Trans Solidarity Project

Category: Community

  • Celebrate LGBTQIA+ History Month: What to Read & Watch

    Celebrate LGBTQIA+ History Month: What to Read & Watch

    In addition to Halloween, October serves as LGBTQIA+ History Month. It’s been observed since 1994, when Missouri high school teacher Rodney Wilson believed his students deserved the opportunity to learn about queer role models. LGBTQIA+ history is actively being erased by those in political power, making learning about queer history into rebellion. Teaching, learning, and knowing queer history builds community and serves as a reminder to stand with civil rights.

    No matter your age, October presents a perfect opportunity to learn about LGBTQIA+ history. Refresh yourself on the facts, arm yourself with knowledge. Queer history is under attack.

    As of 2025, LGBTQIA+ History Month is observed in thirty-three countries:

    • UK (February)
    • Spain (February)
    • Hungary (March)
    • Netherlands (March)
    • Israel (March)
    • Italy (April)
    • Germany (May)
    • France (June)
    • New Zealand (July)
    • USA (October)
    • Canada (October)
    • Romania (October)
    • Australia (October)
    • Cuba (October)
    • Sweden (October)
    • Norway (October)
    • Denmark (October)
    • Iceland (October)
    • Greenland (October)
    • Estonia (October)
    • Latvia (October)
    • Lithuania (October)
    • Armenia (October)
    • Cambodia  (October)
    • Vietnam (October)
    • Myanmar (October)
    • Singapore (October)
    • Thailand (October)
    • Malaysia (October)
    • Indonesia (October)
    • Philippines (October)
    • Uganda (October)
    • Finland (November)

    Being included in the above list DOES NOT mean that the country officially endorses LGBTQIA+ History Month. In 2026, it’s expected that Brazil and Venezuela will participate in their own celebrations.

    Why is LGBTQIA+ History Month in October?

    In the United States, LGBTQIA+ History Month is celebrated in October to coincide with National Coming Out Day on October 11th. Since the US was the first country to begin observing LGBTQIA+ History Month, many other countries use October for their own celebrations. 

    So, why is October 11th National Coming Out Day? NCOD was first celebrated in 1988 due to it being the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. Approximately 750,000 people joined in Washington DC in 1987 alongside ACT UP at the Supreme Court building to vocalize dissent against the Reagan administration’s reaction to the AIDS epidemic.

    Coming Out Handbook
    HRC Coming Out Resources

    Five Films for LGBTQIA+ History Month

    Paris Is Burning (1990)

    Queer culture was heavily impacted by the ballroom scene in New York City, an underground subculture amongst gay and transgender Black and Latino Americans seeking a community to express themselves during the 1980s. Paris Is Burning was THE documentary that chronicled an aspect of queer history that would have otherwise been completely forgotten.

    There aren’t many lists that don’t recommend Paris Is Burning. Most folks see RuPaul’s Drag Race and assume that’s the extent of drag culture – but drag has a complex history that NYC’s ballroom scene mixed into. Competing houses, chosen family, the freedom to transgress gender roles, and perform. At the same time, Paris Is Burning showcases critical aspects of the time, such as the AIDS crisis and the woes of being a sex worker in impoverished New York City.

    Paris Is Burning centers on the generation following Stonewall. Over a decade before, queer people were rioting in rebellion to police corruption, mafia takeovers, and political malice. Some things changed, some things didn’t.

    Gay USA (1977)

    Best accompanied with Before Stonewall (1984), Gay USA was filmed entirely on June 26, 1977, to document pride celebrations throughout the United States. Camaramen recorded demonstrations in San Diego, Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and New York City in response to the murder of Robert Hillsborough.

    Gay USA memorializes the time between Stonewall and the AIDS crisis, when the LGBTQIA+ community was beginning to receive organized backlash from figures like Anita Bryant. Anita and other anti-gay activists were compelled by Stonewall to advocate for the repeal of anti-discrimination laws that were fought for during the 1960s. History takes two steps forward, one step back – which resonates today.

    Different from the Others (1919)

    Anders als die Andern, or Different from the Others, is the oldest gay film – although we nearly lost it to history. It was produced during the Weimar Republic as a silent melodramatic film (common for the time period), presenting an interesting story between two men being blackmailed through Paragraph 175. It even stars Magnus Hirschfeld (who also helped write the film)! If you want to know about queer culture during the Weimar Republic, check out Eldorado: Everything the Nazis Hate (2023).

    Part of Different from the Others *is* lost to history. When the Nazis came to power in the 1930s, they purposely sought out and destroyed documentation, research, and media that referenced queer identities. The film was burned and believed forgotten until a partially destroyed copy was discovered in the early 2000s. The film was reconstructed and shortened to preserve as much of the plot as possible, which is how it exists today in its abridged version.

    Individuals rising to power and then removing mention of LGBTQIA+ identities. Sound familiar? History rhymes, so we should take note.

    How to Survive a Plague (2012)

    Using 700 hours of archived footage, How to Survive a Plague explores the early years of the AIDS crisis. It was a frightening time when LGBTQIA+ people were dying, believed they were going to die, and the government was telling them that they deserved to die.

    How to Survive a Plague follows the actions of ACT UP and TAG, the most prominent AIDS activist organizations during the time period that fought for recognition, humanity, and research. The United States government didn’t feel it was worth finding a cure or treatment for HIV, forcing individuals to either pay $10,000 per year out-of-pocket for medication that merely slowed its progression or seek underground drugs from overseas.

    If you’re looking for something more fun, RENT (2005) is a film adaptation of the Broadway production that centers on a group of friends struggling to survive during the New York City AIDS crisis despite exorbitant rent and medication costs.

    Boys Don’t Cry (1999)

    Brandon Teena was a real transgender man who was raped and murdered in rural Nebraska. Boys Don’t Cry is a fictional adaptation of his story – Brandon found himself in Nebraska after running into trouble with the law, believing he had a chance to start fresh as authentically himself with new friends and a chosen family.

    As a film, Boys Don’t Cry emphasizes the brutality that LGBTQIA+ people experienced. The murders of Brandon Teena, Matthew Shepard, and Robert Hillsborough were some of the hallmark cases that led to anti-discrimination laws that outlaw anti-queer hate crimes.

    This is likely the most jarring film on the list. Read its triggers before viewing.

    Boys Don’t Cry is a fictional account of a real story. For greater detail regarding Brandon and his story, watch The Brandon Teena Story (1998).

    Five Books for LGBTQIA+ History Month

    A Queer History of the United States by Michael Bronski

    Bronski’s 2011 book is perhaps the best piece of media to become acquainted with LGBTQIA+ American history. It covers the entirety of queer history in the United States, spanning from before 1492 to the book’s publication. Gay people have always existed, but few films focus on history before Stonewall.

    A Queer History of the United States details gay pilgrims, sodomy laws,  crossdressing Civil War soldiers, and the purity culture that shaped America. Most of its information is relatively broad (Jonathan Ned Katz’s Gay American History is considerably more detailed, but also extremely dense), which makes it a great starting point to introduce readers to LGBTQIA+ history.

    Read A Queer History of the United States

    Transgender History by Susan Stryker

    Just as with gay men and lesbians, transgender people have existed as long as humans have had concepts related to gender. Transgender History by Susan Stryker is essentially a trans-focused version of Michael Bronski’s book.

    In just 200 pages, Stryker overviews major events and individuals that led us to today. In other words, Stryker’s work (which was published in 2008) is the most in-depth book that covers transgender history in the United States. There isn’t a 1000-page “Transgender American History.” There might be someday, but not yet.

    Read Transgender History

    And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts

    In the 1980s, journalist Randy Shilts took it upon himself to document the discovery and spread of HIV/AIDS – even though other journalists weren’t doing so at the time. This book is best read alongside How to Survive a Plague to give a comprehensive account of the political landscape LGBTQIA+ people were fighting in the 1980s. And the Band Played On was produced into a film adaptation in 1993; How to Survive a Plague was originally a movie that was later made into a book in 2016.

    And the Band Played On centers on the premise that the United States government was intentionally indifferent to the suffering of LGBTQIA+ people victimized by AIDS. Due to the federal government failing to fund research and treatment options, the US allowed the spread of HIV to exponentially increase into a crisis.

    How to Survive a Plague follows the actions of groups like ACT UP and TAG, but both books are valuable when considering this time period. And the Band Played On is considerably older (it was published in the midst of the AIDS crisis and helped cement international attention). It drew criticism from academic and scientific communities that refused to believe they were complicit in the AIDS crisis by failing to act. 

    Others argue that Shilts shouldn’t have called Gaëtan Dugas “Patient Zero” since it normalized the idea that gay men were overtly infectious, since Dugas intentionally continued to have unprotected sex after being told he had contracted HIV. Dugas was one of the first major cases in North America leading up to the AIDS crisis, but he wasn’t Patient Zero. On the other hand, Shilts was writing during the crisis – so the book is a product of its time. In his point of view, as likely the view of many other queer people at the time, Dugas should have used protection when having sex with others once he had learned he had HIV. Dugas was still a victim. Both statements can be true.

    Read And the Band Played On

    Whipping Girl by Julia Serano

    There are a LOT of great books regarding gender theory and feminism. Stone Butch Blues, The Second Sex, Bad Feminist, The Feminine Mystique, Women, Race & Class, Gender Trouble, and Feminism Is for Everybody are just a few – and all of those books inspired the creation of Julia Serano’s Whipping Girl.

    Before Serano’s book, feminist academia wasn’t particularly friendly to transgender scholars. This history still matters – feminism has not always had a history of being inclusive or intersectional, which is why TERFs still exist today and dominate some feminist spaces. Whipping Girl criticized mainstream feminist circles for failing to stand with transgender people, cementing the reality that transgender struggles are part of the general feminist movement leading up to the third wave.

    Read Whipping Girl

    The Lavender Scare by David E. Johnson

    Many Americans are aware of the insane war that Senator Joseph McCarthy waged by charging government officials, agencies, and everyday Americans as communists during a time period when there was hardly anything worse you could be. The Red Scare is taught as a core part of US history to public school students, emphasizing how the national government engaged in a wrongful witch hunt in the 1950s.

    Fewer people know of the Lavender Scare, which occurred at the same time. McCarthy made unsubstantiated claims that the federal government was also compromised by homosexuals who posed just as much of a national security threat as communists did. David E. Johnson’s The Lavender Scare chronicles this legacy and how Joseph McCarthy managed to bar LGBTQIA+ people from jobs in the public sector by associating them with the USSR.

    Read The Lavender Scare

    Queer History YOU Should Know #1
    During the Middle Ages, individuals assigned female at birth would occasionally live socially as men in monasteries (monachoparthenoi). While these transgender men weren’t open about their identities, it was the most socially acceptable way they could express themselves in Medieval Europe.

    Some of these monks, such as Saint Marinos and Anastasia the Patrician, were even later canonized as Catholic saints – although the Vatican isn’t too willing to refer to these individuals as men.

    Five Podcasts for LGBTQIA+ History Month

    Making Gay History

    Making Gay History has produced *14 seasons* worth of content, which might make it the longest-running LGBTQIA+ podcast. Their last episode aired in April, but it’s a fairly safe bet to assume season 15 will air in a few months once their writers have had a break.

    The podcast covers a variety of topics, but most of its episodes center on individuals who played significant roles throughout LGBTQIA+ history. Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Vito Russo, Larry Kramer, Magnus Hirschfeld, Bayard Rustin – the list goes on.

    Closeted History

    Originally started to help teachers include LGBTQIA+ topics into their lesson plans, the creators behind Closeted History were led to hosting weekly trivia that eventually became their current podcast. The series is produced by educator Destiny Clarke, aiming to showcase queer and transgender history largely forgotten or ignored by history books.

    Bad Gays

    These days, LGBTQIA+ history is being more frequently included in larger narratives – even if it’s not commonly taught yet. Academics are finally interested in unearthing queer stories! That’s generally a good thing.

    Bad Gays explores the lives of not-so-great queer people throughout history. While historians are getting around to admitting figures like Alexander the Great, Audre Lorde, and Shakespeare were gay, they avoid remembering the stories of queer people who lived less than remarkable lives. 

    Thus, Bad Gays explores LGBTQIA+ people who are forgotten by other academics due to being criminals, deviants, or generally unethical. It’s a great addition to folks already knowledgeable on LGBTQIA+ history since it reaffirms the fact that, since queer people are people, we range along the morality spectrum. Bad Gays *isn’t* recommended for people new to LGBTQIA+ history.

    History is Gay

    Leigh Pfeffer and Gretch Jones produced a wealth of content until the podcast History is Gay was eventually retired in 2023. It’s one of the most listened to pieces of media on queer history, alongside Making Gay History and Queer as Fact, and covers a TON of topics in hour-long monthly segments. History is Gay won’t be receiving any new episodes, but it covers topics unlikely to be found elsewhere.

    Queer as Fact

    Although Queer as Fact is based in Australia, it has reliably produced two seasons of episodes per year. Topics span the entire world, so you’ll get a good education in not just American and European history (like most sources focus on), but also LGBTQIA+ stories from China, Haiti, Nigeria, Mexico, and Iran. Like Making Gay History, you’ll continue to get new content if you find yourself hooked on Queer as Fact. 

    Queer History YOU Should Know #2
    Stonewall was a critical turning point for LGBTQIA+ history that led to increased visibility, acceptance, and rights. However, the story on what exactly happened that night in 1969 is just as much folktale as fact.

    There are multiple conflicting accounts regarding Stonewall. Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera were influential figures behind the events leading up to Stonewall as well as organizing the masses later into action – but Marsha herself stated she never threw the first brick. Stonewall also didn’t happen because queer people were made over the death of Judy Garland: Stonewall was the consequence of repetitive police raids on gay bars despite LGBTQIA+ people already blackmailed by the NYC mafia for protection.

    Five Video Series for LGBTQIA+ History Month

    Jessica Keligren-Fozard

    Most known for her videos on disability awareness, vintage fashion, and LGBTQIA+ history, Jessica has created content on YouTube since 2011. Her channel has a series of both queer history shorts and long video-essay style videos to appeal to folks with short and not-so-short attention spans. 

    Jessica’s content is also great for teaching disability allyship and intersectionality since disability inclusion is still overwhelmingly ignored in social justice spaces.

    Kaz Rowe

    Kaz is both a cartoonist and YouTuber, maintaining their ongoing webcomic while producing relatively eclectic videos. In short, they love history – their videos are detailed and explore topics like the Middle Ages, Victorian period, and everything in between. Pirates, monks and knights, cowboys, and the industrial revolution – what more could you ask for?

    Powered by Rainbows

    Even though Powered By Rainbows is geared towards schools, its content is detailed and versatile. The channel has a large team that allows it to post several times each week. The website behind Powered By Rainbows is also a fantastic resource, extensively covering LGBTQIA+ in easy and accessible courses.

    It is also worth noting that Powered By Rainbows is more than just a history channel. Generally, the channel focuses on LGBTQIA+-related news but it also produces content related to queer history and theory.

    The Book of Queer

    This video series was produced in five parts by Discovery+ in 2022, but it’s extremely well-made and engaging. The Book of Queer is partially available to watch for free on YouTube, bringing LGBTQIA+ history on screen with reenactments and interviews that make otherwise dry content too boring to be interesting.

    As a comedy documentary, The Book of Queer is fun to watch. Its humor is becoming increasingly dated, however, due to the high use of queer slang popular in 2022.

    Rowan Ellis

    Similar to Powered By Rainbows and Kaz Rowe, Rowan Ellis’s content tends to be eclectic – she’s been uploading content to YouTube since 2014 regarding LGBTQIA+ issues, feminism, Autism, and polyamory – and plenty more. Rowan’s videos are well-researched, and while more of her content centers on queer media, art is an important aspect of history.

    No matter what format you prefer your content, there’s something out there to get you more acquainted with LGBTQIA+ history. Make the active goal this October to spend time with one of these pieces and find yourself a bit more educated by next month.

    Next week, I’ll be covering other ways to learn about LGBTQIA+ history in-person and virtually.

  • What’s in a Name: Tips for Choosing a Gender-Affirming Name

    What’s in a Name: Tips for Choosing a Gender-Affirming Name

    No matter who you are, names have unparalleled importance since they often define us and serve as a core aspect of our identity. Names may have even more significance to transgender people since they play a vital role in affirming our gender identities and overall health.

    Disclaimer: This article should serve as a GUIDE, not a MANUAL. Every journey is different, and thus, there is no singular way to be trans. Some of these tips may be helpful, while others may not – and that’s okay!

    Choosing a new name can be a stressful process. Many (but not all) transgender people choose a new name to identify with as part of their transition since most names have a traditional gender associated with them, so a new name is needed as part of the transition journey. The new name is referred to as a chosen name or affirmed name, whereas the old name they were assigned at birth may be called their deadname, former name, birth name, assigned name, legal name, or some other variant.

    Family History, Tradition, and Linguistics

    One of the most common sources of names (for transgender and cisgender people alike) is family history. There is a certain prestige associated with being named after an important relative, which is why it’s not uncommon for people to pick names from these traditions. Take linguistics into account while picking your name, too. Heritage can be a fantastic inspiration, but be mindful of whether your prospective names have certain races and ethnicities associated with them.

    It’s a good idea to take your family into account, regardless of the name you ultimately choose. If you have three cousins named some variant of Megan, do you really want to be the fourth? What about the family drama of picking the same name as your sibling? And while ancestor names are great, you might (or might not) want to be a 20-year-old guy named Bartholomew in 2025. Relatedly, you can also discuss names with your family, such as your parents, assuming they are supportive of your identity. At the end of the day, the name you go by is yours to decide.

    Personal Interests: Make It Fun!

    The other most common inspiration trans folks draw names from is from personal interests, like celebrities, authors, musicians, actors, historical figures, and characters they admire. This isn’t something just trans people do, either – plenty of cisgender prospective parents use celebrities when coming up with names, as evidenced by name trends whenever there’s a new famous baby born or a new actor that ascends to stardom. However, as mentioned in the previous section, be mindful of names that have associated races and ethnicities attached to them, since it’s poor taste to take a Japanese or Black name as a white person.

    There are additional factors to take into account when using this type of inspiration. First, be aware that celebrities are people – musicians are more associated with scandals, but any human is capable of doing less-than-admirable things. In the very least, your chosen name will remind you of a person you used to look up to. At most, you might have an extremely infamous name like O.J. that’s widely associated with a public scandal. Furthermore, your interests will inevitably change – it’s human! Just be mindful of the fact that your favorite anime or TV show will be different from today compared to ten years from now.

    It’s Your Name, Resonate With It!

    At the end of the day, you don’t need a reason behind your name. You’re allowed to pick any name you resonate with – so consider names you’ve always liked. Some folks use baby name books to spark inspiration, which works too!

    Common resources include:

    I’ll put another caveat here since certain baby names are exceptionally common amongst trans people. There’s nothing inherently wrong with using a common name, but it’s something to consider when choosing a name.

    While family may provide great suggestions for prospective names, friends and community members can also be a good source. Is there a nickname you’ve always gone by that could work? Are there ways to masculinize, feminize, or androgynize your name? You don’t have to get an entirely new name – some individuals choose to alter their name to simply better fit their gender identity.

    Try It Out: Getting Used To Your Name

    It can be awkward adjusting to a new name. Make an active effort and practice using your new name in conversations. If you’re struggling with it, the advice I recommend to cisgender folks adjusting to friends and family members’ new names is PRACTICE. Specifically, for each time you mess up, say aloud the correct name in a sentence at least five times. The only way to correct old habits is by forming new ones, which is why folks struggle with change unless they make the effort.

    There are also resources online for this same purpose. Take an extra step and use your new name in other online settings, like forums and social media accounts, so you can normalize your chosen name in additional settings. Some sites I recommend include:

    Extra Credit & Other Things to Consider

    Names are a big deal! Do you care if your name is easy to spell or pronounce? In places such as the United States, non-white names will often be misspelled or mispronounced, as well as nontraditional white names like Mehgnn, Airwrecka, or Brandeigh. I want to emphasize that there is nothing wrong with having a “difficult” name, but be prepared to correct people.

    Another important aspect to consider is whether you need your name to come across as “professional.” Ultimately, people make predictions based on names alone – even before someone has met you, they’ve already made assumptions about you. Certain names are associated with distinct ages, personalities, and other factors. Do you want one name used universally, or would you prefer different variations like Benjamin, Ben, Benny, and Benji?

    Making It Official

    To legally change your name outside of marriage or divorce, you must file a court order. This generally requires paperwork to be filed with your local circuit court. Contrary to popular belief, you do not file your name change in your birth city/county – you file your change with the county you live in. The exact forms vary by state, but guidance isn’t too difficult to find since many people change their legal names for non-transition reasons. The forms have to be filed electronically or otherwise online unless you qualify for an exemption. If you qualify, your documents can be filed in person at your local courthouse.

    A4TE ID Document Center

    Once filed, you’ll be assigned a court date in the near future, where you will appear before a judge and explain the reasoning for the change before it is officially signed. On that date, you will need to make sure you have your stamped copies of your Name Change Request and Order for Name Change, as well as any criminal records (including any documentation showing previous felonies discharged). Answer the judge and their questions honestly. If the court denies your name change request, ask for another hearing – you have the right to do so. If it was denied due to a mistake on your part, ask the judge to continue the hearing to a later date so you can correct the error. Otherwise, you have the right to file an appeal as long as you file within 30 days of the judge’s decision. Occasionally, some judges will deny trans-related name changes due to personal bias – but these aren’t permissible and are overwhelmingly overturned once appealed. In the words of Lambda Legal, “a judge cannot arbitrarily deny you a name change based on transphobic or sexist notions.”

    Looking for a way to remove your deadname while browsing the internet? This free Chrome extension visually replaces your deadname with your chosen name – although it doesn’t actually change your name in the computer code or legally.

    This order almost always requires a fee, although it can often be waived if you meet certain income-based criteria. The fee varies drastically based on median county income, but criteria waivers often include:

    A number of states require applicants to publish their upcoming name change in a local newspaper, although this is being changed since it is unhelpful and outs folks. This requirement was originally created to notify debt collectors in order to better follow-up on cases.

    If your court file open to the public poses a legitimate risk to your health or safety, you can file a Motion to Impound, which requires courts to make your forms private and therefore inaccessible to the public without specific permission granted by a judge. This comes up more often with trans folks since these records potentially out you as transgender.

    As one final note, always remember you are allowed to change your name. It’s your identity! It’s okay if the name you choose today isn’t your forever name.

  • A Transgender Back-to-School Survival Guide (College Edition)

    A Transgender Back-to-School Survival Guide (College Edition)

    Approximately 16 million students will be enrolled in an undergraduate program this fall, and while it may still be a few weeks away, now is the best time to cram college tips for the upcoming semester. It is predicted that the Trump administration and budget cuts from the “Big Beautiful Bill” will cut FAFSA funding opportunities for the middle and working class to pursue education after high school – and while I am a strong advocate that college isn’t for everyone, it can be the magic key in opening future careers.

    For most, college is both exciting and terrifying. Along with turning eighteen, entering college is the cornerstone of young adulthood for Americans. Finished with high school, college is the first real transition Americans experience as they move away to live separately from their parents. That brings independence, new social opportunities, the need for money management, and everything else that comes with living on your own.

    While it is estimated that just 0.5% of the adult American population identifies as transgender, roughly 2.2% of college students identify as such – likely since younger generations are more likely to identify as LGBTQIA+ due to decreasing social stigma and increasing tolerance compared to previous decades. Transgender college students are more likely to experience barriers to healthcare, campus housing, and bullying than their cisgender counterparts.

    You’re Protected: Know Your Rights

    Historically, transgender students have been protected by Title IX of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The explicitness of this has varied from the Obama, Biden, and Trump administrations, but it’s been agreed by the courts for some time. Currently, Trump maintains that sexual orientation and gender identity do not constitute added categories under Title IX, but that doesn’t eliminate students’ rights under it. Trump is arguing that Title IX only applies based on biological sex, BUT queer and transgender students still maintain federal protection under that definition.

    Until recently, the legal understanding of Title IX was that if the law applies to biological sex, then discrimination against one’s adherence or nonadherence to biological sex-associated gender roles and stereotypes wholly falls under Title IX as sex discrimination. If a gay man is harassed on campus because he isn’t masculine enough, it constitutes Title IX because anti-queer harassment ultimately relies on sex-based stereotypes. All Biden’s guidance did was allow LGBTQIA+ students to file discrimination more easily since they could argue it was based on sexual orientation or gender identity rather than having to make the roundabout case above. TLDR: You are still protected under Title IX as a transgender student, but under the Trump administration, you’ll have to file your argument differently.

    The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects students’ information and confidentiality. Once in college, your parents can no longer have access to your records without your explicit consent. So, while your parents would know if you changed your name or pronouns on school documents while in high school, that is no longer the case at college since FERPA forbids that information from being shared. FERPA also requires schools to prevent outing as much as possible, so staff are unable to share your personal information with other professors or students.

    According to the National Center for Transgender Equality:

    • Colleges cannot require proof of your gender identity or legal changes to update most documents like student emails, IDs, and rosters. The only exception to this is your health records and college diploma, which will require legal documentation to change.
    • Professors need to call you by your chosen name, even if it’s not legally changed. People are allowed to make honest mistakes, but purposely misgendering and deadnaming transgender students puts them at increased risk of harm since it outs them.
    • Colleges have a responsibility to take action when informed of bullying, harassment, and discrimination on campus – including when it applies to queer and transgender students.
    • Students have a right to use the restroom and locker room that aligns with their gender identity, and colleges cannot force students to use separate facilities. It’s great if a school has a gender-neutral bathroom, but they can’t require you to use it since that would violate the Equal Access Act. I’ll caveat here that locker rooms are up in the air since the Trump administration is waging a war on transgender students’ access to sports.
    • You have the right to present yourself as your gender identity. Colleges cannot police or restrict expression simply because they dislike it or it’s “controversial.” The Supreme Court has a long history of supporting students’ right to self-expression. Schools cannot ban you from wearing a dress unless they ban dresses amongst all students, nor can they ban a shirt with a progressive rainbow unless they ban all graphic shirts.
    • Students have a right to choose who and who not to tell they are LGBTQIA+. Colleges are forbidden from outing students under FERPA, which includes details like your deadname, transgender status, and medical history.
    • If your college offers extracurricular activities (like chess club, Christian associations, or D&D), you have the right to form and be in a school LGBTQIA+ association like a Gay-Straight Alliance.

    These laws apply to all American universities and colleges that receive federal funding. Even if they are religious, institutions that use federal funding must adhere to Title IX, FERPA, and other federal laws. Schools that do not want to follow these rules must either be entirely privately funded or apply for religious exemption, which is relatively difficult to get. Out of those colleges, I wouldn’t recommend trans students since these colleges are notoriously anti-transgender.

    In addition to these federal protections, you may be further entitled (or marginalized) based on where exactly you live in the United States. Some states, like California, New York, and Illinois, have comprehensive laws protecting LGBTQIA+ students, while others, like Texas and Florida, fall short.

    Even if you live in a conservative state, your university might still include LGBTQIA+ identities in its nondiscrimination policies – so it’s important to research your schools! I highly recommend Campus Pride Index as a free resource. They’ve been researching and compiling colleges since 2006 and have a searchable database that gives users insight into cost, atmosphere, and other useful metrics on what LGBTQIA+ resources are available at their school. It’s by far the easiest way to determine if a college has a queer resource center, campus events, nondiscrimination policies, and healthcare coverage. They even maintain lists of the country’s best and worst campuses for LGBTQIA+ students. If your school is not listed on Campus Pride, you should still be able to locate relevant policies. Most often, you’ll want to search for “nondiscrimination policies,” “student handbooks,” or general “policies and guidelines.” If internet searches fail you, don’t hesitate to reach out to your admin staff – they’re there to help you when you have questions about campus policies!

    Amongst your university’s policies, you’ll also find guidelines on how to report harassment, discrimination, and general bullying. Always try to follow your college’s established procedures first when you experience harassment – give your administration the benefit of the doubt and remember to document all incidents, filed complaints, and communication you have with administration. If your school refuses to take your complaint seriously, you should then involve outside resources like local LGBTQIA+ nonprofits, GLSEN, or your state ACLU chapter. These organizations will help you determine the next steps best suited for your situation.

    Some situations might require you to file a lawsuit against your school. You will likely want to have guidance from a legal authority like the ACLU before proceeding with filing or sourcing a competent legal group to represent you. You can also file complaints to the United States Department of Education – but given the political climate, you might not get a good response regardless of your legal rights. If you go this route, remember you only have 180 days to file a complaint with the Department and to file the discrimination as “sex-based.” Complaints that are not fully completed are automatically trashed and not investigated. Include as many details as possible, and keep in mind that your complaint is required to be confidential under federal law.

    Originally hosted by Campus Pride via the Trans Policy Clearinghouse (TPC), Genny Beemyn has an ongoing database of trans-inclusive nondiscrimination policies online. Check their site to see if your school is on the list.

    Get the Paperwork Done Ahead of Time

    You’re going to be busy the first week of the semester. Everyone is. Try to get all your paperwork completed before the first day of class and reduce future headaches. Nearly all of this will require working with your campus administration, for better or worse.

    As mentioned above, universities do not legally have to have a court order or medical documentation to update your name or gender marker in most of their electronic systems, but the process for doing so likely won’t be easy or straightforward unless they have already set up their systems for these changes. Many schools use ancient software to process and store student information, which is why admins huff and puff at being asked to change a student’s name. However, a process being annoying or difficult is not grounds to deny you from changing your name or gender marker at school. At college, you are paying to be there – the admins essentially work for you, and your comfort, safety, and overall confidentiality are worth pursuing. Some examples of items you can (and should) change include:

    • Your official school email, including associated accounts with it, like Word and Outlook.
    • Your public name in homework submission portals like Blackboard and Canvas.
    • Your school ID.
    • Classroom rosters.
    • Sports uniforms, if applicable.

    The only items that require a legal order from a court to update in university software are:

    • Your diploma and transcript.
    • Financial aid information stored by FAFSA and your college’s financial aid office.
    • And personal health information stored by your college’s health center.

    Anything else can be changed as an unofficial nickname. Your university is able to mark you as your identified gender in the class roster sent to campus professors without a court-ordered gender marker change. Legal orders only require your school to comply, but it is entirely possible to change most items before that point.

    Dr. Genny Beemyn has the most current database of universities and colleges that allow transgender students to use a nonlegal name or pronouns in their files, originally hosted through Campus Pride’s TPC. Check their site to see if your school makes the list.

    I’m not naïve – and I don’t recommend you be, either. Despite the law and clear instructions, I have been told myself by college admins things along the lines of “no, we can’t do that without court papers” and “hmm, yeah, I think we know the law better than you do and we don’t have to update your information.” I’ve also come across administrators who are extremely willing to make those minor changes – and my experience isn’t an anomaly. Given the environment academic administrators work in, you’re going to get a mixed bag of individuals who are willing to help as well as others who will throw a fit at your request. Some of them might be aware of LGBTQIA+ issues and why it’s important to get these items changed, while other administrators will huff because “it’s against their religion” to treat you with respect or update your information. And unfortunately, they hold all of the cards. In the event you experience discrimination from your university administration, you will have to follow your campus’ procedures for reporting it – which requires more conversations with admin. Depending on how LGBTQIA+ competent your school is, this paperwork could be an uphill battle.

    It’s considered one of the lesser aspects of going to college, but enrolling in university generally also usually requires you to obtain your own healthcare coverage. This coverage must either be the policy offered by your university or deemed to be of equal coverage by your administrators. As a transgender student, these policies are important since they determine whether you will be able to medically transition while enrolled. The good news is that the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) forbids healthcare insurances from making blanket bans on medically necessary care, so your school’s insurer isn’t allowed to ban all trans-affirming care, BUT they can put a number of hoops you’ll have to jump through. Even though trans-affirming care is being attacked across the country, all of these laws focus on minors. The primary gap left is if you’re 18 and insured under Medicaid, since Trump increased the age requirement to 19 for Medicaid users to access gender-affirming care.

    Map of Healthcare Laws and Policy Exclusions by State, Movement Advancement Project

    Regardless, the Trans Policy Clearinghouse has a list of colleges that explicitly list their transgender healthcare inclusions – now hosted on Genny Beemyn’s website.

    The last major player in this category is housing. Most people don’t know who their roommate will be, although a growing number of universities are trying to match students with compatible roommates based on preferences. This can be even more anxiety-inducing for transgender students since you have to worry further about what gender you’ll be assigned for housing and whether your roommate will be chill with your identity or totally hateful. At least 470 schools are documented as having “gender-inclusive housing” on campus, which means there is a dorm, facility, or other living space that students can live in regardless of gender identity or sex assigned at birth. Genny Beemyn has an ongoing database of schools that publicly list having these housing options available, but the vast majority of high-ranking colleges on the Campus Pride Index will have this available.

    Live Your Life: Finding the Basics for Survival

    Considering most Americans begin college around the age of eighteen, university presents the first genuine opportunity for students to medical transition through gender-affirming care like hormone replacement therapy. The feasibility of doing so will depend on your school’s healthcare coverage, but the bottom line is that the ACA requires such care to be possible if you manage to complete their required steps, since gender-affirming care is medically necessary. Typically, these steps include sourcing a licensed mental health professional who is willing to write a letter certifying that your transgender identity is ‘established,’ not a phase, and you can make major decisions like beginning HRT based on your current mental state.

    No matter how conservative your university is, you are not the first transgender student that has attended it, although you might be one of its first openly trans students. Transgender people live in all climates, including cities, suburbs, and the rural countryside. If your school has an LGBTQIA+ resource center or queer student organization, ask them first where trans students go for gender-affirming healthcare. If your school doesn’t, you’ll have to do some research: ask around online, like city-specific Facebook groups and subreddits, call the nearest LGBTQIA+ nonprofit, or visit a government health department. The last two will have staff available with the purpose of finding relevant resources – so use ’em!

    Even if you’re battling administration for the items I referenced in the previous section, you can still email your upcoming professors prior to the semester. Most professors make an effort to use students’ nicknames anyway to foster a better classroom environment. So, if you happen to know who your professors will be, send them an email before the first day explaining your situation and that your assigned name and gender on their official roster don’t match what you go by. Use this email template and plug in your information. Even though my college admin eventually did change my name in their systems, I still had to send out emails since rosters were sent before the admin had made the change.

    If you’re going the route of emailing your professors, remember it won’t solve everything. Without your university administration updating official rosters, you will encounter issues with other staff. Most often, this applies to substitute teachers and teacher assistants – subs sometimes get copies of the official roster rather than the one your regular professor uses. This means you can potentially be outed by a sub until your campus information is actually changed.

    If you are beginning to live openly trans for the first time, you’ll discover how difficult it can be to advocate for yourself. More than anyone else, you have your best interests in mind – and there are uneducated people in every space, including college. Prepare for headaches, find quick resources to give to curious folks, learn when to shut down ‘curious’ Devil’s advocates, and have a plan in place to deal with incoming microaggressions. This is easier said than done, but I cannot emphasize how important it is for your own sake as well as future transgender students that will inevitably attend your university. Yes, it can be easier to just ride out the semester and not correct the side remarks by your professor – and sometimes, that’s what you need to do to emotionally and physically survive. But by not confronting those hard conversations, you leave the work for the next student that comes.

    To an extent, you can also research trans-friendly restrooms, businesses, and events close to campus prior to the semester beginning – although sometimes it’s smoother to wait until you have real people to ask while navigating your first weeks. When you’re early in your transition, you need to feel safe and comfortable. Genny Beemyn has TPC’s previous list of universities with published maps of gender-neutral restrooms on campus, BUT I also recommend the REFUGE app. REFUGE is a free mobile app that lets users pinpoint trans-friendly bathrooms. You might be the first in your area to utilize the app and have a blank slate, or you might find a filled map with a treasure trove of tips. Either way, REFUGE allows you to build an underground resource for yourself and others at your school.

    While on campus, the best (and most traditional) way to determine whether a space is LGBTQIA+ friendly is through “safe space” signage. Today, these signs are most common among less progressive schools where acceptance isn’t seen as the norm, but they’re great anywhere. Beyond campus grounds, these apps and sites are good ways to find trans-affirming spaces:

    • Google Maps has a specific label/tag used for businesses deemed LGBTQIA+ friendly, BUT this tag is largely self-reported by business owners. It’s technically possible for businesses to tag themselves because they’re gay-friendly but anti-trans.
    • Strands for Trans is an online database for barbershops and hair salons.
    • Everywhere Is Queer is a mobile app for all businesses (including virtual ones), similar to Strands for Trans. Businesses self-report whether they identify as LGBTQIA+ friendly.
    • For bars and nightlife, look into GayCities, Travel Gay, and Yelp. GayCities and Travel Gay are better options if you live near a metropolitan area, but Yelp is more helpful for less populated regions.

    Beyond websites and mobile apps, the best way to really determine whether a business is trans-friendly is by word of mouth. Find other queer and trans people on campus or a queer nonprofit – their experiences are worth significantly more than self-reported labels online. And while I’m aware of other websites that compile businesses, like Pink Robin, Hey Fam, LGBTQ+ Business Week, LGBTQIA Hub, and the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, these sites focus heavily on e-commerce. Large cities like NYC and the Queer Money Project – and cities are more likely to have listings on apps such as Qlist and MisterB&B.

    Support Yourself: Self-Care Matters

    In order to thrive at college, you have to think beyond the basics. Between assignments and dealing with less-than-supportive classmates and staff, you will need an outlet for support. Be proactive and plan to create support as your semester begins. And if you’re struggling with coming out at college, Campus Pride has a resource tailored for you – and here is the most current copy of the Coming Out as a Transgender Person Workbook.

    The simplest way to get connected with like-minded peers is to join a student organization. Clubs and other associates exist no matter the size of your school, including if you attend community college. Look for organizations that cater to queer identities (if possible) or interests you have. If you find your university lacks sufficient organizations, you’re entitled to create your own as long as you follow your school’s policies and have a staff member to serve as the club sponsor. In my experience, LGBTQIA+ college student organizations are way more active than high school ones – from anti-bullying campaigns to social functions, they’re worth checking out and giving a chance.

    Speaking of which, check to see if your college has an LGBTQIA+ resource center. These are specific departments created by the university to handle LGBTQIA+ issues, training, clubs, and support. Schools with resource centers typically score higher on all metrics of the Campus Pride Index since they help recruit and retain queer students by fostering a safe campus environment. If your school lacks an LGBTQIA+ resource center, it may have something related like a “diversity department.” These are more common in community colleges and smaller schools that lack the funds to have multiple departments.

    It feels like a stereotype, but queer people are good at finding each other. Use your natural gaydar to find safe friends to connect with. They don’t have to necessarily dress or “look” gay, but trust your gut when you feel good or bad vibes from your fellow classmates. People pay to go to college and learn, so they’re at least marginally more open-minded than the general population.

    Being transgender shouldn’t limit you from traditional college activities that your cisgender peers get to enjoy. Don’t limit yourself to hobbies and organizations solely surrounding your queer identity – use every resource available to you and try every club that you find interesting. Beyond clubs, the most common social resources are sports and Greek life.

    Currently, per “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” transfeminine individuals are barred completely from participating in college sports. Transmasculine and nonbinary folks might be technically allowed right now, but you’re unlikely to find these spaces welcoming. As most readers probably know, these bans are based on vast misunderstandings of existing laws and policies – but the harm still exists.

    The TLDR is that anti-transgender sports bans overwhelmingly overestimate transgender people’s involvement in athletic competitions and overwhelmingly underestimate the laws that already dictate when and if transgender people can perform. For example, while approximately 10,500 people try out for the Olympics, fewer than a dozen might identify as transgender. That calculates to 0.001% of those folks trying out. To not be automatically disqualified during this process, transgender people must provide medical and legal documentation of their gender identity – which includes proving they have been consistently using estrogen HRT and using testosterone supplements for multiple years to force their hormone levels to be identical to biologically female competitors. This standard by the International Olympic Committee is enforced in other sports, and for decades, it was the same applied to student sports. The Trump ban supersedes these precedents and bars trans people from competing no matter what. In the context of school, sports are well-understood as crucial for supporting students’ emotional and physical well-being since they provide an outlet for exercise while fostering team-building. Yet, because of the Trump administration’s ban, transgender students are forbidden from having these experiences.

    “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” is centered on competitive sports, so it’s unclear how strictly it is applied to noncompetitive or intramural sports clubs, but I advise caution since it will largely depend on the political climate of your school on whether they will use the executive order against you.

    You don’t find many LGBTQIA+ people in Greek life. Part of it comes from its long history of strict gender roles for frat boys and sorority girls. Another part comes from Greek organizations not being kind to marginalized folks, especially considering how many organizations get accused of sexual harassment and hazing. Then, of course, Greek life is associated with higher incomes since joining these associations generally requires annual fees. Despite this, there are Greek organizations with explicit mission statements that include transgender people – and there are also organizations founded by LGBTQIA+ students.

    Some sororities include:

    • Alpha Chi Omega (ΑΧΩ)
    • Alpha Delta Pi (ΑΔΠ)
    • Alpha Epsilon Phi (ΑΕΦ)
    • Alpha Gamma Delta (ΑΓΔ)
    • Alpha Lambda Zeta (ΑΛΖ)
    • Alpha Omicron Pi (ΑΟΠ)
    • Alpha Pi Delta        (ΑΠΔ)
    • Alpha Sigma Alpha (AΣA)
    • Alpha Sigma Tau (ΑΣΤ)
    • Alpha Xi Delta (ΑΞΔ)
    • Beta Phi Omega        (ΒΦΩ)
    • Delta Delta Delta (ΔΔΔ)
    • Delta Gamma (ΔΓ)
    • Delta Phi Epsilon (ΔΦΕ)
    • Gamma Phi Beta (ΓΦΒ)
    • Gamma Rho Lambda (GRL)
    • Eta Epsilon Gamma (ΗΕΓ)
    • Eta Iota Mu (ΗΙΜ)
    • Kappa Alpha Lambda (ΚΑΛ)
    • Kappa Alpha Theta (ΚΑΘ)
    • Kappa Delta (ΚΔ)
    • Kappa Kappa Gamma (ΚΚΓ)
    • Kappa Omega Omicron        (ΚΏΟ)
    • Kappa Theta Epsilon (ΚΘΕ)
    • Kappa Xi Omega (ΚΞΩ)
    • Lambda Delta Lambda (ΛΔΛ)
    • Omicron Epsilon Pi (ΟΕΠ)
    • Phi Omega (ΦΩ)
    • Phi Sigma Sigma (ΦΣΣ)
    • Sigma Alpha Iota (ΣAI)
    • Sigma Delta Tau (ΣΔΤ)
    • Sigma Omega Phi (ΣΩΦ)
    • Sigma Phi Chi (ΣΦΧ)
    • Sigma Sigma Sigma (ΣΣΣ)
    • Theta Phi Alpha (ΘΦΑ)
    • Zeta Omega Eta (ΖΩΗ)
    • Zeta Tau Alpha (ΖΤΑ)
    • Zeta Theta Psi (ΖΘΨ)

    Some fraternities include:

    • Acacia
    • Alpha Sigma Phi (AΣΦ)
    • Beta Gamma Pi (ΒΓΠ)
    • Beta Theta Pi (BΘΠ)
    • Chi Phi (XΦ)
    • Chi Psi (XΨ)
    • Delta Chi (ΔX)
    • Delta Lambda Phi (ΔΛΦ)
    • Delta Phi Upsilon (ΔΦΥ)
    • Delta Sigma Phi (ΔΣΦ)
    • Delta Tau Delta (ΔΤΔ)
    • Delta Upsilon (ΔΥ)
    • Kappa Delta Rho (KΔP)
    • Kappa Kappa Psi (KKΨ)
    • Kappa Psi Kappa (ΚΨΚ)
    • Lambda Chi Alpha (ΛXA)
    • Omega Delta Phi (ΩΔΦ)
    • Phi Delta Theta (ΦΔΘ)
    • Phi Kappa Tau (ΦKT)
    • Phi Sigma Kappa (ΦΣK)
    • Pi Kappa Alpha (ΠKA)
    • Pi Kappa Phi (ΠKΦ)
    • Pi Lambda Phi (ΠΛΦ)
    • Psi Upsilon (ΨY)
    • Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣAE)
    • Sigma Chi (ΣΧ)
    • Sigma Epsilon Omega (ΣΕΩ)
    • Sigma Phi Beta (ΣΦΒ)
    • Sigma Phi Epsilon (ΣΦE)
    • Sigma Nu (ΣN)
    • Sigma Tau Gamma (ΣTΓ)
    • Tau Beta Sigma (TBΣ)
    • Tau Kappa Epsilon (ΤΚΕ)
    • Theta Chi (ΘX)
    • Theta Delta Chi (ΘΔX)
    • Theta Xi (ΘΞ)
    • Zeta Alpha Delta (ΖΑΔ)
    • Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT)

    And some all-gender Greek associations include:

    • Alpha Delta Phi Society (ΑΔΦ)
    • The Euglossian Society (ΕΥΓ)
    • Lambda Alpha Lambda (ΛΑΛ)
    • Lambda Delta Xi (ΛΔΞ)
    • Nu Delta (ΝΔ)
    • Phi Sigma Pi (ΦΣΠ)
    • Th Delta Sigma (ΘΔΣ)
    • Theta Pi Sigma (ΘΠΣ)
    • Zeta Delta Xi (ΖΔΞ)
    • Sigma Omicron Rho (ΣΟΡ)

    Even if you are introverted, shy, or otherwise not a social person, I highly recommend creating an in-person support system. Go to club meetings, join your local community, and make IRL friends. Entirely online support systems don’t foster the same level of mental wellness – although they can still be useful. For that purpose, here are some online resources for transgender college students.

    1️⃣ Advocate for Trans Equality @ 202-642-4542

    2️⃣ American Civil Liberties Union @ 212-549-2500

    3️⃣ GLSEN @ 212-727-0135

    4️⃣ GSA Network @ 415-552-4229

    5️⃣ LGBT National Help Center Youth Talkline @ 800-246-743

    6️⃣ PFLAG @ 202-467-8180

    7️⃣ The Trevor Project @ 866-488-7386

    8️⃣ Trans Lifeline @ 877-565-8860

    9️⃣ TSER

    ⭐ Looking for generic trans resources? Click here.

    Between going to class, making friends, and inevitably dealing with conflict, you need to set aside time for self-care. Do things you enjoy. Engage in therapy. Work on setting boundaries. Develop hobbies to do in your free time that don’t feel like work. And if you struggle with self-care, here’s an info hub by GSA Network.

    And of course, small things matter. Assuming your dorm or living space allows it, cultivate your room to foster a sense of pride. You’ll be spending a lot of time in your room, so make it inviting – hang up a pride flag, put up some posters, and decorate the space to inspire joy. After a potentially long day at class dealing with people, don’t you deserve to feel comfortable and proud of who you are?

  • Stay Cool, Comfortable, and Safe: Tips for Summer Binding

    Stay Cool, Comfortable, and Safe: Tips for Summer Binding

    Wait, what’s binding?
    In short, binding is the practice of compressing one’s chest to have a flatter and traditionally masculine appearance. It’s considered standard practice amongst the transgender community, similar to packing and tucking, since it is a non-medical alternative to alleviating gender dysphoria. If you want to know more about binding basics, read this post instead.

    More than any other season, summer presents additional challenges. Binding should never be painful, but you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who would call binding physically comfortable. The issues that make binding unpleasant year-round intensify with heat, which is why extra caution is advised during the summer.

    No matter what, remember the golden rule of binding: Always listen to your body. If you feel pain or begin to feel light-headed, stop binding immediately and take a solid break. A properly sized binder should feel like a tight hug, it should never cause you pain.

    Consider how your preferred binding method will combine with summer heat.

    Full-length and tank-style binders are notoriously hotter since they compress the entire torso compared to half-length and racerback binders. More guys experiment with K-tape during the summer, as it is cooler than half-binders and can be easily used for swimming. In contrast, traditional binders aren’t always swim-safe and can deteriorate over time due to excess water exposure. However, remember you should NEVER use ACE bandages, duct tape, or other non-recommended items to bind.

    Try Sports Bras and Compression Tops

    If your emotional health and gender dysphoria permit it, try binding with sports bras or compression tops instead of traditional binders. These garments are easier on the body and will prevent heat exhaustion with looser compression than your regular binder. Even if you don’t generally use sports bras, it’s best practice to carry an emergency one during the summer to change into if you have to take off your binder. Binding is a tool that many transgender people use, but it’s not a requirement – the practice of binding (or the lack thereof) doesn’t define your gender. Taking care of yourself and your body is gender-affirming care in its own right.

    I want to note here that while I advise my fellow trans peers to take off their binders when it’s hot, it isn’t always feasible. If you are an adult and worried about a transgender youth binding during the summer, do not force them to take off their binder. Offer them spaces to cool off instead. Even if you are a PE instructor or coach, it’s no less appropriate to ask a transgender youth to remove their binder than to ask a cisgender girl to remove her bra. Binders are essentially underwear and allow transmasculine individuals the ability to survive despite gender dysphoria.

    Take (extra) Breaks throughout the day

    If you bind regularly, you’re likely no stranger to “binder breaks.” It’s best practice to give yourself breaks throughout the day via stretching and limiting binding to eight hours per day. Make these breaks more frequent during warm weather and stay mindful of your physical health while outside.

    Material matters!

    If you’re prone to sweating (which increases with HRT usage), remember that material matters. A moisture-wicking fabric will keep you drier than non-breathable fabrics. Linen, muscle tees, jerseys, and button-down shirts are summer staples since they conceal curves better than other fabrics. Some individuals wear a tank undershirt under their binder to soak excess moisture. Regarding overshirts, remember that white colors reflect heat – so if you dress emo or goth, be prepared for intense heat. While most folks worry about their binder possibly showing, don’t forget that cisgender people are largely clueless – few cis folks know what binders are, so they’re quick to assume your binder is an undershirt or accessory.

    Powders exist – so use them!

    Whether you sweat a lot or experience skin irritation, there are numerous powders available on the market that prevent chafing. Just consider purchasing talc-free if you have a family history of ovarian or similar cancers. Similarly, you can also apply regular antiperspirant deodorant under your binder to decrease sweat and odor, although this won’t lower chafing as powders would.

    Hydrate, Hydrate, hydrate

    Drink more water. Make an effort to drink water when outside in the heat, since hydration both reduces overheating and prevents skin irritation.

    Juices and sodas are great in a pinch, but water is best when you’re sweating a ton. Relatedly, commit to at least one salty meal a day to replenish the sodium lost from sweat.

    Keep it clean!

    Wash your binder. This is basic advice in general, but you should wash your binder at least once or twice a week regardless – and more often when you’re sweaty, like during the summer. Binders are essentially underwear and compress heat and moisture. With the added effects of HRT causing increased sweat and acne, don’t add to the mix with an unwashed binder.

    Cool off (When you can)

    If you’re able to, consider taking a cold shower partway throughout the day – at the very least, stay in air conditioning and other cool spaces. If you’re outside a lot and unable to access air conditioning, look into cool packs – you can purchase them online and slide them under your binder for immediate heat relief. Another technique is wetting a cloth with cold water and wrapping it around your neck.

  • Pink, White, and Blue: What’s the current status of trans troops?

    Pink, White, and Blue: What’s the current status of trans troops?

    On January 27, 2025, Donald Trump reinstated the transgender military ban from his first presidential term, although the reasoning for each ban differed. Both are remarkably harmful and give room for anti-transgender sentiment to fester.

    Trump’s original ban in 2017 affected me directly: at the time, I had just graduated from high school and was struggling to survive living with my anti-transgender parents. When my ideal college plans fell through due to financial constraints, I turned to the military. Before that first ban, transgender people were allowed to openly serve due to the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and were given medical coverage through guaranteed health benefits for all soldiers. But for some reason, I kept feeling something was wrong in my gut, so I never signed the dotted line, and I lived with relatives that summer with the plan that I would enlist in the fall. Three days before my 18th birthday, Donald Trump made his infamous tweets stating transgender people would be banned from service. I ended up attending community college and getting involved with my local queer scene, pursuing higher education through FAFSA.

    The original ban hinged on the premise that transgender soldiers were too costly for the military. Trump and his cronies lamented that gender-affirming care, like hormone replacement therapy and surgery, was causing the budget to skyrocket and was a massive burden for the military to handle – but people were quick to point out how flawed that logic was.

    Very few individuals want to serve in the United States military just for the joy of it. No, the armed forces are notoriously known for their campaigns in American high schools, convincing teenagers that enlistment is their best way to pay for college. The military has always relied on using its benefits as a means to drive enlistment – transgender people seeking healthcare coverage isn’t much different than other young people joining to pay for college. That’s why the military has the insane budget it’s been given by Congress; the armed forces continue to take up most of the federal budget. Further, it’s been well proven that gender-affirming care was overall insignificant to the military budget and absolutely not worth banning potentially combat-ready soldiers from service. If money were that much of an issue, Donald Trump wouldn’t be having a personal parade for his birthday to “honor” the Army’s coinciding 250th anniversary.

    Since both bans are enforced via executive order, the current ban will inevitably be erased once Donald Trump is removed from power. Executive orders are incredibly flimsy, but they’re a favorite tool amongst unpopular presidents to enforce rules that can’t be made into laws through Congress.

    Trump’s second ban is darker. Rather than arguing that transgender service members are too expensive to keep, Trump argued that transgender individuals are simply just dishonorable by nature and thus unfit to serve. In his own words, “the Armed Forces have been afflicted with radical gender ideology to appease activists unconcerned with the requirements of military service like physical and mental health, selflessness, and unit cohesion… Consistent with the military mission and longstanding DoD policy, expressing a false ‘gender identity’ divergent from an individual’s sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service.  Beyond the hormonal and surgical medical interventions involved, adoption of a gender identity inconsistent with an individual’s sex conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one’s personal life.  A man’s assertion that he is a woman, and his requirement that others honor this falsehood, is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.”

    The current ban on transgender service members is based on the understanding that transgender identity alone makes us dishonorable, untruthful, undisciplined, and otherwise unfit to adhere to the military’s moral code. That’s terrifying logic meant to dehumanize transgender people – but the good news is that it’s easier to fight in court. Sarah Warbelow stated in a Human Rights Campaign press release, “This discriminatory ban is a threat to our national security, wastes years of training and financial investments, and is unconstitutional.”

    “The assertion that transgender service members like myself are inherently untrustworthy or lack honor is an insult to all who have dedicated their lives to defending this country,” said Commander Emily Shilling. “…I have been selected for promotion and ranked number one in my community for merit. Not because of my identity, our boards are deliberately blind to such things, but because my performance and leadership set me apart. What greater proof of merit is required? This ban is not about readiness or cohesion, and it is certainly not about merit. It is about exclusion and betrayal, purposely targeting those of us who volunteered to serve, simply for having the courage and integrity to live our truth.”

    It’s already been sued by multiple agencies, but it has not made its way to the Supreme Court. Depending on how it is worded to the Court, it could be an easy win or a devastating lost – assuming they take the approach that gender identity is no more fair to discriminate against than other identity markers like biological sex, race, or ethnicity, it would be easy to argue that the current ban segregates transgender people from the rest of society.

    Currently, transgender people are not allowed to serve in the armed forces if they have ever had a diagnosis identifying them as transgender or having gender dysphoria – which is a prerequisite requirement for health insurance to cover gender-affirming care like hormone replacement therapy or surgery, and it’s required in some states to legally change one’s gender marker on official documents. Anyone who has any form of “gender-affirming care,” as determined by the Trump administration, is barred from service – so like under his first ban, transgender soldiers are being dishonorably discharged in droves based on his political agenda. Further, the new ban is also requiring the military to screen both incoming recruits and trained members for ‘signs’ of gender dysphoria – which means the current transgender military ban also invites an anti-trans witch hunt similar to the days during the Lavender Scare. It took years for Biden to reverse the previous dishonorable discharges accrued from the first ban, and thus former service members were given a black mark for employment, education, healthcare, etc.

    Military service can be controversial, especially in activist circles. It’s ultimately its own industry, and it thrives off how American capitalism forces marginalized youth to join in order to protect their futures, even if it means going to war overseas for political interests. Regardless, it cannot be overstated how important access to military service is to general human rights: the armed forces were among the first places desegregated, and it was exposure to others that began to change the public’s mindset on civil rights. Even today, the military serves as an eye-opener – most conservatives who love the idea of the military have never served, but the military has served an integral role in mixing the most closed-minded with other perspectives.

    Last week was the final deadline for transgender service members to identify themselves and voluntarily leave – now, the Trump administration will begin enforcing involuntary separations. Similar to Trump’s previous attempts to force federal workers to quit, there are still a large number of individuals refusing to leave their posts. It’s a calculated move – if they’re dishonorably discharged, they have a much better court case. However, it’s not always feasible since refusing to leave now means they could potentially have to pay thousands of dollars back to the United States government if they’re involuntarily separated.

    Last month, the Supreme Court suspended the pause enforced by a federal judge in Washington that had been barring the order from going into effect. U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle agreed originally that Trump’s order clearly violated the Constitution’s equal protection clause by enforcing a blanket ban. This decision does not mean the Court will necessarily side in Trump’s favor – it means that the order will go into effect, causing many service members to be discharged and be easily able to bring the case to sue.

    The decision thus far by the Supreme Court also doesn’t eliminate the lawsuit already progressing that incited Settle’s pause. The battle isn’t lost yet. The GOP changed their attack from financial to ‘ethics,’ but that doesn’t mean they have a better chance of defending it in court. Previously, the argument that transgender people were too expensive to keep didn’t make sense, considering the United States has the most over-budget military in the world and specifically uses advertised benefits to attract recruits. The claim that transgender people are unfit to serve because we lack honor is a moral-based argument – it makes just as little sense as banning atheists or Muslims because they lack the same religious ‘moral code’ as traditional Christians, to ban women from service because they’re ‘less rational’ than men, or to ban Black and Brown Americans because they’re ‘morally inferior.’

    These arguments never hold up in court. It’s easy to feel defeated, but we have to persist.

  • Trans Cinema: Movies to celebrate and inspire pride

    Trans Cinema: Movies to celebrate and inspire pride

    Movies are an important part of culture – for some, film provides a simple stress release and a means to entertain ourselves; for others, it is another teaching tool that allows us to critique society through art. Movies also influence us, inspiring us to be creative – and they hold the potential to feed propaganda, too. Despite its relatively short history compared to other art forms, film has become incredibly integrated into daily life: you won’t find a person who doesn’t like movies to some degree, whether they’re action-packed time-wasters or thoughtful stories that reveal new insights through their narratives. Each person who watches a film will take away a different message, which is why movies are a great format when books or traditional art fail.

    Throughout my work, I’ve put together many lists like this. While everyone is capable of theoretically learning about other cultures and perspectives, most are unlikely to. Unless it’s directly in their face, few go out of their way when they could watch the latest release from Marvel or Disney. I’ve spent plenty of time trying to make digestible recommendations to get folks interested in transgender media. To celebrate Pride, here are the most popular movies mentioned when looking for trans-specific films.

    3 Generations (2015)

    Transmasc | 30% RT | Comedy Drama | PG-13 | 1h 34


    Nearly every movie on this list is categorized as “indie” – transgender stories aren’t seen as compelling or profitable enough for big producers yet. 3 Generations centers on a transgender boy as he navigates coming out to his family. Notably, this film has bad reviews, but it always gets suggested when you search the internet for transmasculine films due to the extreme lack of them. If you’re looking for something trans to watch, go for it – but there are better movies on this list. 3 Generations falls short because of it focuses too much on the cisgender family members. It holds a lot of potential for telling a great story but flubs portraying gender identity. Critics generally agree that the film had good intentions but forces too many compromises for the transgender main character to appeal to the cisgender adults around him.

    Content Warning / Available on… Roku Channel, PLEX, The CW, Peacock, YouTube, Google Movies, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango

    52 Tuesdays (2013)

    Transmasc | 90% RT | Drama | NR | 1h 49m

    A much better movie about transgender people dealing with family, 52 Tuesdays explores the relationship between a transgender man and his teenage daughter after he comes out. The daughter is limited to only see him on Tuesday evenings for the next year (hence the film title) and the drama that always comes with transition. The main gripe comes from it being released in 2013, right before transgender people were thrown into the media spotlight, so there’s lots of problematic reviews attempting to explain transness.

    Content Warning / Available on… Kanopy, YouTube, Google Movies, Amazon Prime, Fandango, Apple TV

    A Fantastic Woman / Una mujer fantástica (2017)

    Transfemme | 94% RT | Drama | R | 1h 44m

    Marina is a Chilean transgender woman who, after her boyfriend dies suddenly from a brain aneurysm, has to deal with his family as they harass her. Death is a complicated process, and she’s strung through the wringer as they take away everything from her. The movie even won an Oscar in 2018 – it’s bittersweet and manages to relate well to real trans issues. Chilean activists credit the film as a major help in advancing a gender identity law in 2018 that finally allowed transgender Chileans to change their legal gender.

    Content Warning / Available on… Peacock, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango, Netflix*

    Adam (2019)

    Transmasc* | 73% RT | Comedy | NR | 1h 35m

    Based on the novel Adam, the movie follows cisgender teenager Adam while he lives with his older sister – who is involved in New York City’s LGBTQIA+ scene. Adam eventually develops a crush on a lesbian girl who assumes Adam is a transgender man. Adam goes with it, lying about his sex assigned at birth and gender identity. The premise is overused, and the lesbian girl comes out as bisexual by the end of the movie after Adam reveals he’s actually cisgender. Adam still tells an interesting story, but it has a lot of potentially problematic issues. Sexuality is fluid and complicated, but the movie normalizes cis men’s fantasies about turning lesbians; lesbians are attracted to women, but Adam fuels lesbian attraction to transgender men; and of course, any movie that associates transgender people with lying should be taken with a grain of salt.

    On the other hand, the movie is directed by a transgender man (Rhys Ernst), who made slight changes to the original book due to criticism. For what it’s worth, Adam does show how folks’ minds can be opened once they engage with other communities.

    Content Warning | Available on… Tubi, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Roku Channel, YouTube, Google Movies, Fandango, Apple TV

    Albert Nobbs (2011)

    Transmasc* | 56% RT | Romantic Drama | R | 1h 53m

    Another recommendation due to the lack of actual transmasculine films, Albert Nobbs is interpreted as transgender… ish. Albert is a butler in 1800s Ireland who has lived as a man for thirty years to work despite societal restrictions. It’s difficult to decide whether Albert is a cisgender woman trying to survive in a male society or if Albert is a transgender man existing in the few routes possible to him, like IRL figures like Albert Cashier. While most folks involved in the film likely lean into the former interpretation, I believe the movie is significantly more interesting if you view Albert as a very early transgender man. However, the 1800s is a brutal time to be alive – disease and abuse are rampant, and Albert does eventually die by the end.

    Content Warning | Available on… YouTube, Google Movies, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango

    Alice Júnior (2019)

    Transfemme | Comedy Drama | NR | 1h 27m

    This movie is so small that it doesn’t have a Rotten Tomatoes score – but the three critics that have reviewed it have had positive things to say. Alice is a transgender girl who makes YouTube videos, forced to move out to the conservative Brazilian countryside and attend a Catholic school. It’s a coming-of-age story about Alice getting her first kiss despite bullying and harassment.

    Content Warning / Available on… Kanopy, Amazon Prime, Apple TV

    All About My Mother / Todo sobre mi madre (1999)

    Transfemme | 98% RT | Comedy Drama | R | 1h 39m

    Another Oscar-winner, All About My Mother is considered a classic among transgender films. After her son is killed in a car accident, Manuela recouncils with her ex-partner Lola – a transgender woman who never knew she had a son with Manuela. Along the journey, she meets other folks in the trans and sex work community. It’s messy, just like real life, and explores motherhood, HIV/AIDS, drug abuse, and topics that scare traditional Hollywood away.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    As We Like It / Jie Da Huan Xi (2021)

    Transmasc* | NR | Romantic Drama | 1h 47m

    As a Taiwanese retelling of Shakespeare’s As You Like It, the film explores Orlando and Rosalind’s love – but every single role is played by a woman to play on the historical reality that women were banned from the theater during Shakespeare’s time. It’s mild and a good watch if you’re seeking something more interesting than the classic Shakespeare version. It’s up to you to interpret the characters as transgender men in straight relationships or lesbians defying traditional gender roles.

    Content Warning / Currently unavailable to stream in the United States

    Beautiful Boxer (2003)

    Transfemme | 85% RT | Sports Biography | NR | 1h 48m

    This Taiwanese film is based on the real life of Parinya Charoenphol, a self-identified kathoey who participated in professional boxing to help pay for her gender affirmation surgery. Despite its age, the movie manages to be a decent representation – it’s packed full of action, and transgender stories are rare in the sports movie genre.

    Content Warning / Available on… Roku Channel, YouTube, Netflix*

    Boy Meets Girl (2014)

    Transfemme | 89% RT | Romance, Comedy, & Drama | R | 1h 35m

    Honestly, I’ve heard a lot of good things about Boy Meets Girl – and it’s a fantastic alternative to those tired of sob stories, tragic tales, and dramas. Ricky, a transgender woman, works as barista in a small Kentuckian town with big dreams of moving to NYC to become a fashion designer. Unlike most movies, Boy Meets Girl uses an actual transgender woman (Michelle Hendley) to star in the lead role.

    Content Warning / Available on… Hulu, Roku Channel, Tubi, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango

    Boys Don’t Cry (1999)

    Transmasc | 91% RT | Historical Drama | R | 1h 58m

    There isn’t a more “classic” transmasc film than Boys Don’t Cry – due to the lack of representation and visibility in media, it’s essentially our Brokeback Mountain. It was released in 1999 and portrays the real and tragic murder of Brandon Teena, a victim to an anti-trans hate crime in rural Nebraska.

    If you’re looking for a light-hearted movie to watch, do not watch Boys Don’t Cry. Honestly, don’t watch it unless you’re really ready for it. Among transmasc forums, watching it seen as a rite of passage – but it’s a traumatic and gruesome film that brings gravity to trans hate crimes. Beyond that, it’s important to remember this film takes some pretty large liberties from reality: both of his murderers are alive in prison today, and the negligent sheriff Charles Laux was kept until retirement instead of fired for gross misconduct – although Laux did pass away in 2021 (good riddance). There’s also fair criticism in Hilary Swank’s portrayal of Brandon Teena as a cisgender woman. Lastly, I have a personal gripe that Boys Don’t Cry is the transmasculine community’s centerpiece film, but Brandon Teena was kind of… not a great guy. IRL Brandon should absolutely be alive today, but he had a lot of flaws and adored toxic masculinity, which isn’t something young trans guys should be looking up to. Take him with a grain of salt and hope for better stories in the future.

    Looking for a more accurate telling of Brandon Teena’s story? The Brandon Teena Story was released a year before Boys Don’t Cry as a crime documentary.

    Content Warning / Available on… YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Fandango, Hulu*

    Breakfast on Pluto (2005)

    Transfemme | 58% RT | Comedy Thriller | R | 2h 15 m

    Kitten is forced to balance life during one of Ireland’s most dangerous periods in recent history – transgender people don’t stop existing during major events, and she finds herself constantly surrounded by conflict due to The Troubles. Between her troubled youth, joining a punk rock band, and getting involved in sex work, Kitten struggles through external and internal turmoil while searching for her biological mother. Breakfast on Pluto is one of those films that critics hate but audiences love – so it’s got its own cult following.

    Content Warning / Available on… Pluto, Roku Channel, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    By Hook or By Crook (2001)

    Transmasc | 67% RT | Crime Romance | PG-13 | 1h 38m

    There are definitely better and worse movies out there, but By Hook or By Crook makes the list due to having a transmasculine main character. Shy is a transgender man who leaves for San Francisco and meets Valentine along the way – the two commit various petty crimes to make ends meet, so my main qualm with the film is similar to Boys Don’t Cry as transmasculine representation. I’m sure Shy is a complex character, but most transmasculine characters focus too heavily on toxic masculinity and fuel anti-trans stereotypes about transgender people being liars and criminals.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime

    Cowboys (2020)

    Transmasc | 93% RT | Western Drama | MA | 1h 26m

    Troy suddenly takes his transgender son Joe out into the Montana wilderness to make their way to Canada – without telling Joe’s mother, largely due to her not being supportive of their son’s gender identity. Joe has a rough relationship with both of his parents, since his mother actively preaches against his transgender identity, and his father hasn’t been the most present due to prison and drug addiction. As expected, Joe’s mother reports to the police and has a search out for her missing child – and Troy’s drug addiction eventually catches up to him while on the trail. Compared to the last movie, critics love Cowboys but audiences are mixed due to the film having a pretty slow pace at times.


    Content Warning / Available on… Tubi, Roku Channel, Philo, Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

    Transfemme | 92% RT | Drama | R | 1h 57m

    Ron Woodroof works with transgender woman Rayon after discovering he has AIDS during the 1980s. The health industry is against treating AIDS due to anti-gay politics, and thus Ron is forced to source medication from alternative sources to stay alive. Together, Ron and Rayon distribute treatment to others also failed by the mainstream health establishment.

    Dallas Buyers Club is genuinely a good film, and it’s based on the real events Ron Woodroof experienced when creating the Dallas Buyers Club – a front he used to supply medication and supplements relieving AZT symptoms and AIDS.

    Content Warning / Available on… YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    Death and Bowling (2021)

    Transmasc | Sport-ish Drama | NR | 1h 4m

    A relatively short movie, Death and Bowling follows a transgender man who is made the captain of his local lesbian bowling league after the former captain passes away. If you’re seeking something sport-adjacent, it might be a good watch – assuming you can find somewhere to stream it.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime

    Disclosure (2020)

    Any/All | 98% RT | Documentary | MA | 1h 40 m

    Hollywood has never portrayed transgender people fairly – and it likely take decades before we’re accurately and positively represented. Disclosure is a COVID-era documentary that details transgender portrayals in mainstream media and its affects on public opinion on transgender rights. Since it was produced by Netflix, you’ll only be able to stream it via their service.

    Content Warning / Available on… Netflix

    Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

    Transfemme | 96% RT | Crime Thriller | R | 2h 10m

    Sonny is a bisexual man married to both a cisgender woman (Angie) and a transgender woman (Liz) who struggles to maintain control of an escalating situation when he attempts a Brooklyn bank robbery. He draws national media attention and the ire of the FBI, and Dog Day Afternoon shows an accurate portrayal of what Sonny and Liz’s relationship would have been like with a lot of heart. The film doesn’t shy away from portraying anti-transgender harassment and discrimination, and there’s a substantial point in that while Sonny is a criminal, he truly loves Liz and his love for her (and his own bisexuality) aren’t what make him bad.

    Content Warning / Available on… Hulu, Paramount+, fuboTV, Sling, Roku Channel, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    Drunktown’s Finest

    Transfemme | 67% RT | Comedy Drama | R | 1h 35m

    There are very few full-length Native American transgender films. Drunktown’s Finest was directed and performed by Native American artists and tells three separate stories that collide together – one of which focuses on transgender woman Felixia. Reservations are underfunded hellscapes drained of resources and disconnected from the rest of the country, and the three main characters are all seeking something beyond their Navajo town.

    Content Warning / Available on… YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    Ed Wood (1994)

    Transfemme* | 92% RT | Comedy Drama | R | 2h 7m

    I wouldn’t actually recommend Ed Wood if you’re wanting a real transgender movie, but it’s still on this list. It portrays the real life of Ed Wood, the American filmmaker behind numerous pulp films between the 1950s to 1970s – including Glen or Glenda, the central film Wood is trying to create in Ed Wood. Glen or Glenda was one of America’s very first movies with transgender representation, which is why Glend(a) is depicted as a transvestite and also why Ed Wood was awarded Worst Director of All Time at the 1980 Golden Turkey Awards. Ed Wood was directed by Tim Burton, who was fascinated by the exploitation culture dominating 1950s Hollywood.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    Emilia Pérez (2024)

    Transfemme | 71% RT | Crime Musical | R | 2h 10m

    Emilia, a Mexican cartel boss, transitions as a transgender woman to finally live as herself with the help of doctors, lawyers, and other experts. Even though it’s difficult to leave her past life behind, Emilia manages to and even creates a nonprofit for victims of cartel violence – but it all comes crashing down when Emilia’s ex-wife finds new love and separates her from her children.

    Critics enjoy Emilia Pérez, and it’s based on an opera libretto. It even features an actual transgender actress in the lead role – but audiences have absolutely trashed its ratings. Most of the hate reviews relate to it being a musical, since the public is seemingly exhausted of live-action musical movies, BUT Emilia Pérez has also been criticized for being poor representation of the transgender community as well as Latin America. There’s a heavy focus on the necessity of gender-affirming surgery, and of course – the movie centers on a transgender woman being a high-profile criminal, aggressive, and ultimately a liar despite it being released in 2024.

    Content Warning / Available on… Netflix

    Finlandia (2021)

    Two-Spirit / Transfemme | Dramatic Fantasy | R | 1h 37m

    After a devasting earthquake hits Oaxaca, Mexico, a fashion designer joins a community muxes for research. The earthquake has a profound emotional impact on the community, and the film follows them process these emotions while fighting for legal recognition as a third gender in Mexico.

    Content Warning / Available on… YouTube, Google Movies, Apple TV

    Funeral Parade of Roses (1969)

    Transfemme | 100% RT | Crime Drama | NR | 1h 47m

    This is an artsy movie, born out of Japan’s New Wave era and combines arthouse and experimental cinema with the documentary genre. Funeral Parade of Roses follows Eddie, a transgender woman, as she navigates the queer scene in Tokyo. It takes direct inspiration from the Greek classic Oedipus, where Eddie eventually murders her mother and unknowingly sleeps with her father.

    Content Warning / Available on… Kanopy, Amazon Prime

    Gun Hill Road (2011)

    Transfemme | 65% RT | Drama | R | 1h 28m

    After his release from prison, Enrique returns home to find his wife having an affair and a new daughter – Vanessa has come out as a transgender woman and is transitioning despite Enrique’s lack of acceptance. The film focuses heavily on Enrique and Vanessa’s relationship as he struggles coming to terms with cisnormative ideas and toxic masculinity. It’s based on the Bronx neighborhood of the same name, and Gun Hill Road is notable for being one of the first films to have a transgender actor portray a transgender role.

    Content Warning / Available on… Tubi, YouTube, Google Movies, Amazon Prime, Fandango

    Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)

    Transfemme* | 92% RT | Musical Comedy | R | 1h 33m

    I included Hedwig and the Angry Inch on this list, but Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything!, and similar films get an honorary spot here. Hedwig isn’t actually trans, and honestly, the premise is pretty problematic – but the film is based on the campy rock musical released in 1998. Hedwig is a gay man born in East Germany, persuaded to have a sex reassignment surgery to travel to the United States as her boyfriend Luther’s wife. Her surgery is botched, Luther leaves her for a man, and the Berlin Wall falls to combine East Germany with West Germany. Driven by the allure of stardom, Hedwig goes on a journey to become a musical sensation despite trials, copyright infringement, and general misery.

    Is Hedwig transgender? I’d argue possibly more so than the lead characters in Priscilla and To Wong Foo, but these films barely pass by as queer camp classics. It’s important to remember that Hedwig all hinges on the premise that Hedwig was forcibly given a botched sex reassignment surgery – she eventually accepts her identity as a woman, but that’s a pretty harmful trope to perpetuate since anti-transgender activists foam at the idea of transgender people being persuaded into bodily mutilation.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Fandango

    Holy Trinity (2019)

    Nonbinary | 82% RT | Comedic Horror | NR | 1h 31m

    After huffing a magic can of aerosol, Trinity discovers she can speak with the dead – and Holy Trinity is an hour and half comedic fever dream as she grapples with this power. Alongside her, Trinity is joined by nonbinary lead character Baby, who follows her alternative sexuality and spirituality journey.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime

    L’immensità (2022)

    Transmasc | 85% RT | Drama | NR | 1h 37m

    Andrea is the eldest child of a dysfunctional Italian family during the 1970s who bonds with a Romani girl and his mother Clara eventually after coming out as transgender. Things have to break before they get better, which includes Andrea’s family. Andrea, Clara, and Sara all feel like outsiders to the rest of the world – whether they’re trapped in a body they don’t identify with, a loveless marriage, or a hostile world.

    Content Warning… Tubi, Freevee, YouTube, PLEX, Amazon Prime, Fandango, Google Movies

    Lingua Franca (2019)

    Transfemme | 87% RT | Romantic Drama | NR | 1h 35m

    Olivia is pursuing a marriage-based green card to avoid ICE deportation while taking care of Olga, a Russian-Jewish woman living in Brooklyn in the early stages of dementia. Lingua Franca is Isabel Sandoval’s third feature film, and she stars as the lead character in addition to directing, writing, and producing the movie. It’s pretty well-liked, and it’s a solid choice if you’re wanting to support a transgender creative.

    Content Warning / Available on… Tubi*, Netflix*, Amazon Prime

    Major! (2015)

    Transfemme | Documentary | NR | 1h 35m

    While most people are aware of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, less know about Miss Major Griffin-Gracy – a formerly incarcerated transgender woman of color who has fighting for transgender rights for over 40 years, including during Stonewall. Major! is a documentary film giving insight to her life thus far and the campaigns she has been a part of. Miss Major survived Attica State Prison, sex work, and a lifetime of anti-LGBTQIA+ discrimination, and her story is one of the few from the frontlines of Stonewall.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime

    Mutt (2023)

    Transmasc | 89% RT | Drama | NR | 1h 27m

    Nonbinary actor Lío Mehiel plays Feña, a young transgender man attempting to rekindle former relationships with his father, estranged half-sister, and straight ex-boyfriend. After coming out and transitioning, Feña has lost a lot of people in his life – within 24 short hours, he’s sept through the extremes of human emotion as people finally re-enter his life.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime, Netflix*, Google Movies, Fandango, Apple TV

    My Life in Pink / Ma vie en rose (1997)

    Transfemme | 93% RT | Comedic Drama | R | 1h 28m

    Ludovic is unapologetically herself, and My Life in Pink is her journey in getting her family and community to accept her identity as a transgender girl. She might just be seven years old, but she knows she’s a girl – her parents struggle adjusting to this new knowledge as they try to impress their new neighbors. The film has a lot of funny moments as well as tough ones: Ludo attempts suicide during the film after being assaulted and she’s ostracized by her community, but her parents accept her gender identity by the end of the movie despite her age and it being the 1990s.

    Content Warning / Available on… YouTube, Amazon Prime, fubo, Google Movies, Apple TV

    Nimona (2023)

    Nonbinary | 92% RT | Animated Adventure | PG | 1h 38m

    After being framed for the queen’s murder, Ballister Boldheart goes into hiding and meets Nimona who takes interest to Ballister for his “villainous” deed. The two have to find evidence to clear Ballister’s name, but he’s led to believe that Nimona is an ancient monster from historical legends. The film is about friendship and acceptance of one’s self – Nimona has lived their entire life feeling like they can’t fit in anywhere due to their magical shapeshifting powers. Nimona is implied to be nonbinary and genderfluid, even though the film uses predominantly feminine pronouns to refer to them.

    Content Warning / Available on… Netflix

    Normal (2003)

    Transfemme | 100% RT | Drama | R | 1h 49m

    Ruth Applewood shocks her wife after celebrating their 25th marriage anniversary with her plans to transition into a woman in the rural Midwest. Her transition drives the family apart, but they eventually find their way back to each other after months of conflict and harassment.

    I want to write an additional note that while the film has a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and pretty good audience reviews, the inspiration behind Normal is problematic. In an HBO interview, writer and director Jane Anderson said she hadn’t sourced any actual transgender people when creating the book or movie, and based the premise of the film by viewing transition the “ultimate betrayal” of love. The film wouldn’t hold up well if created today, especially with that mindset.

    Content Warning / Currently unavailable for streaming

    Orlando (1992)

    Nonbinary* | 84% RT | Romantic Fantasy | PG-13 | 1h 34m

    Based off Virginia Woolf’s novel, Orlando follows an androgynous nobleman who transforms into a woman. The story begins in the early 1600s until the present day (1992) due to Queen Elizabeth I’s magical wish for her to not fade, wither, or grow old. Virginia Woolf was queer herself, and Orlando has inspired many others with different takes on the story – including the 2023 documentary Orlando, My Political Biography, which has gotten even better reviews than the original as it combines Woolf’s story with a modern understanding of transgender identity.

    Content Warning / Available on… YouTube, Google Movies, Amazon Prime, Fandango, Apple TV

    Paris Is Burning (1990)

    Transfemme* | 98% RT | Documentary | R | 1h 18m

    Paris Is Burning is one of the LGBTQIA+ community’s most classic films, giving an inside look at NYC’s ballroom culture during the late 1980s. It was the Golden Age of New York’s underground scene for queer and transgender people of color – and without ballroom culture, we wouldn’t have modern drag today. There’s a touch of how many transgender people identified more safely as just gay drag performers, but it also capitalizes on how social these events were in a time LGBTQIA+ people were forced underground due to the AIDS epidemic.

    Of course, I feel inclined to note Paris Is Burning has its own controversies: while the film is integral to queer history, it can also have flaws. The Black and Brown performers in the film were generally exploited and the profit made wasn’t distributed well – which is why multiple performers in the movie later took director Jennie Livingston to court. Others have pointed out that Livingston, at the end of the day, was a cisgender white woman. Without her, Paris Is Burning may have never existed, but she still took advantage of a vulnerable community for her own gain.

    Enjoy Paris Is Burning but want something more contemporary? Kiki was released in 2016 and is regarded by critics as a sequel to the original documentary – although there are notable differences, such as Kiki‘s focus on youth, activism, and the realities of living in NYC’s underground scene.

    Content Warning / Available on… Max, Hulu, Roku Channel, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Fandango, Apple TV

    Romeos (2011)

    Transmasc | 66% RT | Romantic Drama | NR | 1h 36m

    I’ve tried to watch Romeos a few times, but I can never make it very far into the film before switching to something more enjoyable – it’s a German romantic comedy drama from the early 2010s, and there’s just something about it that I can’t fall in love with. Despite that, I’d still recommend it if you’re looking for something pretty cheesy or if you’re looking for a gay romance featuring a transgender man – Romeos is remarkable in the fact it’s one of the very few movies out there that is both transmasc and MLM.

    Content Warning / Available on… YouTube, Amazon Prime, Fandango, Google Movies, Apple TV

    Rūrangi (2020)

    Transmasc | 100% RT | Drama | NR | 1h 36m

    After leaving his rural hometown to move to Auckland, Caz starts anew as he transitions as a transgender man. Years later, he returns to Rūrangi and has to face all of the people he abandoned when he left for the big city – include his father, childhood best friend, and ex-boyfriend.

    Content Warning / Available on… Hulu

    Soldier’s Girl (2003)

    Transfemme | 89% RT | Biographical Drama | R | 1h 52m

    Based on the real relationship between Barry Winchell and Calpernia Addams, Soldier’s Girl is a drama about Barry’s murder – he was murdered in 1999 by his fellow soldiers for dating a transgender woman (Addams), and his death played a big role in Don’t Ask Don’t Tell discussions. Calpernia is a showgirl in Nashville where Barry is stationed, and Barry becomes subject to harassment and violence when his jealous roommate Justin Fisher spreads rumors about Barry and Calpernia’s relationship.

    Content Warning / Available on… Tubi, Crackle, Roku Channel, Amazon Prime

    Something You Said Last Night (2022)

    Transfemme | 93% RT | Comedic Drama | MA | 1h 36m

    Ren is an aspiring writer who accompanies her parents and younger sister to a beach resort and Something You Said Last Night follows her trying to navigate the resort, relationship with her loving but overbearing parents, and desire to be independent.

    Content Warning / Available on… Pluto, Tubi, Sling, Xumo, Roku Channel, Plex, Fandango, Amazon Prime, Peacock, Google Movies, Apple TV

    Southern Comfort (2001)

    Transfemme & Transmasc | 96% RT | Dramatic Documentary | 1h 30m

    Robert Eads was a real transgender man who died of ovarian cancer due to doctors wrongly believing his life wasn’t worth potential harm to their reputations. The film’s title comes from the Southern Comfort Conference, a real major transgender conference that was considered the largest in the United States from 1991 to 2019 – Robert’s ultimate goal was to live long enough to attend. He transitioned later in life, so the movie touches on many of the tough relationships older transgender people have with their parents, children, and even grandchildren – but Robert has always been content living with his chosen family, including his transgender girlfriend Lola.

    Content Warning / Available on… Tubi

    Stress Positions (2024)

    Transfemme | 72% RT | Comedic Drama | PG | 1h 35m

    During the early months of the COVID pandemic in Brooklyn, Bahlul joins his uncle Terry as he recovers from a broken leg. Stress Positions is narrated by Karla, a bisexual/lesbian transgender woman living in the same building. Critics are generally impressed by the film, but it has a lower score by audiences – likely due in part to America’s exhaustion of thinking of the pandemic.

    Content Warning / Available… Hulu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    Summer Solstice (2023)

    Transmasc | 100% RT | Comedic Drama | MA | 1h 21m

    Leo, a transgender man, goes on an unplanned weekend trip with his best friend Eleanor. It’s their first time spending time together since Leo has transitioned, and Leo has been looking for a break from all of his auditions, acting classes, jobs, and situationships. Spending time with Eleanor begs the question: can bad sex and good friends mix?

    Content Warning / Available on… Tubi, Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Fandango, Apple TV

    Tangerine (2015)

    Tranfemme | 96% RT | Crime Comedy | R | 1h 28m

    I often group Tangerine with Gun Hill Road – both are great films, but they have hard moments due to how well they portray reality for transgender women in tough situations. Sin-Dee and Alexandra are transgender sex workers who find out their pimp has been cheating with a cisgender woman. They eventually get the attention of Razmik, an Armenian cab driver and chaser who leaves his family on Christmas Eve to meet them across town. Between the two films, I enjoy Tangerine more – but both have their moments.

    Content Warning / Available on… Max, YouTube, fubo, Sling, Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Fandango, Redbox, Apple TV

    The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future (2023)

    Transfemme | 88% RT | Drama | R | 1h 38m

    Magdalena emerges from the Cruces River after being left for dead many years ago. She returns to her family’s dairy farm to find her husband Enrique (who understandably has a heart attack upon seeing his dead wife), daughter Cecilia, and grandchildren. Due to pollution, fish are dying at an astronomical rate and the environment is collapsing in The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future‘s arthouse style.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    The Crying Game (1992)

    Transfemme | 95% RT | Tragic Romance | R | 1h 52m

    Fergus is a member of the Irish Republican Army during the later years of the Troubles who kidnaps a Black British soldier as collateral for an imprisoned IRA member they want released. He eventually finds himself in London and meets meets Dil, a transgender woman he falls in love with. Unlike Breakfast on Pluto, Fergus plays an active role in the Troubles – he’s expected to assassinate a prominent British judge, and the Troubles were messy.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    The Danish Girl (2015)

    Transfemme | 65% RT | Historical Drama | R | 2h

    Based on the real life of Lili Elbe, one of the earliest individuals to ever receive bottom surgery, as she sheds the masculine gender roles she’s been forced to endure throughout her life. After years of being unable to be “cured” of being transgender through psychotherapy and other pseudo-conversion tools, she’s recommended a new but controversial surgery. Lili is the first person Dr. Kurt Warnekros has performed the surgery on, and like, real life, Lili dies after complications from the second round of surgery.

    The Danish Girl was one of the first big movies to feature a transgender lead character in mainstream media – the film won multiple accolades, including an Oscar. However, it was also criticized for having a cisgender man play Lili’s role: Redmayne’s portrayal of Lili was one of the first big discussions on the importance of having transgender people play transgender stories.

    Content Warning / Available on… Amazon Prime, Netflix*, Google Movies, Fandango, Apple TV

    The Kings of Summer (2013)

    Nonbinary | 77% RT | Comedic Adventure | R | 1h 35m

    Frustrated by his father controlling his life, Joe escapes to the woods with his best friend Patrick and a new companion named Biaggio, who just happened to tag along for their adventure. They build a house out in the woods while the rest of the world fears Patrick and Joe have gone missing, and things go awry when Joe invites Patrick’s crush out to their hidden home. Biaggio is implied to be agender, and while they don’t use the term outright, Biaggio is confident in their nonbinary identity.

    Content Warning / Available on… Paramount, Roku Channel, YouTube, Amazon Prime, Google Movies, Apple TV, Fandango

    The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson (2017)

    Transfemme | 97% RT | Crime Documentary | MA | 1h 45m

    Following How to Survive a Plague, David France produced The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson to chronicle the suspicious death of Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries co-founder Marsha P. Johnson, one of the most prominent figures in the Stonewall Riots and gay liberation movement along with Sylvia Rivera. When Marsha died in 1992, police ruled it as a suicide despite evidence suggesting foul play – the film re-examines the events leading up to police finding Marsha’s body floating in the Hudson River.

    Content Warning / Available on… Netflix

    The Matrix (1999)

    Any/All* | 83% RT | Action Sci-Fi | R | 2h 16m

    Decades after its initial release, the Wachowski sisters who wrote and directed The Matrix franchise have stated the films are an allegory for transgender identity – which makes sense if you take in account the Wachowskis came out as transgender women in 2012 and 2016. Like Fight Club, The Matrix is adored by cisgender straight men for a lot of the wrong reasons, but the film has a lot of heart that made into a classic. The red pill has been likened to real red estrogen pills, and the Matrix’s sense of disconnect is meant to portray gender dysphoria. In the Wachowski’s original script, Switch was meant to be a woman in the Matrix and a man in the real world – but the idea was scrapped since “the corporate world wasn’t ready.”

    If you’re looking for a transgender story, I would recommend other movies on this list before The Matrix – but it should stay on your radar if you’re up for critiquing a sci-fi classic with a modern transgender lens.

    Content Warning / Available on… Peacock, Sling, YouTube, Google Movies, Fandango, Amazon Prime, Apple TV

    The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

    Transfemme-ish* | 95% RT | Crime Horror | R | 1h 58m

    While on this list, The Silence of the Lambs is NOT a movie to celebrate or inspire pride – but it’s important when discussing transgender history and visibility in film. Even though Buffalo Bill explicitly states he is not transgender, transgender identity is central to the film and the movie plays a major role in how transgender people were portrayed as psychopaths in mainstream media until recently. Bill is a serial killer who purposely targets women to assemble a flesh suit for himself – since he is routinely kills women to be a woman, it’s hard to separate Buffalo Bill from transness. The Silence of the Lambs did fantastically well both critically and commercially by using these references of Buffalo Bill as transgender, but LGBTQIA+ activism being a minor issue during the time period meant there wasn’t enough backlash to really force the question. The film’s success encouraged a new era of mocking transgender people – and it incited fear that transgender people are deranged and violent freaks.

    Even if the public wasn’t ready to really separate Buffalo Bill from transness, The Silence of the Lambs did create a minor turning point in transgender cinema: unlike previous films that use “transgender psychopaths” like Psycho and Dressed to Kill, The Silence of the Lambs did go to incredible efforts to state Buffalo Bill is not transgender – but of course, that doesn’t matter too much if they’re still profiting off the public’s belief that he is.

    Content Warning / Available on… Max, Hulu, YouTube, Sling, Roku Channel, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Fandango, Google Movies

    The Stroll (2023)

    Transfemme | 95% RT | Documentary | R | 1h 24m

    Kristen Lovell and Zackary Drucker follow Black and Latina transgender women who work as sex workers in NYC’s Meatpacking District during the 1980s and 1990s in an area referred to as “The Stroll” prior to its gentrification. It provides another viewpoint of what transgender people were experiencing in NYC to other films like Paris Is Burning.

    Content Warning / Available on… Max, Hulu, YouTube, Sling, Roku Channel

    They (2017)

    Nonbinary | 67% RT | Drama | NR | 1h 20m

    J is thirteen years old and lives in Chicago and has been recently told they have to “pick” a gender due to the effects of long-term puberty blockers decreasing bone density. There’s some truth to this – puberty blockers do decrease bone density and can become a clinical concern for those on them for a long period of time, which is why they’re used for transgender youth prior to moving to traditional HRT. However, this isn’t really something J would be concerned about at thirteen – transgender youth are generally expected to be on puberty blockers until sixteen, and bone density concerns are easily addressed with the medical care that accompanies puberty blockers being prescribed.

    Disregarding this technicality, They is… okay. There aren’t many films that feature nonbinary stories, which is why it didn’t get forgotten about completely.

    Content Warning / Available on… Crackle, Google Movies, Fandango, fubo, Amazon Prime, Apple TV

    They / Them (2022)

    Nonbinary | 33% RT | Horror Slasher | NR | 1h 44m

    Again: there are not many nonbinary films out there. This will change in the next decade or so; I remember ten years ago when there were about one or two transmasculine films out there but a wealth of short films. Nonbinary media is currently in a similar boat, so I feel confident in predicting there’ll be a good variety to pick from in time.

    They / Them is a slasher set at a conversion camp for LGBTQIA+ youth, focusing on nonbinary Jordan who is constantly harassed by camp staff like the other campers, and the new camp nurse Molly who disagrees with the camp’s mission. It has a good premise, since it hinges on the disgust and rage LGBTQIA+ people have for despicable “conversion camps” like the one in the film – but it bombed due to its clumsy formatting and predictable ending.

    Content Warning / Available on… Peacock

    Tomboy (2011)

    Nonbinary* | 96% RT | Drama | NR | 1h 24m

    Filmmakers have always been clumsy when portraying transgender people, and they were definitely clumsy in Laure/Mickaël’s character as a transgender kid. It’s unclear whether Laure/Mickaël is meant to be nonbinary, transmascline, or a lesbian girl, since the film ends with them presenting with their female birth name after being harassed for the entire movie for presenting as a boy. It reminds me a transmasculine version of My Life in Pink if it had a worse ending that left the main character “fixed” as cisgender. It’s considered a noteworthy film when discussing trans media, but it wouldn’t stand if released today.

    Content Warning / Current unavailable for streaming

    Transamerica (2005)

    Transfemme | 77% RT | Comedic Adventure | R | 1h 43m

    One week before her bottom surgery, Bree receives a call from seventeen-year-old Toby from a NYC jail claiming to be her son. Bree’s therapist forces her to make contact with Toby in order to proceed with her surgery. Thus, she flies out to find Toby, who ran away from his stepfather’s home, and finds out his mother died years ago via suicide. She convinces Toby she is a Christian missionary and plans to bring him back to his stepfather while on a country-wide road trip – and the two inevitably bond along the way.

    Content Warning / Available on… Starz, YouTube, Hulu, fubo, Sling, Roku Channel, Amazon Prime, Philo, Google Movies, Fandango, Apple TV

    Transmitzvah (2024)

    Transfemme | Comedy | R | 1h 42m

    Rubén (aka Mumy Singer) embraces her female identity and rejects her planned Bar Mitzvah. Years later, she returns home after tragedy strikes the family as a famous Yiddish singing sensation, and Transmitzvah is their family coming to terms with who they are, together.

    Content Warning / Available on… Netflix

    Two 4 One (2014)

    Transmasc | Comedic Drama | PG-13 | 1h 17m

    There aren’t many films that feature transgender people pursuing parenthood after transition – and Two 4 One is one of them. Adam is a transgender man who has a one-night stand with his ex-girlfriend to help artificially inseminate her with an at-home pregnancy kit. An accident causes them both to become pregnant, and the film follows Adam grapple with being pregnant and his sense of being a man.

    Content Warning Unavailable / Available on… Tubi, Amazon Prime, Fandango, YouTube, Google Movies

    Wildhood (2021)

    Two-Spirit | 100% RT | Romantic Drama | PG-13 | 1h 48m

    Link impulsively runs away with his younger brother Travis from his abusive home in a run-down Canadian trailer park to find his mother, who he recently discovered was alive after believing for years she was dead. They meet Pasmay, a Mi’kmaq pow wow dancer who becomes interested in Link when they meet at a grocery store. The three of them go on a journey to find Link and Travis’ mother, and the boys rediscover their Indigenous heritage along with way.

    Content Warning / Available on… Hulu

  • Fight Back: Actions You Can Do to Combat Fascism

    Fight Back: Actions You Can Do to Combat Fascism

    At the beginning of February, I created a set of shareable images of actions anyone can take if they’re feeling angry, upset, or otherwise motivated due to the current anti-trans political climate. It’s a fantastic starting point as a guide – this post is more advanced for folks wanting additional context.

    DISCLAIMER: This guide does NOT promote illegal activity and does not incite the public to violate the law. This article is strictly for informational purposes and takes no responsibility for what individuals do with this information.

    Why act? Why does it matter?

    It is easy to give in to hopelessness. The world can be a terrible place and there are individuals in power whose mission is to eradicate transness alongside other people deemed invaluable by themselves and the organizations that support them. There has never been a time within human history without queerness and there will never be a time without us – the world is overwhelmingly a better place with trans folks like you and me in it, which is why we must act. It is unfair and exhausting, but do not let bullies push you out of existence – your life is worth fighting for, as are the future lives of transgender kids and the past histories of transgender elders they erase.

    Most Americans are not aware of what is going on. The United States is one of the best countries in the world at distributing propaganda to its citizens, and most Americans lack media literacy skills regardless of their age, political affiliation, or educational background. Americans are not stupid, but most of us are unable to connect the dots on how fascism is taking hold in our government based on past fascist regimes. Currently, mainstream American media is owned and controlled by the Republican party – this isn’t an exaggeration. Large news sites like the New York Times and Washington Post are being censored by their billionaire owners, and similar actions are being done by television media like CNN by moving ‘controversial’ hosts to worse spots. The top social media platforms also fall into this, with sites like Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and even TikTok catering to the GOP. Google changed the official name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America while removing Black History Month and LGBTQIA+ topics and doodles.

    Why? Personally, I think Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook are great case examples. At the end of the day, Zuckerberg and most other insanely wealthy people do not subscribe to the ideas or politics of the GOP: they’re in the business of making as much money as possible, regardless of the political party in power. Many were shocked when Facebook officially released its new rules stating harmful speech against transgender folks was no longer considered hate speech on the platform – but Mark is attempting to appeal to what he believes will get him the most profit. These term updates and making the office “more masculine” aren’t that different from when Facebook changed into a rainbow logo in June. Similarly, Bezos barred the Washington Post from making a political endorsement in 2024 because he feared making the ‘wrong’ endorsement would harm profits since an angry Trump would be liable to use his political power to persecute his enemies. Elon is super-gluing himself to Trump’s backside because he believes it will produce the most profit. Unfortunately, the same thing happened during Hitler’s rise to power and Nazism as BBC History writes, “The elites [of 1930s Germany] thought they could ride Hitler like a horse. But they soon discovered that they were the horse and that Hitler was the horseman.” Like those German elites, today’s American billionaires believe they can use fascism to deepen their pockets – even if they lack the foresight or integrity to see how terrible a decision that is in the long run.

    Combined, most of the actions I recommend circle around visibility. If the American public cannot see our anguish because we are being censored by mainstream media, then we must draw attention until they are unable to censor us.

    That being said, I’m a strong believer that there is more than one way to be an activist and incite change. For a movement to work, we can’t all be on soapboxes and leading marches: to lead a successful demonstration in your community, you need leaders but you also need folks well-versed in first aid, marketing, security, and empathy to make it work. I’m a fan of education as a form of activism (hence this blog) – there’s so much value in meeting people where they are and opening their values to social justice. The American public largely wants ‘radical’ programs like universal healthcare, better wages, and marriage equality, but they lack the language to see their value beyond the GOP versus Democrat binary that pushes them to see anything ‘radical’ as un-American and communist. When considering what actions you want to take, that’s worth remembering: to win the American public over and see our struggle, we have to cater to their human nature and play to their values. Our fight is everyone’s fight in the war on fascism, so open them up to ideas like fascism is inherently un-American, hatred is un-Christlike, and anyone who preaches hatred over empathy should be questioned.

    All of the actions discussed can be performed with or without a large group. Many forms of social change can be carried out best with a small group of tight-knit folks united by a common cause (also known as an affinity group) – so empower yourself and your friends to get out there. Every action, no matter how small, is valuable. Even if just one person sees your message before it is removed or censored, it matters and is worth the effort.

    Do Not Comply: In Advance or Otherwise

    “Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is teaching power what it can do.” – On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

    Laws do not dictate morality and something being legal does not make it okay. Fascism relies on obedience and thrives when individuals obey in advance. We are already witnessing this – upon Trump’s executive orders, hundreds of hospitals immediately halted transgender care in fear of violating the administration’s unjust orders. Upon Trump’s return to the White House, sites like Facebook preemptively changed its guidelines to harm transgender users. When Trump banned DEI via order, thousands of companies compiled without a second thought because it is easier to follow unjust laws than it is to sue or refuse to obey.

    On Tyranny goes into this a great deal, and I recommend the entire book – it’s easy to follow and uses historical examples from previous fascist regimes, and compares them to modern times. Snyder explains, “If lawyers had followed the norm of no execution without trial, if doctors had accepted the rule of no surgery without consent, if businessmen had endorsed the prohibition of slavery, if bureaucrats had refused to handle paperwork involving murder, then the Nazi regime would have been much harder pressed to carry out the atrocities by which we remember it.” In other words, fascism would not have been able to flourish if the public had been resistant or refused to comply with terrible rules. Remind people of their values, personal and professional ethics, and their role in preventing tragedy. Call out institutions and people who comply in advance. Offer space to change and learn, and encourage them to stand up.

    Call Your Reps

    This action is… Legal!

    Admittedly, this is hard to do – it’s easy to be overwhelmed with life and be too socially awkward to call your elected officials. No matter your social skills, you’re entitled to be heard by your representatives because they work for you.

    Emails, written letters, and petitions usually get dumped directly into the trash before being read. Some officials are better than others about reading these, but they’re commonly disregarded unless they’re presented in a remarkable way. Phone calls are harder to ignore – which is why Republicans call a LOT. On an average day, right-wingers call their elected officials four times compared to others. When specific issues come up like queer rights being included on an upcoming bill, that number skyrockets 11:1. Unlike unread emails and letters, representatives have to listen to phone calls. Officials assign staff to listen to all callers every day and report on the top issues via a summary. When a topic gets enough attention, that representative will be pushed to take a stance based on the views of their callers since they’re assumed to be voting constituents – even if that view contradicts their party platform.

    The phone numbers of all elected officials in Congress are publicly available. Some people find it helpful to save these numbers in their contact list to call regularly. If you don’t know who represents you in Congress, usa.gov/elected-officials will give you current information based on your address to direct you. Take the information there and insert it into house.gov and senate.gov to get the contact details of your officials. You will likely be sent to their personal website, which you will need to navigate to find their phone number – most ‘contact’ forms will try to force you to stop at an email, so look for something like ‘offices.’

    When calling, make sure you have a script. It’s easy to stumble over your words, especially as you’re calling about issues that matter deeply to you. After enough practice, you’ll be able to call without a script – but there’s no rush. I have a practice script focused on DOGE, but it’s not hard to write one with AI tools like ChatGPT available to organize your thoughts.

    Anyone Can Write

    This action is… Legal!

    Even if major media outlets are catering to fascism, news isn’t dead. Everyone and anyone is qualified to write op-eds and letters to the editor. A select number is published in print and online with each release, letting your message be read by thousands. Opinion sections have been used to highlight political topics for decades since it’s a free way to publish your work. The following buttons direct you to relevant places for both the Post and NYT.

    The New York Times
    The Washington Post

    Major news publications have thousands of writers submit their work each day – so you are less likely to be published compared to other outlets. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it – keep writing until you get published, and then keep writing for the cause. Look up the specific submission guidelines for your local, regional, or national news of choice. All newspapers (as well as many other media outlets) invite reader submissions.

    Make Your Mark

    This action is… Illegal!

    It’s easy to post flyers, stickers, and other messages in your community. You can look up a recipe for wheat pasting, the old-school method of sticking flyers, online – or you can purchase a can of high-strength spray adhesive at any local home improvement store. Like always, public libraries are your friend since they offer printing services significantly cheaper than commercial alternatives like Staples or Office Depot – some libraries have self-service stations that allow you to print without getting the help or approval of staff.

    Label 228s are free stickers issued by the United States Postal Service meant to allow the general public to easily write addresses on packages. These labels can even be ordered and mailed for free directly to your home – which is why they became widely associated with graffiti culture beginning in the 1990s. ‘Slaps’ are easy to access, decorate, and adhere to – but it’s technically illegal to use Label 228s for non-mail purposes.

    Get Label 228s

    Some places are more legal to tag than others. Walls, utility poles, and public restrooms are generally considered illegal unless you have permission from the city or business owner. Of course, in the words of many graffiti artists who use spray paint, paint markers, and other tools to leave their mark: “No face, no case.” On the other end of the spectrum, lots of community venues have public boards where anyone can place flyers – but a political or pro-trans message may be likely to be taken down in these locations.

    Under Title 18, Section 333 of the United States Code, defacement of currency is a punishable crime. Defacement is defined as mutilating, cutting, disfiguring, perforating, uniting, or cementing together bills with the intent to make them unfit to be used – but it leaves two things to note. One, it’s only a crime if you are caught defacing currency – it’s not a crime to have defaced money and there is no way to know who wrote what on a bill which is why money defacement is an unprosecutable crime. Secondly, writing on money is not considered defacement despite what most people believe. It’s actually commonly used to spread messages regarding social change since cash is widely used.

    Here are some cool resources on the topic if tagging interests you:
    Beautiful Trouble Toolkit
    CrimethInc. Tools
    r/graffhelp
    r/sticker

    Spread the Word

    This action is… Illegal!

    Okay, spreading information as a whole is not illegal – but the following method is. Most people have a mailbox to receive items through the postal service – these mailboxes must be kept safe and easy to access for packages to be regularly delivered. It is illegal to place items in mailboxes if you are not authorized postal personnel (ex. a mail carrier or rural mail carrier) since without postage, it’s considered tampering with mail and a violation of federal law.

    It is fully legal to send mail through the postal service, but you’ll have to pay postage. As long as the mail doesn’t violate any major rules, the USPS will send it – including junk mail. USPS even has an online tool to allow you to send mail in bulk based on zip code, “Every Door Direct Mail.” However, it is extremely uncommon for people to be arrested or prosecuted for placing mail directly into someone’s mailbox without postage or the USPS. Generally, this law only gets brought up when local companies try to send a ton of junk mail to communities.

    Similarly, it’s sometimes legal to put flyers on cars and other personal transportation. Even when cars are parked in public areas, it can be considered trespassing since the car is private property – but these laws fluctuate too greatly to make large-scale assumptions. Look up your local laws to determine if it’s legal in your area or risk getting into trouble if you’re caught.

    Show Up

    This action is… Legal!

    The Constitution guarantees the Freedoms of Speech, Assembly, and Petition to ALL people within the United States – regardless of citizenship, political view, gender identity, sexuality, race, ethnicity, class, etc. In relation to social change, these rights give you well-protected status to be in ‘traditional public forums’ like streets, parks, sidewalks, and government buildings. When demonstrating in these spaces, you don’t need a permit to protest, picket, hand out flyers, or speak out as long as you’re not blocking traffic.

    Some cities require individuals to fill out permits to hold demonstrations regardless of whether they’re in a public forum. It’s up to you whether you want to complete the appropriate paperwork or go for the “ask for forgiveness later” approach – again, remember you have the right regardless of permit regulations.

    Stay in Touch

    This action is… Legal!

    Keep community connections and share information about upcoming actions in your social network. In deeply dangerous times when fascism is at its worst, it is easy for the general public to forget about the marginalized since those in power work to cover up the inhumane damage caused. By being a regular person in your community, you establish a connection that can’t easily be forgotten. When people realize they know a trans person, it’s difficult to demonize us once we are seen as people.

    “Make eye contact and small talk. This is not just polite. It is part of being a citizen and a responsible member of society… A smile, a handshake, or a word of greeting—banal gestures in a normal situation—took on great significance. When friends, colleagues, and acquaintances looked away or crossed the street to avoid contact, fear grew.” – On Tyranny, Chapter 12

    As mentioned at the beginning of this article, most actions can be done alone or with just a few friends. If you’re engaging in high-risk work that dabbles in activities either illegal or disliked by political opponents, you should learn some digital safety. Learn more about activism and digital safety here. As Snyder elaborates, “Nastier rulers will use what they know about you to push you around. Scrub your computer of malware on a regular basis. Remember that email is skywriting. Consider using alternative forms of the internet, or simply using it less. Have personal exchanges in person. For the same reason, resolve any legal trouble. Tyrants seek the hook on which to hang you. Try not to have hooks.”

    Lastly, it is important to stay up-to-date on current events – even if it’s triggering and exhausting. Fascism works best when it overwhelms you, but it is important to keep acting. This is difficult to do even when fascism is at bay, but an uninformed activist isn’t capable of much change. Pick a few select news sources that you can trust as reliable and do not feed into sensationalism – enough to keep you current on events, but not too much to overwhelm.

  • Safe, Secure, and Online: Protect Yourself with Digital Security

    Safe, Secure, and Online: Protect Yourself with Digital Security

    This week brought us a second Trump administration, inevitably eroding many of our rights. The fight for a better society is a long journey filled with struggle, especially since figures in power actively work to keep people from resisting. While pursuing equality, it’s important to make efforts to protect your digital safety – especially when hostile groups or the government can target your activism. It’s nearly impossible to exist without connecting to the internet. Save yourself the headache now by learning about what you can do to become safer online.

    Author’s Note: Digital security becomes outdated extremely fast. This article will become obsolete at some point, so make sure to review the advice given here and apply it with updated ideas.

    The more your movement wishes to change the status quo, the more likely you will be targeted by cyberwarfare. In fascist and conservative societies, simply being marginalized is seen as opposing the status quo – even if it is not something that can be changed. Being vocally and visibly out puts you at risk, but it’s also where you can create the most change. Online harassment and doxxing are commonplace for non-activists that merely upset the wrong people, but targeted surveillance and hacking are weaponized if your movement is deemed an ideological threat.

    The largest real-world examples are the actions taken by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation against the civil rights movement, which spied on figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Elijah Muhammad, and Aretha Franklin. COINTELPRO was the official series operated by the FBI, which covertly and illegally surveilled, infiltrated, discredited, and disrupted groups they deemed subversive like Black power, civil rights, the American Indian Movement, Brown Berets, United Farm Workers, and numerous feminist, environmental, and left-wing organizations. COINTELPRO is the most notable example, but similar programs most certainly exist today to allegedly secure national security. Even when the government is not involved, ill-intentioned individuals and organizations put energy into disrupting equality.

    Watch It! Do Risk Assessment!

    Before you get the conspiracy hats on, it’s important to note that most people will not be targeted by large-scale operations or the government. By nature, activists are at a higher risk, but simply being transgender won’t land you under increased surveillance unless you’re part of a group that can feasibly undermine others.

    Risk assessment refers to identifying potential hazards so you can plan to avoid them as much as possible. Digital security is complicated, long-winded, and limiting – the more secure you become, the less freedom you’ll have online. For those reasons, not everyone needs to have a high level of security if it’s unneeded. Before continuing, think about these five questions:

    1. What do I need to protect?
    2. Who do I need to protect it from?
    3. How much do they want that information and how easy is it for them to get it?
    4. What happens if they get it?
    5. What am I willing to do to stop that from happening?

    The Secure Communications Framework

    The SCF is an open-source model that was created to help activists, human rights researchers, and other individuals interested in security determine the best tools and practices for their situation/work. The following chart is the secure communications framework, but I’ll break down the lingo used.

    The “x” axis, or spectrum going rightward, represents your work:

    • Limited Impact: The item or work is not publicly available. Becoming public or taken might reduce the speed or impact of your work, but your message and strategy would be safe.
    • Public: The item or work is publicly available information. There are no inherently negative consequences of it being publicly available, so it doesn’t need security.
    • Significant Impact to Research/Organization or Limited Impact to Individuals: Confidential information and work being publicly exposed would likely need organizational strategy revision. Individuals are impacted in non-physical ways.
    • Significant Impact to Individuals: The unplanned public release of this information would result in an individual being physically detained, arrested, or harmed.

    The “y” axis, or spectrum going upward, represents who you are targeting with your mission:

    • Interest Groups and Individual Actors: Interest groups are organizations and communities that share a common interest or goal. Individual actors refer to any single person who plays a role in your work – these are often regular people who can be persuaded to work with or against you.
    • Governments, Corporations, and Non-State Actors: Organizations that can use passive or untargeted methods to monitor your work. Most entities fall here until you have drawn their attention.
    • Highly Capable and Motivated Adversaries: Organizations that are taking active/targeted steps to learn or interfere with your work.

    Using the bullet points on the SCF above, you can tell there is a significant difference in the risk involved. A draft press release wouldn’t require any changes, even if it was annoying if it got exposed early, but a list of projects might need alteration if it got leaked. Personnel information being exposed might lead to online harassment, but a testimony being leaked might cause an individual to be detained.

    Work that falls in the purple sectors requires regular basic security practices. Individuals should use an encrypted email and device, and should only use organization-issued computers and phones if part of a larger group.

    Work that falls in the orange sectors needs to use end-to-end encryption for all communications and border crossing security.

    Work that falls in the red sector should consult with a trusted security expert in addition to the previous guidance. It’s also recommended to only work from devices disconnected from the internet and not use any closed systems communications.

    As I’ll get into below, digital security is extensive – there is little reason to use top-tier safety mechanisms for work that does not need protection. The more secure something becomes, the more tedious it is to use. The more your work is guarded, the fewer people will hear your message.

    Back to Basics: Safety Anyone Can (and Should) Do

    Browsers Matter!

    Regularly update your operating systems (OS), browsers, and apps. More than 90% of software updates are security patches – forgetting or refusing to update your devices is more likely to put you at a data breach than your device just becoming slow. This is especially important on organizational computers and devices you use for your work!

    Apple
    Windows
    Android

    Speaking of browsers – not all internet applications are created equally. Google Chrome stands as the industry leader, which is incredibly fast and the default for most users – but they’re one of the worst browsers for data security, going to great lengths to obtain and sell user information to the highest advertising bidder. Microsoft Edge is forcibly installed on all Windows devices, the modern version of Windows Explorer – it consumes less power and battery resources than Chrome and sets the precedent for in-browser AI. Apple-based devices use Safari, which boasts robust privacy protections that separate it from its competitors – but it’s difficult to trust one of the tech industry’s leaders at face value. Arc is a new face on the scene, released in 2023 using Chromium to focus on user productivity and multitasking.

    The two most secure internet browsers that actually provide digital safety are Firefox and Brave. Opera used to claim this title too, flaunting its free VPN feature built into its programming, but it’s come under fire for selling user data to advertisers. Both Firefox and Brave prioritize user privacy, but it’s personal preference between the two. Supposedly, Brave is better at privacy out-of-the-box, while Firefox requires more set-up – but in turn, Firefox is more customizable.

    Special Feature: Tor

    Occasionally known as the “dark web browser,” Tor (which stands for The Onion Router) is an open-source overlay network that takes user privacy to an extreme by using numerous networks to encrypt information multiple times. This makes it nearly impossible for entities to track you, making your internet browsing anonymous. Compared to other internet browsers, Tor takes more user knowledge since it’s complicated and has fewer features than mainstream browsers like Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. Tor also hides your IP address (discussed below in VPNs) – but despite the sketchy reputation the dark web has, Tor is fully legal to use. It’s used for tons of legitimate purposes like journalism and activism! However, Tor is not lawless – if you get caught engaging in criminal activities, you can still get in trouble.

    HTTPS What?

    All websites use either HTTP or HTTPS – it’s included at the very beginning of a web address like https://transsolidarityproject.wordpress.com/. HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) transfers data over your network, but your information can be read by anyone monitoring that website’s connection. For that reason, HTTP sites are more likely to expose user data like passwords, credit card numbers, and other important details.

    HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) encrypts HTTP transfers. When someone tries to monitor an HTTPS website, they’ll only get random encrypted characters instead of private user information. HTTPS is considered vastly safer, so websites that utilize it are boosted in search engines to steer users. That doesn’t mean HTTP sites are bad – it just means you should be wary when using them and consider additional security protections if you don’t fully trust the site.

    Secure Your Network: VPNs

    Virtual private networks, or VPNs, are always brought up quickly when discussing digital privacy. VPNs establish a digital connection between your device and a remote server, encrypting your personal information and masking your IP address. Both of these functions serve important purposes:

    • Your IP (Internet Protocol) address is a unique number given to your device while using the internet, allowing it to communicate and connect with the rest of the world. If someone obtains your IP address, they can pinpoint your location up to the postal code you live in – IPs don’t show exact locations, but combined with other information hackers can obtain like birthdates and Social Security numbers, fraud can occur under the right circumstances.
    • Information that has been encrypted can only be unlocked through a unique digital key since the encryption process scrambles the data into a secret code. Even if someone gets access to your network, they won’t be able to unscramble the encryption placed on your devices or cloud storage – keeping data confidential.

    People use VPNs for a variety of reasons – while I’m focusing on data privacy, many users have VPNs to bypass regional content locks. Once your IP is masked, your location can be set to anywhere in the world – allowing you to access websites and content in other countries. Others use VPNs to simply block internet service providers from logging and tracking their search history, and some users have VPNs to get around government censorship and surveillance. While VPN usage and IP masking can look suspicious to police, there is no way to track live encrypted VPN traffic – and you can’t get in trouble just because your internet usage looks a bit suspicious.

    Most people don’t need to use a VPN. Digital privacy feels great, but it’s a lot of steps that most people don’t need if they’re unconcerned with their browsing data being sold to advertisers since most people aren’t worried about being censored or surveilled. At the end of the day, regular folks only need a VPN if they’re connected to a public or otherwise untrusted internet network – which is when you’re at the most risk of having your data stolen. Otherwise, members of the general public can get by using an ad blocker like Privacy Badger – a browser extension available on Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera that stops third-party trackers.

    If you have never used a VPN ever, I recommend Tunnelbear – it’ll get you used to the mechanics of how VPNs work for free and has a user-friendly interface. That’s important because VPNs can get complicated if you’re unaccustomed and don’t have high data privacy literacy, which is most people.

    For the majority of people, Proton VPN is the best choice. There are hundreds of VPN providers that all promise specialized features and user security. It’s not terribly hard to use, and it’s free. Entirely free, with a connection speed similar to premium versions – the only downside to Proton is that you can only connect their free VPN service to one device at a time. Proton also hosts a secure email service, cloud storage, password manager, calendar, and wallet for users, too.

    If you really want to pay someone for a VPN (and it’s not Proton), NordVPN is an industry-standard. It has a little bit of everything, providing slightly more encryption than Proton, and has built-in antivirus protection among its many tools. It has something to offer for everyone – but it’s definitely more pricey than other VPN providers. If you’re curious about other VPNs, the r/VPN subreddit has a datasheet comparing major providers.

    Why would I use a VPN and not Tor?

    User-friendliness, mostly. You don’t need both – if you have Tor, you don’t need a VPN, and if you have a VPN, you don’t really need Tor unless you’re going for the freedom and anonymity that Tor provides. Generally, VPNs are more user-friendly and significantly faster than Tor but it’s personal preference. Like Proton, Tor is entirely free to use.

    Security Management & 2FA

    Two-step or two-factor authentication (2FA) requires two forms of identification to access an account, which protects your devices and information even when passwords are leaked. With standard single-factor authentication (SFA), a user just inserts one password to access their account – but if their password becomes compromised, all of their account data is at risk. With 2FA, users provide that same password but also have to provide a different second item like a security token, fingerprint scan, facial recognition, or pressing a button on an additional device.

    You don’t need 2FA on everything, but you should enable it where possible – especially on password managers, finances, and social media profiles. It’s a simple step that saves you a lot of hassle! It’s rumored that the 2016 Hillary Clinton campaign actively rejected security advice to use 2FA on its accounts, leading to the thousands of emails that were leaked by Russian hackers – if they had used 2FA, we might be living in a very different America.

    Most 2FA apps are entirely free, but it’s up to you which one to go with. Google Authenticator is the go-to for most folks, followed by 2FA Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, and Duo Mobile. However, I’d actually recommend 2FA out of the above options since it allows for cloud back-ups and provides protection that Google doesn’t.

    Don’t Dox Yourself, Use an Alias

    You have the power to determine how much of yourself is online. Make an effort to review what information is publicly available so you don’t accidentally dox yourself. Doxxing refers to when personally identifiable information about an individual or organization is released without their consent, and it can be done maliciously by all sides of the political spectrum. A handful of US states have criminalized doxxing, but assuming the perpetrator has taken steps to not get doxxed themselves, it’s difficult to tackle.

    By using an online alias or alternate name, you can protect your real-life identity since your actual name and contact information aren’t readily available. However, aliases are less common today outside of certain communities and forums.

    Do You Trust Meta?

    Just like internet browsers, not all social media sites equally value your personal information and privacy. Some of the most privacy-friendly sites used in the US include Reddit and Snapchat – Reddit is filled with anonymous accounts used for their forums, and Snapchat deletes messages after being read while also notifying users if someone tries to screenshot their content. Similarly, Amazon, Grindr, Pinterest, Spotify, and Lyft all collect minimal data compared to other major sites. Not on the below list, Bluesky is a growing platform and alternative to Twitter/X that does not sell data – they’re an open-source network with a focus on privacy meant to resemble what Twitter used to be like before its takeover by Elon Musk.

    Some of the worst offenders for digital security include Meta, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Uber. Despite lobbying by Meta owner Zuckerberg, Meta sells insurmountably more user data than supposedly dangerous sites like TikTok – which is why its sites are poor choices for privacy, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads, and Messenger. Since it’s owned by Google, YouTube is slow to delete its user data even after account deletion. Uber obtains a large quantity of user information, which can be used to target individuals seeking criminalized services like gender-affirming care and abortions if given to the wrong entities. Lastly, while LinkedIn isn’t as malicious as other sites, they’ve suffered the greatest number of data breaches.

    Protect Your Messages

    The use of artificial intelligence is growing – which means privacy theft, scams, and blackmail schemes are becoming more complicated. There are very real people willing to buy private chat logs, photos, and videos from your phone. One step you can take towards protecting yourself online is switching messaging platforms.

    For secure messaging, there is no better alternative than Signal. All messages are secured with end-to-end encryption and it’s used by government agencies as well as activist groups. While you must have a phone number to sign up for a free Signal account, your information is secure and isn’t sold.

    After Signal, WhatsApp is an internationally used platform that automatically deletes messages and images – but many users don’t inherently trust its privacy claims since WhatsApp is owned by Meta. Most messaging platforms are more secure than direct SMS or texting since texting generally lacks encryption, although this varies depending if you’re using mobile data or a local internet connection.

    Messages aren’t the only thing you should keep secure – Jitsi is the most recommended platform for video calls and conferencing. Unlike Zoom, Jitsi actually uses end-to-end encryption and passwords to protect users. Zoom has been targeted by numerous security threats and data breaches.

    While I am recommending Signal and Jitsi for digital privacy, the same rules apply to everything else I’ve mentioned. Most people do not need everything on this list – targeted ads are mildly annoying but worth the freedom and ease that comes with mainstream browsers like Chrome. Even if you’re transitioning to these sites, it’s impossible to get all of your contacts to stop using their preferred messaging platform like Facebook for something like Signal instead. For those reasons, this means digital security in practice is ‘use what you need, as needed.’ The majority of your messages don’t necessarily need tons of protection since they shouldn’t contain sensitive information – so I recommend using platforms like Signal as needed for sensitive topics and contacts, kept separately from your other messages.

    Protect Your Device (Physically)

    It’s essentially impossible to exist in modern society without a cell phone or similar device. They store our credit cards, identification, maps, contacts, and photos – you can hardly apply for a job without having a reliable phone number. Some people believe that old phones (or dumb phones) are safer than modern cell phones – this is untrue. The information you likely want to protect from the SCF can’t be secured with dumb phones because they cannot encrypt data and cannot use encrypted apps like Signal or VPNs. True dumb phones can’t operate in most places since they lack the modern VoLTE required, and modern dumb phones are just lobotomized smartphones without the capability to use apps or security updates.

    It is remarkably easy to get caught up in data breaches in the cloud when discussing digital security, but you can have your data stolen just as easily IRL. Physical and external devices like your phone, USBs, and micro USBs can leak your information if stolen – having your devices encrypted is vital for this possibility. The most dangerous information you can have on your device is photos, contacts, recordings, and login information – especially if you are part of a sensitive movement or organization. In those cases, that data should only be stored on select devices that just a few people can access. When your device is stolen by thieves or law enforcement, it’s more than just your information they’re accessing if they can see your entire contact list.

    Out of all the security options available, facial recognition is one of the worst since it allows your device to be accessed easily – if someone looks too similar to you, it’ll automatically unlock. Worse yet, it’s entirely possible for someone to use your face while you’re restricted or unconscious to unlock the device for them. Following that, finger sensors are only slightly more secure since it is easy for police to force individuals to unlock their phones through their fingerprints. Six-digit passcodes and complex patterns are the most secure way to lock your phone since they are the hardest to hack – as long as you aren’t using a code that’s overtly generic like your birthdate or home address. Beyond passcodes and patterns, the strongest passwords are ones that use a combination of different characters or make up a passphrase that you can memorize.

    Create a Paper Trail

    In the event that your data is exposed or stolen, document it. Failing to do so means you can’t track the incident – just make sure to shred physical paper copies once you’re done. Documentation allows you to think more carefully about how and why a breach occurred, regardless of whether it was an error on your end or a breach in a remote server like Google. This is exponentially more important when other people are involved, such as in an organization, group, or movement, so all affected individuals can verify their data and reset security protections. Further, you’ll be able to take legal action later on if you find the perpetrator of your leak.

    High-Level Security

    The following guidance is not for most people – it’s for individuals and organizations at high risk of being targeted and surveilled by opposing groups or the government. The majority of people will only need the following protections sparingly when they engage in high-risk work.

    License plates trace your identity, allowing people to find your home address, criminal history, and accident history just by searching online or calling their local DMV. SIM cards work the same way – they can be searched to find out your phone number, contacts, text messages, location, and other identifying information. When engaging with high-risk work, such as going to a protest, it’s better to purchase a burner SIM with cash. Burner phones do not inherently make your digital information more private unless you have a generic SIM you buy to later discard. With as little information on the device as possible, you minimize your risk even if your phone is taken by law enforcement.

    Not everyone can be on the front lines at a protest. To maintain security, you should limit high-value individuals from going to actions like protests and demonstrations – if they are detained, their data is the most at-risk. This includes admins and anyone who has login details, contacts, and sensitive messages for your group. Best practices advocate having these individuals stay back and message others remotely during a demonstration through the burner devices people IRL should have, since that both protects your data from possible exposure while also giving your activists access to data as needed by messaging you.

    Speaking of which, law enforcement in the United States must have a warrant to search your phone – including if they’ve already seized it after arrest or if they believe they have probable cause for evidence of a crime. Your cell phone is covered under the Fourth Amendment from unreasonable searches and seizures, backed by the 2014 Supreme Court decision in Riley v. California. However, police are allowed to force you to unlock your phones in certain states if you use biometric logins like fingerprints or facial recognition. The courts are especially conflicted about this since it should fall under the Fifth Amendment’s right to not testify against one’s self, but it hasn’t reached the Supreme Court.

    Additional Resources

    Access Now has information about censorship, surveillance, and data – “A First Look at Digital Security” runs you through what exactly needs protecting and how to do it based on your needs. They even have a free 24/7 digital helpline available in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Tagalong, Arabic, and Italian.

    ActionSkills has some pretty cool websites worth checking out – like the Commons Library, which hosts educational resources that you can browse for free. The Library even has information on digital security.

    Activist Handbook has a few articles on general digital security as well as further guidance for your cell phone and laptop.

    Association for Progressive Communications’ Digital Security First Aid Kit for Human Rights Defenders is a collection of tools and links for better online safety. The site is geared towards activists, covering how to send information without being tracked, hacks, abuse, and surveillance.

    Blueprints for Change is a network for activists looking for tools suited to advance their work, including digital security, apps, communication campaigns, disinformation, canvassing, crowdsourcing, and more.

    Digital Defenders has several online publications, ranging from digital support for civil rights, internet blockages, and related topics.

    Digital First Aid gives you advice on how to best handle common digital security issues, like losing access to your device or account, viruses, hacking, impersonation, harassment, and surveillance.

    Electronic Frontier Foundation is another large digital privacy and free speech group, which hosts tools for activists like the Surveillance Self-Defense (learn the basics on data surveillance), Privacy Badger (a tracking blocker for those who don’t want VPNs), Certbot (enables HTTPS on manually-administered websites), Atlas of Surveillance (documents local police technologies for users to search), Cover Your Tracks (check how well you’re protected from digital tracking), and Street Level Surveillance (which explains how various technologies are used to spy on the public).

    Free Software Foundation believes in software freedom, but one of their best resources is their email self-defense guide for individuals wanting to secure their personal email from surveillance but don’t want to move to a platform like Proton.

    Front Line Defenders has numerous projects worth looking at, including Security-in-a-Box – an open-source tool that teaches users how to protect their passwords, communication methods, devices, internet connections, and files. Read their entire digital security section here.

    Medium has a good article about digital privacy for normal people who don’t need to be overly concerned with security.

    Mozilla, which owns and operates Firefox, actually has a ton of information about digital security – including best practices for digital activism.

    Oregon State University has a free book on cryptography, a key focus on cybersecurity since it relates to encryption. The book explains why digital security matters and the history of both digital privacy activism and suppression in the United States.

    Prism Break is a great reference tool for comparing various software and companies, giving you information on the best platforms for digital privacy.

    Rise Up is an autonomous body that values digital liberation and hosts numerous projects for independent forums and media.

    SAFETAG is an international network of white hat hackers for small organizations – auditors who intentionally try to penetrate your security to improve your framework.

    Security Planner is another free beginner guide to digital security, which gives personalized advice for free based on your needs.

    Tactical Tech is a major digital security organization – but they have just as many creative demonstrations and physical exhibitions as they have reference guides and projects. Some of their online projects include the Data Detox Kit (teaches basic digital health, AI, and misinformation), Digital Enquirer (self-paced modules for users interested in online media literacy), the Influence Industry Project (effects of data collection on politics), the GAFAM Empire (information on the monopolized empire by Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft), Our Data Ourselves (learn about data, activism, politics, and yourself), Holistic Security (approach to teaching digital security as an aspect of general wellbeing)

    The Movement Hub hosts free online resources for grassroots activism, which includes digital campaigning. Digital Activism is a private website that supports verified organizers with tools after registering.

    Watch Your Hack uses everyday language to explain simple internet safety to protect yourself from common hacking techniques.

  • Transgender Resources

    Transgender Resources

    Looking for resources to better support yourself or a trans loved one? Everyone deserves to lead happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives.

    Author’s Note: This list is not comprehensive – future blog posts will have details on trans resources not included in this article, which serves as a basic intro to trans resources and information. Also, some legal rights and resources contained in this post may change due to the hostile political environment regarding trans lives.

    Get Help Now: Crisis Resources

    If you are thinking about harming yourself or others, please get immediate support. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline has call, text, and online chat options available for free confidential support 24/7/365 for anyone in crisis.

    I’ve previously mentioned various hotlines and mental health resources, outlining how to navigate counseling, support groups, and telehealth options. Remember that anyone can and should use hotline services – there’s no minimum level of “crisis” you have to have to call, and you’re never wasting their time by doing so.

    One of the leading factors that pushes people towards crisis is homelessness, another topic I’ve recently touched on. Read that article for the basics on homelessness, emergency shelter options, transitional spaces, and various programs and organizations out there that support homeless folks. Likewise, this post has details on resources for domestic and sexual violence support.

    LGBTQIA+ people, and especially transgender and nonbinary individuals, are more likely to become homeless than cisgender heterosexual folks. Queer individuals have less family support than others due to anti-LGBTQIA+ hostility, so they have limited options for doubling up and staying with family during housing instability. Despite sexual orientation and gender identity being included in discrimination protections under federal laws like the Fair Housing Act, queer people are still turned away from potential landlords and houses unless they have the financial means to fight for their legal rights. Due to these factors, queer and transgender people are more prone to engage in survival sex and sex work as a way to find shelter when employment and traditional services are restricted. While homelessness is a crisis of its own, being unhoused individuals are exceedingly likely to experience other crises.

    Even homeless shelters are not necessarily safe for LGBTQIA+ people – most shelters in the United States stem from religious charity work that eventually evolved into the modern nonprofit industry that exists today. It’s not exactly uncommon for homeless transgender people to feel unsafe while trying to get help from shelters that discriminate on their gender identity, using gendered binary shelters to designate their arrangements regardless of their gender identity. When shelters require ID, LGBTQIA+ people risk discrimination when gender identity and expression don’t fit their ID or legal name. The best way to combat anti-LGBTQIA+ discrimination is to report an official complaint with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, which can be filed online, over the phone, or by mail. LGBTQIA+ community centers and organizations local to your area can also be helpful in advocating for your rights.

    Unfortunately, there aren’t any comprehensive national directories of LGBTQIA+-friendly homeless shelters. Instead, it’s best advised to look at the reviews of local shelters and ask community members in your region whether they’re affirming of queer and transgender people. Ultimately, the best way to determine whether a homeless shelter or program is LGBTQIA+-inclusive is by calling them directly and asking about their policies. Trans Lifeline cites giving direct support in calling homeless shelters in this manner on behalf of transgender callers for free in the United States.

    My previous hotline post covers major LGBTQIA+ hotlines around the world – none of them discriminate based on gender identity, and transgender crisis support is a key aspect of their work. The following hotlines are a condensed LGBTQIA+ version of that post with only national US listings, although many major cities have regional LGBTQIA+ hotlines available in addition to those below.

    • DEQH provides free confidential counseling to LGBTQIA+ South Asians through trained peer support volunteers. DeQH is the first and only national queer Desi helpline and serves anyone from the South Asian diaspora. They are only available to take telephone calls on Thursday and Sunday evenings, although they can be reached during the week through their online contact form for a reply.
    • Fenway Health is an LGBTQIA+ healthcare, research, and advocacy organization that also provides free information and referrals for LGBTQIA+ issues, harassment, and violence. Both of their helplines are available during select evening hours from Monday to Saturday: the Fenway LGBT Helpline for individuals ages 25 and older can be reached at 617-267-9001, while the Peer Listening Line for those ages 25 and under can be called at 617-267-2535.
    • LGBT National Help Center is one of the largest warmlines for the general LGBTQIA+ community in the United States, which provides free professional counseling Monday through Saturday. The LGBT National Hotline is available at 888-843-4564; the LGBT National Youth Talkline can be reached at 800-246-743; the LGBT National Senior Hotline is listed at 888-234-7243 for folks ages 50 and older; and the National Coming Out Support Hotline is available at 888-688-5428. Additionally, weekly moderated youth chat rooms are hosted for individuals ages 19 and under and all services can be also reached through their online peer support chat.
    • LGBT Switchboard of New York is recognized as the oldest LGBTQIA+ hotline in the world and provides free peer support Monday through Saturday. Despite their name, the LGBT Switchboard of New York offers support, care, resources, and information to anyone regardless of where they live by calling 212-989-0999 – including outside of New York and the United States.
    • MASGD, or the Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity, operates the Inara Helpline every Friday and Saturday evening for LGBTQIA+ people who identify or are perceived as Muslim. The MASGD Inara Helpline can be reached by calling 717-864-6272.
    • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, is the largest mental health and crisis hotline in the United States. Using support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 988 routes callers to licensed mental health services based on their location to provide 24/7/365 services by calling the general 988 number. The Lifeline is fully accessible in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language (ASL) and also provides services via text/SMS and online chat.
      • For specifically LGBTQIA+-trained counselors, individuals should press 3 after dialing 988, texting “PRIDE” to 988, or checking the relevant box for LGBTQIA+ support when completing the pre-chat online survey.
    • SAGE x HearMe is a collaborative project between SAGE, the nation’s largest organization for LGBTQIA+ elders, and HearMe to modernize the national queer senior hotline. SAGE x HearMe operates a mobile app that users can reach anonymously 24/7 to find instant support.
    • SGR Hotline, or the Sex, Gender, and Relationships Hotline that spun from the LGBTQIA+ Switchboard of San Francisco, provides free confidential counseling on STDs, HIV, pregnancy, birth control, gender identity, sexuality, kinks, sex work, anatomy, and more. Their number at 415-989-7374 is available for callers Monday through Friday.
    • The Network/La Red is a survivor-led organization that focuses on LGBTQIA+ partner abuse, as well as abuse in kink and polyamorous communities. Their free 24-hour hotline can be fully used by both English and Spanish speakers by calling 800-832-1901 (toll-free) or 617-742-4911 (voice).
    • The Trevor Project is the primary crisis organization for LGBTQIA+ youth in the United States between the ages of 13 to 24. Their services are available 24/7/365 in collaboration with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: The Trevor Project can be reached by phone at 866-488-7386, text/SMS at 678-678, and online chat. TrevorSpace is a moderated online forum available at any time.
    • Trans Lifeline is a peer support hotline run by trained transgender volunteers for trans, nonbinary, and questioning folks in need of support. Services are fully anonymous, confidential, and do not engage in non-consensual active rescue every Monday through Friday.
    • THRIVE (Thriving Harnesses Respect, Inclusion, and Vested Empathy) is a text-based crisis line staffed by trained professionals with marginalized identities, catering to people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, disabled people, and other vulnerable people. The text/SMS line is available 24/7/365 by texting “THRIVE” to 313-662-8209.

    Trans Rights & Me: Legal Resources

    The best source for legal information and steps to update legal names and gender markers on identity documents (such as state IDs, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, passports, social security, selective service, and immigration documents) is Advocates for Trans Equality. Their ID Document Center is a one-stop online hub for transgender folks looking to update their information and is the most current national directory of related resources.

    The ability to change one’s legal name or gender marker varies by state – so while it may be easy to update identity documents for individuals who were born in California or Oregon, it’s prohibited elsewhere in the country. Federal documents, like passports, can have their gender marker updated despite state law – although this may change due to the current administration.

    Get Help: Transgender Legal Organizations

    Advocates for Trans Equality operates its Impact Litigation Program to take on a small number of court opportunities each year to establish trans-affirming precedents in the law through the work of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund. Their Trans Legal Services Network represents over 80 organizations throughout the United States that provide legal services to transgender people local to their area.

    American Civil Liberties Union is one of the primary human rights organizations in the United States that has fought for individual rights and freedoms since 1920. The ACLU operates chapters in each US state to handle court opportunities and case litigation – individuals should contact their local ACLU chapter for legal assistance. In addition, the ACLU also maintains comprehensive legal resource guides on a variety of topics such as LGBTQIA+ rights, disability, religious freedom, criminal law, racial justice, HIV, reproductive freedom, voting, immigration, free speech, etc.

    Black & Pink is an LGBTQIA+ prison abolitionist organization with multiple programs aimed to resettle queer and transgender individuals through transitional housing and opportunities.

    Equality Federation is a non-partisan lobby and LGBTQIA+ policy organization that pursues pro-equality legislation throughout the United States. Their legislation trackers include current information on both positive and negative trans-related bills among other queer issues.

    Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders is a national litigation organization that takes on several LGBTQIA+ cases to advance queer and transgender rights throughout the country. They also operate their own Transgender ID Project, although it is more limited than A4TE’s. Unlike A4TE, GLAD has a public online contact form for free and confidential legal information, assistance, and referrals.

    Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, or GLSEN, is an education organization that provides support to LGBTQIA+ public students and educators. The GLSEN Navigator directs online users to the most appropriate GLSEN branch/chapter near them and also provides information on local laws, protections, and research. The Public Policy Office also serves as a hub for legal protections and information about previous court cases GLSEN has provided assistance and litigation for.

    GLAAD is an American media and legislation nonprofit that serves to create better representation and visibility for LGBTQIA+ in entertainment. The GLAAD Accountability Project provides public information GLAAD collects by monitoring and documenting high-profile figures and groups that use their platforms to spread misinformation and false rhetoric about LGBTQIA+ communities.

    Human Rights Campaign is the largest LGBTQIA+ lobbying organization in the United States, which monitors and documents LGBTQIA+ policies in all US states, major cities, and large companies.

    Immigration Equality is America’s leading LGBTQIA+ and HIV-positive immigrant rights organization, providing expert guidance on queer and transgender immigration legal policy while also using impact litigation to advance LGBTQIA+ and immigration rights through far-reaching court cases.

    International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association is a federation of 2,000 organizations in over 160 countries around the world dedicated to promoting LGBTQIA+ rights alongside the United Nations. Through their networks, ILGA brings international attention to human rights violations to the UN and media.

    interACT is an intersex rights organization centered on youth empowerment, which employs full-time lawyers to fight for intersex bodily autonomy in the United States.

    Lambda Legal is a litigation organization that represents the interests of LGBTQIA+ people in the United States alongside the ACLU and GLAD. Like GLAD, Lambda Legal operates a Help Desk to provide general legal information and resources – although their assistance is not legal advice to the same level as GLAD.

    Modern Military Association of America, formerly known as the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, is the largest LGBTQIA+ military organization in the nation and provides a variety of services, including case litigation and LGBTQIA+-related discrimination assistance.

    National Black Justice Coalition is the leading civil rights organization for LGBTQIA+ Black Americans, offering toolkits and resources in addition to legislation lobbying in favor of pro-equality bills for queer and transgender rights.

    National Center for Lesbian Rights is a civil and human rights organization that supports the rights of all LGBTQIA+ people. Despite their name, the NCLR advocates for all queer and transgender rights through litigation, policy, and public education. They also operate a free legal helpline, available at 800-528-6257 and 415-392-6257.

    National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is the oldest national LGBTQIA+ rights organization in the United States that collaborates with over 400 organizations in federal policy advocacy to organize census and voting campaigns through FedWatch.

    NMAC, or the National Minority AIDS Council, leads HIV policy and legislation related to communities of color in the United States. Their Advocacy 101 section guides users to become politically active and involved in local legislation with their elected representatives.

    Outright Action International is an advocacy organization dedicated to LGBTQIA+ human rights around the world that works with the United Nations to develop global programs and initiatives towards creating a safer world for queer and transgender folks.

    Pride Law Fund is a funding service that sponsors legal projects, services, education, and outreach that promote LGBTQIA+ people and individuals living with HIV.

    Sylvia Rivera Law Project is a collective that increases the political voice and visibility of low-income people and people of color who are transgender, nonbinary, intersex, or gender-nonconforming. SRLP’s programs and legal assistance are geared towards transgender people who are at risk of homelessness, have criminal records, or are immigrants.

    Transgender Law Center provides impact litigation on select court cases to advance transgender rights in the United States. TLC also provides basic information about laws and policies through their Legal Help Desk, although they do not take on individual cases through the Desk.

    Trans Legislation Tracker is an independent research organization that tracks bills related to transgender and nonbinary people in the United States through the work of academics and journalists who publish the Trans Legislation Tracker’s data.

    Looking for more information about legal issues, information, and rights? This resource post can guide you through the basics of legal jargon, rights, important court cases, and general resources. Advocates for Trans Equality also has an extensive database of trans-related protections and laws. Both the Movement Advancement Project and Erin in the Morning have up-to-date maps on LGBTQIA+ laws.

    Healthcare is a Human Right

    Looking for general healthcare resources? This post outlines what medical care is, how to navigate healthcare insurance, and general resources/programs.

    Coverage of gender-affirming care by state government healthcare programs like Medicaid and CHIP varies by state, although the Affordable Care Act prohibits discrimination based on gender identity – which has been further backed by federal courts. This means that all state Medicaid programs have to provide general and gender-affirming healthcare, but each state is allowed to impose specific guidelines or restrictions on having that care paid by Medicaid similar to commercial insurance policies. While some transition-related care can be denied on a case-by-case basis, it has been established that “blanket bans” on transgender care is discriminatory and illegal. However, it’s worth noting that Medicaid access is not equal throughout the United States – 10 states completely deny Medicaid to single adults without children or disabilities. The Movement Advancement Project has an up-to-date map of current Medicaid policies by state and whether gender-affirming care is protected or excluded. A4TE has a directory of Medicaid policies.

    On January 28th, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the executive order “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.” While executive orders often carry the power of federal law, they do not override the US Constitution, federal statutes and laws, or established legal precedent – nor do they have the longevity of passed laws. The order bans gender-affirming care being covered by state Medicaid programs for anyone under the age of 19, including puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy.

    Federal programs vary, and their consistency is subject to the current presidential administration. Medicare currently covers medically necessary gender-affirming care, which includes hormone replacement therapy, surgery, and related consultations – these are listed under Medicare Part D and should be fully covered when prescribed. Indian Health Services (IHS), which covers Native Americans recognized in federally recognized tribes, implies that gender-affirming care is covered by their programs – although there is less explicit guidance of this practice online. TRICARE, the primary healthcare coverage for active service members and their families, only covers select parts of gender-affirming care like HRT – although this is extremely likely to change in 2025 under the new presidential administration and TRICARE will likely deny all gender-affirming coverage in the event transgender people are banned from military service again. This is similar to coverage provided by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which still only covers some transition-related medical care despite early promises made by the Biden administration to lift the bans imposed by Trump’s first administration. Finally, while all incarcerated individuals are entitled to medical care as determined by Estelle v. Gamble, there is no minimum quality of healthcare required as long as the prison offers any form of medical care – and that care does not have to be free, despite popular belief. While gender-affirming care is considered necessary and intentional barriers are seen as a violation of the Eighth Amendment, it is difficult for transgender prisoners to fight for their medical rights while incarcerated. American prisons are not required to be accredited, although one of the main accrediting bodies – the National Commission on Correctional Health Care – supports gender-affirming care for incarcerated individuals. In other words, gender-affirming care for incarcerated transgender people varies drastically based on the facility they are at.

    The Trans Health Project, an initiative through Advocates for Trans Equality, is the primary resource for understanding and navigating healthcare insurance and gender-affirming care in the United States as a transgender person. The site guides users through the process of applying for commercial healthcare, understanding their coverage, and navigating the laws in their state. Half of US states explicitly prohibit health insurance companies from excluding transgender-related services, while the other half of the country has no regulations on what services commercial insurance can prohibit.

    Most healthcare insurance programs, regardless of whether they are commercial or government-based, have requirements before gender-affirming care can be covered. Reputable programs will base their requirements on WPATH, or the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, which has held the standard for ethical transgender healthcare since 1979. The Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People is used as the international standard for transgender healthcare similar to how the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) is the standard used for mental health treatments. WPATH and the SOC have clearly stated that gender-affirming care such as hormone replacement therapy and gender confirmation surgery is the best practice based on scientific research for decades. As such, insurance plans and programs use WPATH and SOC guidelines to require transgender people to have “persistent, well-documented gender dysphoria,” the ability to make a fully informed consent, and a set amount of counseling with a mental health professional to receive a medical necessity letter to submit for insurance coverage. A4TE also provides a free template for users to appeal insurance denials of gender-affirming care. Transgender adults have the option to pursue gender-affirming care out-of-pocket to bypass the restrictions imposed by insurance coverage programs – which is covered in financial resources later in this article.

    There are additional restrictions for transgender minors, which is a hot topic in current politics during this heightened war on transgender rights. In states where minors are allowed gender-affirming care like puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy, or surgery, there are additional requirements and consent must be given by the minor’s parents or legal caregivers. There are currently six states that make it a felony crime to provide gender-affirming care to transgender minors: Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, Idaho, and North Dakota.

    How to Find Gender-Affirming Care

    Just like other medical fields, gender-affirming care can be done in-person or through telehealth – in-person providers are more often covered by healthcare programs, but can be more difficult to access than telehealth.

    Will gender-affirming care be banned? The current political distribution of Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court has many transgender people rightfully anxious about the future of their care – especially since the GOP has declared war on “transgenderism.”

    It’s not impossible – I’m not going to lie to you. There *is* a worst-case scenario out there where transgender people of all ages are denied gender-affirming care and we are given the options to forcibly detransition, become refugees and leave the United States, seek care illegally, or die. However, this scenario is unlikely. The American public has complicated views on transgender topics, but the majority believes that transgender people should have additional rights to protect them from discrimination. The last two elections have shown that American voters are not nearly as gung ho about erasing transgender rights as the GOP is hedging their bets on – which is what ultimately lost the GOP their “red wave” in 2022. While the upcoming years will be rough, we just have to survive two years before Congress can swing back blue – assuming that Democrats have given up claiming they lost the 2024 election due to being “too woke.”

    So what’s realistic? Within the next two years, I can easily see Medicaid no longer being able to cover gender-affirming care like hormone replacement therapy or surgery – although any decision to do so would immediately end up in court since it would violate the Affordable Care Act. On the other hand, that’s likely something the anti-trans GOP wants since they want to eliminate the Affordable Care Act and give in to the commercial healthcare industry’s demands. It is something that would rely on Trump – likely an executive order that bars federal funding from any healthcare provider that performs gender-affirming care. While the GOP has a majority in Congress, their majority is extremely slim and fragile due to their own infighting so any massive bill is improbable unless Democrats fold on LGBTQIA+ rights. Don’t get me wrong – that’s no small thing. Medicaid is used by millions of Americans, including myself, but it would be survivable with enough resourcefulness. Out-of-pocket expenses would increase for transgender folks and we would be more likely to rely on older methods of self-prescribed gender-affirming care before the wide access to providers. However, it would be survivable – especially with the likely increase in mutual aid, donations, fundraising, and international support that would come with such a decision. I don’t think it’s realistic that the act of prescribing gender-affirming care to adults will be nationally criminalized or prohibited, as I described in the above worst-case scenario.

    IN-PERSON PROVIDERS

    The OutList Provider Directory is a free resource through OutCare, a nonprofit health organization that advocates for comprehensive LGBTQIA+ health. The directory provides information about providers from all fields – including HRT and surgery. For best results, search by tag (“gender-affirming medical care” pulls a good number of results) rather than specialties. Other directories also exist, such as Rad Remedy and MyTransHealth, although these other independent projects have not survived the pandemic as well as OutList.

    In a similar vein, TransLine is an information and medical consultation service that explains various gender-affirming techniques like HRT and surgery and includes many of the billing codes that providers have to use for care to be covered by healthcare insurance.

    Both WPATH and the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) have online directories of healthcare providers that are listed with them. Out of the two, GLMA’s directory is extensively better since its LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory is larger and more user-friendly. Similarly, TransHealthCare provides information about transgender-specific surgeons in a more user-friendly format than WPATH. While not necessarily listed in the above directories, Planned Parenthood is one of the largest gender-affirming care providers in the US since most of their local health centers provide HRT and puberty blockers in addition to their other services like STD treatment and abortions. Planned Parenthood didn’t used to provide HRT as widely as now before the rise of anti-transgender legislation – although now it’s a focal point and cornerstone of their mission to provide equitable healthcare.

    TELEHEALTH PROVIDERS

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, an influx of telehealth created a wealth of transgender healthcare accessibility. There are a number of virtual HRT providers that prescribe gender-affirming care.

    An important note on gender-affirming telehealth: HRT through telehealth may soon no longer be an option for transmasculine people seeking testosterone. Due to its history of being abused by predominantly cisgender men, testosterone is a highly classified drug compared to the treatment prescribed to transfeminine folks. Even though more than just transgender men use testosterone, COVID-19 opened the doors for testosterone to finally be able to be prescribed (temporarily) through telehealth for transmasculine people. However, in the years following the pandemic, the FDA and state governments have been attempting to shut down the prescription of testosterone through telehealth despite the well-documented benefits of telehealth for transgender communities during this turbulent political time.

    Most major cities have gender clinics (described below in informed consent options), which almost always give telehealth options when available. Additionally, Planned Parenthood has telehealth options available for their services like gender-affirming care. The following are the largest purely telehealth HRT providers in the United States.

    • QueerDoc is the oldest large-scale HRT telehealth provider, although they’re smaller than the following two options. They operate in Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. They don’t accept insurance, but they offer a sliding scale since you’ll be paying out-of-pocket. Compared to FOLX and Plume, QueerDoc is a worse choice due to the pricing but without QueerDoc, there wouldn’t be a FOLX or Plume.
    • FOLX Health was started a year after QueerDoc and is the largest telehealth option between themselves, QueerDoc, and Plume. FOLX accepts a number of insurance plans to cover their monthly membership fees, copays, medications, and labs. Since FOLX is large enough to have in-person facilities in major cities, FOLX is available in all states – including ones that are banning trans telehealth like Florida. Unfortunately, neither FOLX or Plume are available for minors to use – you have to be at least 18 in most states to use either service, although a few states have an even higher age requirement of 20.
    • Plume is the youngest of the three main telehealth options and accepts a range of insurance plans. Plume requires a monthly membership to access their providers, which can be covered by insurance plans alongside the copay required for appointments. Unlike QueerDoc, Plume operates as a telehealth provider in nearly the entire US with limited exceptions in states like Florida that are currently banning transgender-related telehealth.

    INFORMED CONSENT

    Gender clinics refer to medical centers that specialize in transgender-related care – they were especially popular during the 1960s and 1970s and have made a modern resurgence due to the widespread medical consensus that gender-affirming care is the most appropriate treatment for gender dysphoria. These organizations often use informed consent, a process where hormone replacement therapy (or any other treatment) is prescribed to a patient after discussing the potential risks and benefits of HRT and the patient has signed a legal agreement stating they understand and fully consent to the treatment. Compared to traditional routes of pursuing gender-affirming care, informed consent is much faster – after a couple of consultations with a provider, you can physically have your prescribed medication in a couple of weeks. Informed consent allows transgender adults to make their own decisions about their bodies when given complete and accurate information about HRT.

    While A4TE has a list of gender centers, I actually recommend Erin in the Morning’s collection. A4TE’s list is limited to facilities associated with research institutions, teaching hospitals, and academic settings – which are more likely to provide care to transgender minors, but woefully incomplete since thousands of informed consent clinics are community health based and not academic (including Planned Parenthood).

    LETTER OF NECESSITY

    Outside of gender clinics, traditional healthcare providers like most of those listed in directories like OutList will require a letter before they will begin prescribing hormone replacement therapy. This practice dates back to the previous SOC guidance by WPATH (then known as the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association), which requires individuals to find a therapist or counselor to write a letter stating that HRT was deemed suitable and medically necessary. While mental health counseling is recommended for everyone, the required use of letters bars more transgender people than it helps – trans folks are often led to feel like they have to “perform” their transness to get a letter, adhering to common stereotypes that cisgender people have about trans people.

    Most mental health professionals qualify to write a letter, as long as they feel comfortable enough doing so – if they don’t feel comfortable and won’t agree to write a letter on your behalf, they’re likely not a good fit for you as a counselor anyway. After receiving your letter, you’ll take it to your HRT provider and soon be prescribed medication. The largest downside to the letter process is the wait times, since mental health care is already considerably less accessible than other medical fields on top of the fact that most counselors will require at least three to six months of regular visits before they will sign off on the letter. On the other end of the spectrum, the vast majority of insurance companies and programs will require a letter to cover HRT since they need it proven that the care is medically necessary enough to cover. Beyond hormone replacement therapy, other forms of gender-affirming care like surgery almost always require at least one letter (if not more) to have a gender confirmation surgeon see you or for insurance companies to pay for your care.

    Community Support

    For the majority of trans people, online support is the first step to finding support. Trans Lifeline’s Resource Library has a large selection of online support groups, ranging from general support to marginalized groups like people of color, disability, youth, etc.

    Nearly all online spaces and social media platforms have transgender-related spaces – like communities on Twitter and Tumblr, groups on Facebook, subreddits, and Discord servers. There are thousands of them, so it’d be impossible to create an exhaustive list – but here are a few major ones on each platform.

    Transgender forums have a LOT of history – before the creation of places like Reddit, independent forum websites were the predominant place where transgender people connected in the 1990s when they were unable to find people easily IRL. They were a modern extension of the underground journals and magazines like Transvestia, Drag, Transgender Tapestry, and FTM International. Even though social media platforms like Reddit and Facebook are the mainstream today, many of these forums still exist if you know where to look for them:

    There aren’t many large-scale support group organizations – most national LGBTQIA+ groups tend to lead toward activism, politics, and human rights. PFLAG remains the United States’ largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQIA+ people and their loved ones and dates back to 1973. PFLAG has over 400 chapters across the country, each offering regular support through their national resources. Further, PFLAG also has regular virtual meetings and moderated community spaces.

    All major cities have an LGBTQIA+ community center of some nature – there are rural towns as small as 15,000 where I live with local queer groups. Urban settings have multiple community centers, queer bars, and other hangouts to find support – finding them is just a matter of searching online for local listings. Trans Resources is a directory of advocacy organizations, legal resources, support and social groups, and other resources – although the site isn’t comprehensive, it lists major organizations.

    Beyond support groups, transgender mentorship and letter programs exist to provide folks with an added layer of community. Point of Pride operates a letter program that sends written cards to transgender individuals in need of support, which can be sent to PO Box 7824, Newark DE 19714 where the letters will be received before being sent along. Similar programs exist like the Queer Trans Project (mailed to 3733 University Boulevard W, Suite 216, Jacksonville, Florida 32217), Black and Pink, and the Prisoner Correspondence Project – although the latter two focus on incarcerated LGBTQIA+ people rather than the general public. In contrast, mentorship programs pair individuals with an older or more experienced trans person to help answer questions while guiding you along your journey – some programs include the Sam & Devorah Foundation for Transgender Youth and the Trans Empowerment Project.

    Money Matters: Financial Resources

    Finances can be a genuine barrier to transgender people’s ability to live authentically as themselves. Without a stable income, it’s difficult to maintain housing or get gender-affirming clothes. Court and legal fees aren’t free – it costs money to update your identity documents to reflect who you are. And of course, you either have to have a healthcare insurance plan that covers counseling and medical bills or be forced to pay for them out-of-pocket.

    Resources for employment, housing, and clothes have to be sourced locally through mutual aid networks and community organizations – although this post has some basic resources for low-income individuals.

    Legal fees for identity documents can be waived if you qualify based on income. Point of Pride has a list of fee waivers by state, although you’ll want to double-check to ensure your waiver is the most up-to-date method. Most states will use your income itself or other connecting program to determine whether you are eligible – like whether you’re already on government assistance programs like SNAP or Medicaid.

    Legal Fee Waivers

    Point of Pride has a number of programs that provide free funding to transgender folks in need of gender-affirming care like surgery, HRT, electrolysis, chest binders, femme shapewear, and other needs like wigs, prosthetics, fertility preservation, vocal training, etc. They use factors like financial need and Medicaid/healthcare insurance coverage to disperse their funds to a limited number of individuals each year. Other national organizations with similar funds include Genderbands, TransMission, TUFF, Trans Lifeline, Queer Trans Project, Dem Bois, For the Gworls, Black Trans Fund, and the Jim Collins Foundation. Many regional organizations and LGBTQIA+ community centers offer similar funds for people local in their area.

    Relatedly, there’s also a growing amount of organizations providing funds to help transgender people move to safer locations to live or access gender-affirming care. Some of these programs include Elevated Access, Trans Justice, TRACTION, and the Trans Continental Pipeline.

    Beyond nonprofit and mutual aid funds, many transgender people fundraise to cover their transition costs – especially when their insurance refuses to cover surgery or if they have to unexpectedly move. The most commonly used platforms are GoFundMe, Donorbox, and Facebook – although all of these sites take a percentage of the money raised. GoFundMe is the largest crowdsource site, but it’s known to take the largest cut compared to alternatives. Non-personal organizations and nonprofits have a larger variety of sources out there, like Givebutter, while individuals can raise money without losing a percentage through direct money transfer apps like Cash App, Venmo, Paypal, and Zelle. Out of those options, Cash App is the most widely used underdog since they don’t require a bank account and utilize usernames on their customizable cards, and are easier to navigate with incomes revolving around sex work.

    Check Out Trans GoFundMe’s