Trans Solidarity Project

Transgender Resources

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Benito

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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