This is a link to a PDF file. If your browser asks if you want to open the file, then click “Open” and then “Allow”.
- Transgender Visibility – A Guide to Being You – by Human Rights Campaign