diversity_1 LGBTQ+ wiki
Parts of this page have been adapted from the Global Transgender Resources Registry, the Tildes ~lgbt wiki (to which one of our admins was a previous contributor), and Emi’s blahaj.zone thread.
General resources
- It Gets Better Project: “The It Gets Better Project is a nonprofit organization with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe. Learn more about our work.”
- The Gender Dysphoria Bible: “The purpose of this site is to document the many ways that Gender Dysphoria can manifest, as well as the numerous forms of gender transition, in order to provide a guide for those who are questioning, those who are starting their transgender journey, those already on their path, and those who simply wish to be better allies.”
- Gender Census: “The Gender Census is an annual survey that collects information about the language used by people whose genders are not adequately described, expressed or encompassed by the restrictive gender binary. It has taken place every year since 2015.”
- MSpec (“multi-attraction spectrum”) Wiki: “…our goal is to build a wiki with in-depth information about all orientations which are attracted to more than one gender.”
Transgender Resources
- Transgender Professional Association for Transgender Health (TPATH): The Transgender Professional Association for Transgender Health is the first global transgender healthcare organization headed by trans-identified health care professionals, broadly identified as researchers, clinicians, providers-in-training, activists and other service-oriented experts.
- World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH): The World Professional Association for Transgender Heath is interdisciplinary professional and educational organization devoted to transgender health. Our professional, supporting, and student members engage in clinical and academic research to develop evidence-based medicine and strive to promote a high quality of care for transsexual, transgender, and gender-nonconforming individuals internationally.
- Trans Rescue: “If you are a trans person in a part of the world where trans people are under threat, and you are in serious danger, we may be able to help you.”
- TransHealthcare: “TransHealthCare is the largest and most comprehensive database of Gender Surgeons.” Primarily covers US, but also seems to have listings for other countries.
- US: US Trans Survey: runs annually
- Trans Voice: Resources on voice training for trans people, and communities to help facilitate voice training.
- Point of Pride: “Point of Pride provides financial aid and direct support to trans folks in need of health and wellness care.” Notably provides free chest binders for trans people.
- Transfeminine Science: “Transfeminine Science is a resource for original informational content on the subject of transfeminine hormone therapy. […] Transfeminine Science is written by transgender people, for transgender people—and for their medical providers.”
- TMS: A Bibliography of Transgender Studies in Media, Communication, and Technology: “[…]to aid scholars in finding relevant literature on transgender topics in communication and media studies before completing their work and submitting it for peer review, as well as to aid students in introducing themselves to this field of study”
DIY HRT
- diyhrt.wiki: “This website intends to teach transgender people how to safely perform DIY Hormone Replacement Therapy.”
- diyhrt.cafe (how they verify sellers)
Nonbinary Resources
Bisexuality Resources
- Bisexual Visibility Day: September 23
- Bisexual Resource Center: “The Bisexual Resource Center works to connect the bi+ community and help its members thrive through resources, support, and celebration.”
- UK: BiPhoria: “BiPhoria is the UK’s longest-running bi organisation - we celebrated our 25th birthday in the summer of 2019.”
Asexuality Resources
- International Asexuality Day: April 6
- AVEN Community (Asexuality Visibility and Education Network). AVEN maintains an active community forum here.
- Asexuality Handbook: “This site’s aim is to provide easy access to information and advice about asexuality that is understandable, deep, and well referenced.”
- US: The Ace and Aro Advocacy Project (TAAAP): “TAAAP is an organization dedicated to providing resources on asexuality and aromanticism to the public.”
- Ace Community Survey: “The Ace Community Survey is an annual survey by the Ace Community Survey Team, which collects valuable information on the demographics and experiences of members in the ace community.”
- Resources page from the now-defunct Asexuality New Zealand Trust
- Asexual Agenda
Intersex Resources
- ILGA World - the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association: Puts on the International Intersex Forum; many intersex organizations participate in ILGA’s continental chapters.
- Organisation Intersex International Europe
- interACT
- BE: Intersekse Vlaanderen
- IT: Intersexioni
- NL: Stichting Nederlands Netwerk Intersekse/DSD
HIV/AIDS Resources
- US: CDC
- US: San Francisco Aids Foundation
- UK: NHS
- UK: Terrence Higgins Trust
- CA: HIV/AIDS Connection
- CA: Stephen Lewis Foundation
- NZ: Burnett Foundation
- Be In The Know (formerly avert.org)
- amFAR (Foundation for AIDS Research)
- AIDS Healthcare Foundation
- WebMD
Finding HIV/AIDS Testing
National Resources
United States
General Resources
- Refuge Restrooms: a web application that seeks to provide safe restroom access for transgender, intersex, and gender nonconforming individuals
- Erin Reeds’s informed consent clinics map: Erin Reed’s informed consent map lists every informed consent hormone therapy clinic.
- Strong Family Alliance’s faith-based organizations list: This is a list of organizations and services for religious LGBTQ+ and queer people. Although mostly tailored toward the major American Christian denominations, it includes non-Christian resources as well.
Relocation Resources
- The Trans Resistance Network (TRN): Formed to ensure the survival of gender diverse people and families through strategic coordination of resources for relocation, alternative systems of gender-affirming care, mutual aid, and community defense.
- Rainbow Passage: Providing transportation for individuals in harm’s way, with a focus on bringing them to the Sanctuary states and cities. Safely escorting individuals to communities with the necessary legal, financial, educational, and medical resources to meet their needs.
- A Place For Marsha: A Place for Marsha is one of many start-up projects aiming towards helping Trans individuals and families in increasingly dangerous states to a safer place.
Charities and Civil Rights Organizations
- Trevor Project
- Lambda Legal
- GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders
- Transgender Law Center
- National Center for Transgender Equality
- National Center for Lesbian Rights
- LGBT Victory Fund
- GLAAD
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table
- Human Rights Campaign
- American Civil Liberties Union
In a Crisis?
- Trevor Project: Get Help: Connect to a LGBTQ understanding crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the U.S. It is 100% confidential, and 100% free.
- Trans Lifeline: Trans Lifeline’s hotline is a peer support phone service run by trans people for our trans and questioning peers. Call them if you need someone trans to talk to, even if you’re not in crisis or if you’re not sure if you’re trans.
- RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE, online.rainn.org)
United Kingdom
General Resources
- Gender Construction Kit: In the UK? Here’s how to…
- The Angels, an internet support group for trans women
Charities and Civil Rights Organizations
- Press For Change, “Press for Change has been a key lobbying and legal support organisation for Trans people in the UK. since its formation in 1992.”
- Mermaids: “Mermaids supports transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care.”
- Regard: “Regard is a national organisation of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender, queer and intersex people (LGBTQI+) who self-identify as disabled.”
- GIRES (Gender Identity Research & Education Society): “GIRES is a UK wide organisation whose purpose is to improve the lives of trans and gender diverse people of all ages, including those who are non-binary and non-gender.”
- Tranzwiki by GIRES: “TranzWiki is a comprehensive directory of non-commercial groups and organisations supporting or assisting trans and gender diverse individuals, their families and friends across the UK.”
- CliniQ: “We offer a holistic sexual health, mental health and wellbeing service for all trans people, partners and friends. We are a trans-led team, who offer a safe, confidential space for those who may not feel comfortable accessing mainstream services.”
- LGBT Youth Scotland: “We are Scotland’s national charity for LGBTI young people, working with 13–25 year olds across the country. We also deliver the LGBT Charter programme to schools, organisations and businesses.”
In a Crisis?
- The Samaritans or call 116 123 Free from any phone in UK or ROI; support for people who need someone to talk to. Available 24/7 365 days a year.
- Stonewall Housing: “If you’re LGBTQ+, facing or experiencing homelessness, or living in an unsafe home please reach out to us today. We can help you.”
Canada
General Resources
- It Gets Better Canada
- Intersex Canada: “We aim to empower intersex individuals and their families to acquire knowledge, find community, and navigate healthcare in Canada.”
- LGBT+ Family Coalition: “The LGBT+ Family Coalition is a community rights organization that advocates for the social and legal recognition of families that come under the umbrella of sexual and gender diversity.”
- Rainbow Railroad: “In countries around the world, LGBTQI+ people face violence and oppression simply because of who they love or who they are. We help them get to safety.”
Charities and Civil Rights Organizations
- Enchante Network has an extensive list of LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and organizations. See there for more.
- AB: Pride Centre of Edmonton: “The Pride Centre of Edmonton provides a non-judgmental, welcoming space where people of all attractions, identities, and expressions can be themselves, find support, meet new people, and be part of a caring community.”
- BC: Advocacy Canada: “The mission of Advocacy Canada is to unite and amplify queer voices and their allies in the community to effect positive change on important issues that make a lasting difference.”
- MB: Reaching Out Winnipeg: “ROW’s objective is to create an increased number of permanent resettlement opportunities for SOGI asylum seekers here in Winnipeg.”
- MB: Rainbow Resource Centre: “Rainbow Resource Centre offers support to the 2SLGBTQ+ community in the form of counselling, education, and programming for individuals ranging from children through to 55±. It also supports families, friends, and employers of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals.”
- NT: Northern Mosaic: “We’re invested in making the Northwest Territories a safer, more equitable place for 2SLGBTQIPA+ youth, families and adults.”
- ON: Toronto PFLAG: “Toronto Pflag promotes the health and well-being of LGBTQ2S+ people by helping to keep families together through Support and Education.”
- ON: OK2BME: “a set of supportive services for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual (2SLGBTQIA+) and questioning kids, teens, adults, and their families in Waterloo Region.” and SPECTRUM: “SPECTRUM serves, affirms, and supports the well-being of 2SLGBTQ+ people in Waterloo Region”
- ON: FrancoQueer: “L’organisation LGBTQIA2+ francophone en Ontario” (The Francophone LGBTQIA2+ organization in Ontario)
- SK: OUTSaskatoon: “Saskatoon and area’s 2SLGBTQ community centre and service provider.”
- YT: QueerYukon
In a Crisis?
- LGBT YouthLine: Youth Line offers confidential and non-judgemental peer support through our telephone, text and chat services. Get in touch with a peer support volunteer from Sunday to Friday, 4:00PM to 9:30 PM. Call 1-800-268-9688 or text 647-694-4275. Chat is also available on their website.
France
- Proud-and-Gay: Les associations LGBT essentielles à connaître absolument
- SOS homophobie: “SOS homophobie est une association féministe de lutte contre la lesbophobie, la gayphobie, la biphobie, la transphobie et l’intersexophobie.” (SOS Homophobia is a feminist association fighting against lesbophobia, gayphobia, biphobia, transphobia and intersexphobia.) Ligne: 01 48 06 42 41
- La Fondation Le Refuge: “Avec ses équipes de salariés et de bénévoles, la Fondation Le Refuge héberge et accompagne les jeunes LGBT+, de 14 à 25 ans, victimes d’homophobie ou de transphobie et en situation de rupture familiale, vers leur reconstruction émotionnelle et matérielle.” (With its teams of employees and volunteers, the Fondation Le Refuge accommodates and supports young LGBT+ people, aged 14 to 25, victims of homophobia or transphobia and in a situation of family breakdown, towards their emotional and material reconstruction.) Ligne jeunes LGBT+: 06 31 59 69 50
- ADHEOS: “ADHEOS est une ONG française LGBTI à dimension nationale et internationale par ses nombreuses activités et compétences dans la défense des droits des minorités sexuelles.” (ADHEOS is a French LGBTI NGO with a national and international dimension through its numerous activities and skills in defending the rights of sexual minorities.)
- Le MAG Jeunes LGBT+: “Le MAG Jeunes LGBT+ est une association par et pour les jeunes LGBTI+ âgé·e·s de 15 et 30 ans, fondée en 1985.” (MAG Jeunes LGBT+ is an association by and for young LGBTI+ people aged between 15 and 30, founded in 1985.)
- Chrysalide: “Association trans militante de support et de diffusion d’informations sur les transidentités.” (Activist trans association supporting and disseminating information on trans identities.)
- DILCRAH: Répertoire des ressources LGBTI en ligne: “Le répertoire de ressources sur la haine anti-LGBT de la DILCRAH est une sélection des brochures, guides et livrets produits par les associations et les institutions sur le sujet.” (The DILCRAH anti-LGBT hate resource directory is a selection of brochures, guides and booklets produced by associations and institutions on the subject.)
- WikiTrans: “Toutes les ressources pour les personnes trans en questionnement ou en transition, leurs proches et leurs alliés.” (All the resources for trans people in question or in transition, their loved ones and their allies.)
- Fransgenre: “Nous sommes une association nationale d’information et d’entraide principalement autour des aspects médicaux, juridiques et administratifs des transitions, et de défense des droits des personnes trans.” (We are a national association of information and mutual aid mainly around the medical, legal and administrative aspects of transitions, and the defense of the rights of trans people.)
- L’association Bi’Cause: “Bi’Cause est une association mixte et consensuelle de réflexion, d’information et de prévention s’adressant aux personnes qui se définissent ou sont perçues comme bisexuelles ou pansexuelles, ou encore qui s’intéressent à ces orientations. Bi’Cause propose des temps et des lieux de rencontre, d’échanges et de discussions.”
En crise? (In a Crisis?)
- Réseau d’Assistance aux Victimes d’Agressions et de Discriminations (RAVAD): Une association qui assiste les victimes d’agressions et de discriminations, en particulier pour les agressions à raison de l’orientation sexuelle et de l’identité de genre. Ligne 06 07 60 67 42; email urgence@ravad.org
- SOS homophobie: Ligne d’écoute anonyme 01 48 06 42 41
- La Fondation Le Refuge: Ligne jeunes LGBT+ 06 31 59 69 50
Germany
- Deutschland-spezifische Seite des globalen Transgenderressourcenregisters (GTRR).
- Regenbogenportal: “Das Regenbogenportal ist der Informationspool der Bundesregierung zu gleichgeschlechtlichen Lebensweisen und geschlechtlicher Vielfalt.” (General LGBTQ+ information site run by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs.)
- DGTI: “Die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Transidentität und Intersexualität e.V. (dgti) ist eine bundesweite Fachgesellschaft, die sich für die Akzeptanz und Gleichstellung von trans*-, inter*-geschlechtlichen, nicht binären und agender Menschen in allen Ebenen der Gesellschaft einsetzt.” (The German Society for Transidentity and Intersexuality eV is a nationwide specialist society that works for the acceptance and equality of trans*, inter*, non-binary and agender people at all levels of society.)
- Bundesverband Trans*: “Der Bundesverband Trans* e.V. setzt sich für die Rechte von trans* Personen im weiteren Sinne ein[…]” (The Bundesverband Trans* e.V. is committed to the rights of trans* people in a broader sense[…])
- Gynformation.de: “Wir sind ein queer-feministisches Kollektiv für gynäkologische Selbstbestimmung. Du verdienst in der Behandlung einen respektvollen, vertraulichen, unvoreingenommenen und professionellen Umgang.” (We are a queer feminist collective for gynecological self-determination. You deserve respectful, confidential, impartial and professional treatment in treatment.)
- Trans*DB: “Trans*DB ist eine Website, mit der du nach trans*relevanten medizinischen Leistungen und Communityangeboten aus deiner Umgebung suchen kannst.” (“Trans*DB is a website that you can use to search for trans* related medical services and community offerings in your area.”)
Mexico
- Casa de Muñecas Tiresias: “Somos una asociación transfeminista incluyente que busca transformar la vida de las personas disidentes del género en México a través de proyectos integrales de fortalecimiento y defensa de derechos humanos con miras a la transformación cultural y la inclusión social libre de discriminación.” (We are an inclusive transfeminist association that seeks to transform the lives of gender dissidents in Mexico through comprehensive projects to strengthen and defend human rights with a view to cultural transformation and discrimination-free social inclusion.)
- Impulso Trans: “Asociación civil que busca brindar apoyo y fortalecimiento para las personas trans: transgénero, transexuales, travestis, intersex y LGBQ+ bajo un enfoque de igualdad y no discriminación, integrando la perspectiva de género y derechos humanos.” (Civil association that seeks to provide support and strengthening for trans people: transgender, transsexual, transvestite, intersex and LGBQ+ under an equality and non-discrimination approach, integrating the gender and human rights perspective.)
- Asociación por las infancias trans: “Nuestro compromiso es con el desarrollo integral de les niñes y adolescentes Trans, por lo que todos nuestros servicios son gratuitos.” (Our commitment is to the comprehensive development of trans children and adolescents, which is why all our services are free.)
- Centro de Apoyo a las Identidades Trans: “Somos una organización de la sociedad civil que trabaja para hacer efectivo el cumplimiento y ejercicio de los Derechos Humanos de las poblaciones trans a través de estrategias de participación y movilización comunitaria, educación entre pares; e incidencia política en base a evidencia.” (We are a civil society organization that works to enforce the fulfillment and exercise of the Human Rights of trans populations through participation strategies and community mobilization, peer education; and evidence-based advocacy.)
- Almas Cautivas: “Trabajamos a favor de la población LGBT privada de libertad pero sin olvidar a otros grupos en situación de vulnerabilidad como: indígenas, personas adultas mayores y personas con discapacidad.” (We work in favor of the LGBT population deprived of liberty but without forgetting other groups in vulnerable situations such as: indigenous people, older adults and people with disabilities.)
Poland
- Kampania Przeciw Homofobii (KPH): “Działamy na rzecz osób homo- i biseksualnych oraz transpłciowych (LGBT) i ich bliskich, poprzez rzecznictwo polityczne, społeczne i prawne, tworzenie i wdrażanie systemowych rozwiązań edukacyjnych dla różnych grup zawodowych oraz budowanie szerokiego ruchu sojuszniczego.” (We act for the benefit of homosexual, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and their relatives through political, social and legal advocacy, creating and implementing systemic educational solutions for various professional groups, and building a broad allied movement.)
- Miłość nie wyklucza: “Chcemy, żeby wszystkie kochające się pary mogły wziąć ślub w Polsce!” (We want all loving couples to be able to get married in Poland!)
- Fundacja Trans-Fuzja: “Wizją Fundacji Trans-Fuzja jest absolutne poszanowanie praw człowieka osób transpłciowych w Polsce, zapewnienie im całkowitej równości społecznej oraz brak dyskryminacji w jakichkolwiek obszarach życia, szczególnie w kwestii poszanowania tożsamości i ekspresji płciowej.” (The vision of the Trans-Fuzja Foundation is absolute respect for the human rights of transgender people in Poland, ensuring their complete social equality and non-discrimination in any areas of life, especially in respect of gender identity and expression.)
- Lambda Warszawa: “Lambda Warszawa jest organizacją działającą na rzecz wsparcia osób, które znalazły się w trudnej sytuacji ze względu na orientację psychoseksualną lub tożsamość płciową, jak również tych, które z tych powodów doświadczały bądź doświadczają dyskryminacji i przemocy.” (Lambda Warszawa is an organization working to support people who found themselves in a difficult situation due to their psychosexual orientation or gender identity, as well as those who have experienced or are experiencing discrimination and violence for these reasons.)
- Wiara i Tęcza: “Działamy na rzecz chrześcijan homoseksualnych, biseksualnych, transpłciowych, niebinarnych i interpłciowych, opowiadając się za pełną akceptacją LGBT+ w Kościołach i w społeczeństwie.” (We work for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, and intersex Christians, advocating full acceptance of LGBT+ people in Christian Churches and in society.)
- Otwarta Przestrzeń: “Otwarta Przestrzeń to miejsce stworzone z myślą o wspieraniu osób LGBTQIAP i ich bliskich.” (Open Space is a place created to support LGBTQIAP people and their loved ones.)
- Grupa Stonewall: “Grupa Stonewall została założona 22 maja 2015 r. Jesteśmy organizacją LGBT+ działającą na terenie Wielkopolski.” (The Stonewall Group was founded on May 22, 2015. We are an LGBT+ organization operating in Greater Poland.)
Australia
General Resources
- Switchboard Victoria: A community based not for profit organisation that provides a peer driven, support service for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender diverse, intersex, queer, asexual (LGBTIQA+) communities and their allies, friends, support workers and families.
- Queerspace: Has a focus on relationships, families, parenting and young people and offers co-located services across the north- west metropolitan region of Victoria.
- Blaq: The peak organisation for Aboriginal Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual + Sistergirl and Brotherboy (LGBTQ+SB) Peoples and Communities in NSW.
- Black Rainbow: A national volunteer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBQTIA+SB social enterprise to pursue positive health and wellbeing of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBQTIA+SB community located in the Top End capital, Darwin, Northern Territory.
- IPSA: Intersex Peer Support Australia is an intersex peer support, information and advocacy group for people born with variations in sex characteristics and their families.
Charities and Civil Rights Organizations
- Q+Law: Provides a safe entry point to access legal assistance for all individuals residing in Victoria who identify as part of the LGBTIQA+ community.
- Intersex Human Rights Australia: A national body by and for people with intersex variations. We promote the human rights, self-determination and bodily autonomy of intersex people in Australia.
In a Crisis?
- QLife: Provides anonymous and free LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. Open 3pm to Midnight, Every day. (1800 184 527, webchat)
- Rainbow Door: A free specialist LGBTIQA+ (Lesbian, Gay , Bisexual, Transgender and Gender Diverse, Intersex, Queer, Asexual, BrotherBoys, SisterGirls) helpline providing information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family. Open 10am-5pm, Every day. (1800 729 367, TXT:0480 017 246)
Other countries
- IE: Transgender Equality Network Ireland: “Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) seeks to improve conditions and advance the rights and equality of trans people and their families.”
- NZ: Rainbow Support Collective: A network of Aotearoa’s rainbow organisations. Website coming soon - see Be There for a list of organisations.
In a Crisis?
The following lists are generally considered to be trustworthy and up to date, although we cannot independently vouch for them at all times. They comprise a mixture of community and international hotlines, depending on your need.
- The Befrienders list of hotlines
- Find a Hotline, which partners with the International Association for Suicide Prevention
- Open Counseling list of hotlines
- Psychology Today list of hotlines
Research
Research is clear that directly rebutting or responding to mis- and disinformation is often counterproductive - people are great at remembering information, but not so good at remembering that the information is wrong. However, the evidence base for supporting LGBTQIA+ people and gender diverse people in particular is strong - here’s some key findings that show the benefit of affirmation, social transition, and gender affirming healthcare.
What does the scholarly research say about the effect of gender transition on transgender well-being?
- We conducted a systematic literature review of all peer-reviewed articles published in English between 1991 and June 2017 that assess the effect of gender transition on transgender well-being […] of which 51 (93%) found that gender transition improves the overall well-being of transgender people, while 4 (7%) report mixed or null findings. We found no studies concluding that gender transition causes overall harm.
- The scholarly literature makes clear that gender transition is effective in treating gender dysphoria and can significantly improve the well-being of transgender individuals. Among the positive outcomes of gender transition and related medical treatments for transgender individuals are improved quality of life, greater relationship satisfaction, higher self-esteem and confidence, and reductions in anxiety, depression, suicidality, and substance use.
Mental Health of transgender children who are supported in their identities
- This is the first report of its kind on the mental health of transgender children who have socially transitioned - reversible, nonmedical interventions - changing pronouns, name, and presentation.
- Socially transitioned transgender children who are supported in their gender identity have developmentally normative levels of depression and only minimal elevations in anxiety, suggesting that psychopathology is not inevitable within this group. They did not differ from the control groups on depression symptoms and had only marginally higher anxiety symptoms.
Chosen name use is linked to reduced depressive symptoms, suicidal behaviour, and ideation among trans youth
- After adjusting for personal characteristics and social support, chosen name use in more contexts was associated with lower depression, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior. Depression, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior were lowest when chosen names could be used in all four contexts.
- An increase by one context in which a chosen name could be used predicted a 5.37-unit decrease in depressive symptoms, a 29% decrease in suicidal ideation, and a 56% decrease in suicidal behaviour. Depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behaviour were at the lowest levels when chosen names could be used in all four contexts.
Mental health outcomes in transgender and non-binary youths receiving gender-affirming care
- In this prospective cohort of 104 TNB youths aged 13 to 20 years, receipt of gender-affirming care, including puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones, was associated with 60% lower odds of moderate or severe depression and 73% lower odds of suicidality over a 12-month follow-up.
- This study found that access to gender-affirming care was associated with mitigation of mental health disparities among TNB youths over 1 year; given this population’s high rates of adverse mental health outcomes, these data suggest that access to pharmacological interventions may be associated with improved mental health among TNB youths over a short period.
Intervenable factors associated with suicide risk in transgender persons: a respondent driven sampling study in Ontario, Canada
- Social support, reduced transphobia, and having any personal ID documents changed to an appropriate sex designation were associated with large relative and absolute reductions in suicide risk, as was completing a medical transition through hormones and/or surgeries. Parental support for gender identity was associated with reduced ideation. Lower self-reported transphobia (10th vs 90th percentile) was associated with a 66% reduction in ideation, and an additional 76% reduction in attempts among those with ideation.
- Interventions to increase social inclusion and access to medical transition, and to reduce transphobia, have the potential to contribute to substantial reductions in the extremely high prevalences of suicide ideation and attempts within trans populations. Such interventions at the population level may require policy change.
Impacts of Strong Parental Support for Trans Youth
- Trans youth who indicated their parents were strongly supportive of their gender identity and expression were significantly more likely (72%) to report being satisfied with their lives than those with parents who were not strongly supportive (33%). Also statistically significant, 70% of those with parents strongly supportive of their gender identity and expression reported positive mental health compared to 15% of those whose parents were not strongly supportive.
Sex Assigned at Birth Ratio Among Transgender and Gender Diverse Adolescents in the United States
- Representatives of some pediatric gender clinics have reported an increase in transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adolescents presenting for care who were assigned female sex at birth (AFAB) relative to those assigned male sex at birth (AMAB). These data have been used to suggest that youth come to identify as TGD because of “social contagion,” with the underlying assumption that AFAB youth are uniquely vulnerable to this hypothesized phenomenon. Reported changes in the AMAB:AFAB ratio have been cited in recent legislative debates regarding the criminalization of gender-affirming medical care.
- Using the 2017 and 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey across 16 states that collected gender identity data, we calculated the AMAB:AFAB ratio for each year. We also examined the rates of bullying victimization and suicidality among TGD youth compared with their cisgender peers.
- The sex assigned at birth ratio of TGD adolescents in the United States does not appear to favor AFAB adolescents and should not be used to argue against the provision of gender-affirming medical care for TGD adolescents.
Last updated 10 Sep 2023, 13:37 -0400 .