Find the joy!


Reader, it seems like every time I turn around, I hear another depressing news story about transphobic crap - new policies, proposed laws, or people just generally being jerks.

So I have a challenge for you ... FIND THE JOY.

Joy is what keeps us going and gives us hope.

Find the joy in your community, whether that's other parents of trans kids (who just GET IT), the trans community, or the larger LGBTQ+ community (or all of the above!).

Find the joy in little things, like GOOD news about trans folks (try here or here) or the perfect buttermilk biscuit (my eternal quest).

Most importantly, find the joy in your kid. Supporting and affirming your kid's gender identity will have a huge positive impact on their mental health. Which will bring them joy. Which will bring you joy. It's just one big circle of joy!

Where are you finding joy these days?


🔮 What we're up to inside the Parents of Trans Youth Community: August 2026

🎬 Movie Night - We’ll discuss Laverne Cox’s documentary “Disclosure.” So powerful.

🤗 New Member Welcome Call - Get acclimated to our community space AND get to know a small group of folks right away.

🫂 Day and Evening Support Groups - Bring your joys and challenges to this space to get support from other parents of trans kids and young adults. Always a powerful time.

🏳️‍⚧️ “Turning Allyship into Action” - In this session, I'll share how to turn our good intentions into concrete supportive actions for the trans community.

Want in? This month’s application window is open through August 7.

Mandy Giles (she/her)
Founder and CEO
Parents of Trans Youth

p.s. Click here to receive additional emails specific to Texas news and events.

p.s.s. But wait! There's more! Click here to get on the Houston-area email list.

Parents of Trans Youth provides learning, support, and community to parents and caregivers of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive kids.

2808 Caroline St. #103-G, Houston, TX 77004
Unsubscribe · Preferences

Parents of Trans Youth

Parents of Trans Youth provides learning, support, and community to parents and caregivers of transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse kids. Join our email list for bite-sized tips and news about supporting trans kids sent straight to your inbox twice weekly.

Read more from Parents of Trans Youth
video preview

Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa messed up. About a week ago, she released a campaign ad that ends with a riff on an old anti-trans joke, saying her pronouns are, "Mom, Texan, and soon to be: Governor." It was meant to be a clap back at her opponent, Governor Greg Abbott, for calling her "Gender Bender Gina" and other insults related to her "liberal agenda." But using the same framework as a transphobic pronoun joke isn't funny or clever. It's a dog whistle for jackasses...

Grief is a tough topic for lots of parents of trans kids (possibly you). They might even think or say things like “I feel like I’ve lost my son [or daughter].” And that feeling of loss is REAL. It’s important to remember that you’re grieving the loss of your expectations for your child, not the loss of your child. Your kid is still the same kid! It’s normal and necessary to give yourself the space and grace to grieve those expectations, but it’s important to do that grieving, questioning, and...

If you’re a parent of a trans kid and want to expand your allyship outside the home, no matter what age your kid is, you need their permission to share ANYTHING about them.This includes identifying yourself as the parent of a trans child.Why?1️⃣ It’s not your story to tell - it’s their story!2️⃣ If you say you’re the parent of trans kid, you’ve just outed them with that description.3️⃣ Depending on where you live (and the context), it may not be safe for your family to share publicly that...