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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.

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This moment

I had not planned on responding publicly to Charlie Kirk's death. I do not tolerate gun violence, and I'm also not shedding tears over that man. Both things can be true. But parents I serve are asking for comfort and guidance. They're scared, and so are their children. I'm not sure I have answers, but I can offer some ways of thinking about this moment: Safe harborFor parents, be sure to let your children know that you have their back and that they will always be safe at home. Home needs to...

I know it can be hard to sift through all the trans-focused resources out there to figure out what's really helpful. Here are a few of my current favorites to get you started: 🏳️⚧️ Finding a Trans-Affirming Therapist: What to Look ForHelpful article from Point of Pride 🏳️⚧️ Raising Trans Kids: What to Expect When You Weren't Expecting This by Rebecca Minor MSW, LICSWI have been waiting not-so-patiently for this book to come out, and it's finally available today! 🏳️⚧️ Trans Youth Emergency...

There’s no one right way to be transgender, nonbinary, or gender-expansive, and your child’s path is exactly the right one for them. So when deciding what steps to take next, follow their lead. Because ultimately, this is their journey, not ours. One parent described it this way: if your kid is the CEO of their gender identity, the parent is the executive assistant. Your kid is making the decisions about who they are, what direction they're going, and at what pace. We can help them get there....

I talk to a TON of parents with trans kids. You know what their #1 challenge is? Loneliness. Maybe they live in an area without a lot of LGBTQ+ resources. Maybe their kid’s not out, so they can’t be out. And maybe they just don’t know who to trust (in these "unprecedented" times). I have great news! We have a cure for that loneliness, and it’s the Parents of Trans Youth Community (PTYC). This is a secure, vetted online space for affirming parents of trans kids and young adults. Right now,...

During the Vietnam War, life-long pacifist A.J. Muste stood in front of the White House night after night, for years, holding a lighted candle. He was in his eighties. Sometimes others joined him. Sometimes he stood alone. A reporter interviewed him one evening as he stood there in the rain. “Mr. Muste,” the reporter said, “do you really think you are going to change the policies of this country by standing out here alone at night with a candle?” Muste replied, “Oh, I don’t do this to change...

Reader, you've probably heard that several clinics across the country have announced that they will no longer be offering gender-affirming care to youth under the age of 19, in response to President Trump’s Executive Order threatening federal funding for clinics who offer gender-affirming care to youth. These closures are a devastating loss to the families of transgender youth who rely on this lifesaving healthcare, especially given that gender-affirming care is already banned or restricted...

Texans! The bathroom bill will be heard AGAIN on Friday (August 22) - this time in the House State Affairs committee. This is the closest a bathroom bill has come to passing in Texas (it's already through the Senate), and this is our best chance to stop it from moving forward. Here's how you can take action against SB 8 today and tomorrow: Submit public comment onlineGo to comments.house.texas.gov and enter "SB8" where it says "bill number." You can do this on 8/21 and 8/22 from anywhere in...

This weekend, a colleague shared with me that an editor for a progressive media outlet liked our recent piece for TIME and wants me to write an article on "the ways in which Trump 2.0 has made life harder for trans kids." I actually laughed out loud when I read that proposed subject. I could probably fill a whole book with all the ways life is "harder" for trans kids under Trump's second administration. Would I start with the "shock and awe" tactic of the Day 1 executive orders? Or the HHS...

Last week, a parent who was applying for our online membership community said that parenting a trans child is taking parenting down to its roots. "It's about being there for whatever they need and taking my ego and my expectations out of it." Wow. I’ve talked to a ton of parents of trans kids and never heard anyone say this before. And it’s brilliant. Hope you have a restful weekend, Reader. Mandy GilesFounder, Parents of Trans Youth p.s. Want to receive additional emails specific to Texas...

Parents of Trans Youth + Undead Voice: Jumpstart Your Voice Transition With access to gender-affirming care disappearing across the country, we’ve partnered with Undead Voice to offer their Jumpstart Your Voice Transition masterclass completely free this year. This three-week, expert-led masterclass provides trans and gender-diverse people with real, actionable tools to shape their voice. No gatekeeping. No insurance battles. No barriers. Registration is closing soon and the classes start...