Every person deserves support. Transgender people are no exception. But where do you find information, resources, and tools? With thousands of websites out there, getting connected can feel overwhelming. Here are ten important transgender websites you should be aware of.
Advocates for Trans Equality
A4TE was formed in 2024 when the National Center for Transgender Equality and Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund merged. For transgender Americans, A4TE might be the most important organization to be aware of.
Not American? Depending on your location, there is likely an organization similar to A4TE. Here are some of the big ones, but also check out this post for international crisis information for leads.
Know Your Rights
Advocates for Trans Equality hosts a digital hub of information to explain legal rights and resources. Some of the topics already covered include:
- Anti-Violence
- Education
- Employment
- Healthcare
- Housing
- Identity Documents
- Immigration
- Military
- Police & Prisons
- Sports
- Travel
- Youth
Trans Health Project
Transgender people deserve access to healthcare. The Trans Health Project by A4TE guides users through understanding trans-inclusive (and exclusive) coverage through the American insurance industry, how to get a letter of medical necessity, and a hub of directories (like OutCare) for finding a trans-friendly healthcare provider.
Each state has different regulations regarding transgender healthcare. The Project includes information regarding each state, as well as Medicaid policies. It also provides templates to give to your provider, easing the insurance process with checklists and letter formats, as well as appeal templates if your insurance company disagrees that your care should be covered.
ID Document Center
You don’t need a law degree to legally change your name or gender marker. Regardless, it can feel like you should – updating your documents is complicated and you’ll have to navigate a complex system with forms, deadlines, and meetings.
The ID Document Center explains the processes behind updating one’s information on birth certificate, driver’s license, state ID, passports, social security, immigration documents, and selective service based on the individual state.
Name Change Project
Low-income individuals in select cities are eligible for pro bono legal name change services through A4TE and its partners. Eligible applicants are connected with law firms and corporate legal departments local to their region. At the time of this article, A4TE’s Name Change Project services individuals in the following cities:
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Chicago, Illinois
- New York City (all five boroughs in New York and Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Union, and Middlesex counties in New Jersey)
- Long Island, New York
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
If you live outside of the above cities, you can still find assistance through organizations listed in A4TE’s Trans Legal Services Network.
And Other Incredible Services
A4TE takes on a small number of critical court cases each year to establish new legal precedents regarding transgender law. Impact litigation services are generally unrelated to ID cases that would otherwise be covered in the ID Document Center.
Through its partnership with the Victory Institute, A4TE trains and endorses transgender candidates for political office. Advocates for Trans Equality also lobbies for federal, state, and local legislation that promotes transgender equality.
Looking for more resources similar to A4TE? Check out the Transgender Law Center, American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Campaign, PFLAG, and GLAAD.
Trans Lifeline
Folks residing in the United States or Canada can utilize Trans Lifeline, a grassroots nonprofit that operates an anonymous and confidential hotline for trans people, by trans people.
Unlike other crisis services (such as 988), Trans Lifeline does not use nonconsensual active rescue and will not call emergency services or law enforcement without the explicit consent of the caller. They’re also not affiliated with the federal government and cannot be impacted by federal attacks, such as those targeting the Trevor Project or 988.
Trans Lifeline also hosts a Resource Library, which contains resources that are unlikely to be found elsewhere, such as information on police abolition and community safety.
Not American or Canadian? This post contains hotlines and crisis services throughout the world.
Transgender Map
Originally known as TS Road Map, the Transgender Map has existed online since 1998 and contains over 2,000 pages of researched content to guide visitors through trans-related topics.
It’s regularly updated through the massive undertaking of one individual. Coming out advice, HRT, clothing, voice training, disclosure, handwriting, documents, marriage, films, forums… Transgender Map covers nearly everything you could think of when it comes to transitioning.
Trans Reads
Are there books you want to read but don’t have access to? Transgender media isn’t frequently distributed through major publishers, so readers are forced to purchase literature when these items are not available in local libraries. Trans Reads is the community-driven solution to make transgender books accessible.
As a digital community library, anyone can upload content for Trans Reads’ librarians to curate. All items are publicly available at all times. The only downside to the site is its sorting, and it contains thousands of pieces that you’ll have to search through. While Trans Reads offers some reading lists, there aren’t many – its librarians are focused on collecting and uploading items, so you have to know what you’re looking for ahead of time.
Interested in more free clear web virtual libraries?
- Internet Archive / Originally created as a library in 1996, the Internet Archive uses web crawlers to collect as much data as possible to provide “universal access to information.” Items can be virtually borrowed with a free account.
- Anarchist Libraries Network / Directory of digital anarchist libraries like the Anarchist Library.
- Anna’s Archive / Search engine for safe shadow libraries like Library Genesis, Sci-Hub, UbuWeb, and Z-Library.
- Library Genesis (aka LibGen) / The most well-known shadow library on the clear web. Due to constant attacks and takedowns by the federal government since shadow libraries disperse paywalled content for free, you might have to search for its current URL or mirror.
- Audiobook Bay / Similar to The Pirate Bay, generally safe, but use with caution. Check the website’s Reddit to find the most current mirror. To access Audiobook Bay, you’ll likely need a VPN like Proton.
- Project Gutenberg / PG is the oldest digital library and has provided books via open format files since 1971. Out of all of the libraries listed, it’s the easiest to access since all of its items are public domain and therefore not subject to copyright takedowns.
- Queer Liberation Library / QLL offers books through its free account system, and its site is great when used in tandem with others like Trans Reads, since its librarians offer a ton of book suggestions.
Digital Transgender Archive
DTA is the world’s largest trans-focused online archive. It contains thousands of items similar to the Internet Archive before the 2000s, hosting uploaded books, artworks, publications, audio recordings, and films.
The Digital Transgender Archive is the best place to research transgender history, especially in tandem with the Internet Archive. Items date back to the 1500s up to modern day.
Strands for Trans
Many transgender and nonbinary people feel uncomfortable going to salons or barbershops. Hair plays a role in gender expression and our ability to feel represented. However, salons and barbershops have gendered expectations – so there’s little way to know if a stylist will be transgender-friendly.
Strands For Trans is a data map that allows visitors to locate self-identified transgender-friendly salons and barbershops. To be eligible, businesses have to submit their application for review through the Strands For Trans website, similar to Everywhere Is Queer.
REFUGE
Using archival data from Safe2Pee, REFUGE is a community data map that shows transgender-friendly restrooms. Visitors upload and pinpoint safe locations to help their peers feel comfortable.
Unlike other maps, REFUGE leans heavily into user experiences – so it’s easier to know if a location is genuinely trans-friendly based on other transgender people’s experiences.
Erin in the Morning
Erin Reed is an American journalist who provides daily updates on transgender-relevant news and legislation. Her videos are bite-sized and easy to digest; her substack and newsletters are detailed and researched. Stay aware of ongoing attacks on trans rights as well as victories, subscribe to Erin in some way to be connected to the national picture.
In addition to daily content, Erin also manages two maps of interest. The National Risk Assessment Map visualizes anti-transgender legislation for transgender adults and youth to better understand safety risks. Erin’s Informed Consent HRT Map is a public pin map of known informed consent HRT providers throughout the United States.
Similarly, the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) is an independent think tank that visualizes legislation on a larger range of issues. MAP’s data is updated less frequently than Erin’s, but covers more topics like bathroom laws, healthcare regulations, name change protocols, and religious exemptions.
The Transgender Legislation Tracker visualizes and tracks transgender-related legislation throughout the United States. Each state is accounted for, showing currently proposed, passed, and active bills, as well as federal legislation. Erin in the Morning is best used to digest and understand these bills, but the Transgender Legislation Tracker directs you to the actual legislation.
Turn Me Into…
The following sites are great resources for individuals who are questioning their gender or are early in their transition. In a society that demonizes transness, it’s easy to feel conflicted or uncertain. All of the following sites debunk common myths and walk visitors through the questioning process.
The Gender Dysphoria Bible is another great resource. The “Turn Me Into” websites are shorter and cover general topics many questioning folk have early in the process. The Gender Dysphoria Bible, on the other hand, is extensive. Similar to the Lesbian Comphet Masterdoc, the Gender Dysphoria Bible touches on ideas you probably didn’t consider related to trans identity.
And as an honorable mention, the Pronoun Dressing Room is good for folks experimenting with pronouns, names, and gendered titles. The site allows users to try out identities without needing to come out publicly or use social media accounts.
On its own, Reddit is a BEAST. It’s a collection of communities that use forums to chat. Reddit is used by all sorts of people – right-wingers, leftists, liberals, apolitical types. Heck, even my grandmother uses Reddit. Compared to traditional platforms like Facebook, Reddit allows for greater anonymity and niche communities.
There are millions of subreddits (individual communities or forums) out there. There are thousands of trans-specific subreddits, so I can safely promise there is a community out there for you. These are the largest and most generalized three for trans folks.