Support Groups &
Supportive Organisations
- US & International -
These are supports, including parents of transgender or queer children Facebook groups, in the US and internationally.
NOTE: It is suggested that you evaluate a support group based on the etiquette, respect and confidentiality between members. You may prefer one support group over another.
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​PRIVATE FACEBOOK SUPPORT GROUPS
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Serendipitydodah – Home of the Mama Bears
Founded by Liz Dyer. (US)
Excellent private Facebook support page for moms of lgbtq kids. Numerous common-interest groups under the Serendipitydodah umbrella e.g. Mama Bears [MTK for Mothers of Trans kids]. Tremendous amount of help, advice, helpful resources, etc.
The Mama Bears site is the public group:
“A private group for moms of LGBTQ kids hosted by the Mama Bears organization. The Mama Bears organization is a network of groups, websites, special projects & resources dedicated to supporting, educating and empowering Moms of LGBTQ kids and the LGBTQ Community. The group was started in June 2014 and as of March 2021 there are more than 24,000 members. Each day moms of LGBTQ kids gather in the group to share a journey that is unique and often very difficult.
The group is a place where members share a lot of information, ask questions, support one another, learn a lot and brag on their kids. The official motto is “Better Together” and the members call themselves “Mama Bears” The group is set up so that only members can see who is in the group and what is posted in the group. The group identifies as liberal and progressive politically and religiously. We welcome people with different perspectives but like to set realistic expectations for those considering membership.”
Private Facebook page. (US)
For Moms of Trans Kids (MTK).
“Mama Bears MTK group is a private Facebook group created especially for moms of trans kids and others who have trans people in their life. This is a subgroup of Serendipitydodah – Home of the Mama Bears. All members of this group must also be and remain a member of Serendipitydodah....”
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Mama Bears Double Rainbow Group
"Mama Bears Double Rainbow Group is a private Facebook group for moms who have LGBTQ+ kids who are also autistic and/or neurodivergent. The conversation in this group should remain focused on LGBTQ+ people who are also autistic and/or neurodivergent.
This group is a subgroup of Serendipitydodah - Home of the Mama Bears, a private Facebook group for moms of LGBTQ kids."
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Mama Bears Friends & Family Group
Support group for dads, grandparents, siblings, and other family members and friends.
"Mama Bears is a Network of Groups, Websites, Special Projects & Resources dedicated to Supporting, Educating and Empowering Moms of LGBTQ kids and the LGBTQ Community. For more info visit the Mama Bears website.
​This group is for friends and family members of the Mama Bears.
The group is private. Only members can see the membership list and what is posted in the group. This group is for the full inclusion, protection & equality of lgbtq people. This group is dedicated to supporting, educating & empowering those who are fully affirming of lgbtq people."
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Parents of teen/adult affirmed daughters
Private Facebook support group for parents and caregivers of AMAB affirmed (trans) daughters who are 13 years old and older
* To inquire about joining this group, sent a (Facebook Messenger) message to Lynn Hettrick (an admin for the private group) at https://www.facebook.com/lynn.hettrick
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PTC Parenting Transgender Children
A private parent support group. Worldwide.
“A loving and honest support group for parents of transgender and gender non-conforming children of any age, any persuasion, anywhere in the world.” Sister group to Canadians parenting transgender children.
“This is a group for parents who are just beginning life with a child who has recently announced that they are transgender (including gender-fluid, agender, gender-non-conforming, non-binary, gender queer, and so on). This is a very sensitive time for parents, and can be frightening. It is difficult to use our child’s newly-affirmed name and pronouns. Growing through changes in clothing, hairstyles and relationships can feel strange. Some parents suffer from grief, even though they know they have not really lost anything. In this group, there are no stupid questions. And there will be no rude answers, no criticisms of you, no lectures. You have a right to every one of your feelings. We have a team of mentors to help guide you. By helping you, we are helping your child. So welcome, everyone, to your very safe place."
They have various other private Facebook subgroups including Nurturing your recently affirmed trans child and Homeschooling your transgender child.
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Nuturing your recently affirmed trans child
Private Facebook page. Sub-group of PTC Parenting Transgender Children and Canadians Parenting Transgender Children
"This is a group for parents who are just beginning life with a child who has recently announced that they are transgender (including gender-fluid, agender, gender-non-conforming, non-binary, gender queer, and so on)."
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​​Rainbows: Parenting trans children who are on multiple spectrums
“Rainbows was created for parents who have a gender-expansive child who is also neurodivergent. Gender-expansive includes transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, bigender, pangender, genderfluid, gender non-conforming and agender. Neurodivergent includes autism, ADHD, OCD, or any similar situations in any combination. In a nutshell, it means that brain differences are just that: differences. So conditions like ADHD and autism aren't 'abnormal.' They're simply variations of the human brain.”
This is a sister group to our three main groups: Parents of Transgender Children, PTC Parenting Transgender Children and Canadians Parenting Transgender Children. We do not encourage outside membership.”
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Private Facebook page. (US)
NOTE: they do charge for various courses.
“Mama Dragons supports, educates, and empowers mothers of LGBTQ children. We envision a world in which all mothers fiercely love and advocate for their LGBTQ children. Mama Dragons was born from a handful of Mormon women finding support via a message thread as they were navigating being parents to their LGBTQ children. In January of 2014 it was moved to a private Facebook group. We support, educate, and empower mothers of all backgrounds with LGBTQ children.”
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You might wanna learn more about trans people
Private Facebook group.
“Our group is a community of volunteer educators who help to teach cisgender folks (see below if you don’t know that term) about transgender issues and our lives. By talking about our lived experiences, we hope we can give you a better feel, and empathy, for the trans experience.” Click to go to website.
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​Transgender School: Education Allyship Advocacy
Private Facebook group. They produce videos and podcasts. (US)
NOTE: "includes transgender members and parents. Not a parent-only support group. It is an education platform."
"A private Facebook support group founded in 2020, and started by one of the Mama Bears, it is an active group that hosts podcasts and posts timely information for the community, trans people, family and allies.
Meet Jackie & Bridget. We founded Transgender School to offer courses to educate people about diverse transgender identities and how to be allies and advocates.”
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Parents of non-binary children: Support and education group
Private Facebook group. Contact Robyn McLean on her Facebook page to request to join: https://www.facebook.com/robyn.mclean.71
NOTE: This group is only for sharing your experiences as a parent of a non-binary child. NO ADVICE IS ALLOWED TO BE GIVEN.
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PUBLIC GROUPS &
SUPPORTIVE ORGANISATIONS
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Founded by Liz Dyer. Public website for moms of LGBTQ kids. (the private Facebook support group is "Serendipitydodah – Home of the Mama Bears" )
”A network of groups, websites, special projects & resources dedicated to supporting, educating and empowering parents of LGBTQ kids and the LGBTQ Community. A glance at what we do:
* Support, educate and empower families with LGBTQ members and the LGBTQ community
* Provide private online communities for families with LGBTQ members to connect, ask questions and find resources
* Provide comprehensive resources for families with LGBTQ members and the LGBTQ community
* Provide opportunities for our members to advocate for the LGBTQ community / Support LGBTQ people by being a loving presence in the life of those who need support and encouragement
* Send handmade blankets and bracelets to LGBTQ community Members needing encouragement and love
* Send care packages to LGBTQ community Members who have lost family support due to their LGBTQ status
* Stand in at weddings and other special events as requested
* Offer access to regional Mama Bear Groups that provide opportunities for members to get together in person
* Recognize individuals, institutions, businesses and other organizations that are working for the equality, inclusion and protection of LGBTQ People
* Support, Educate & Empower LGBTQ allies.”
​Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealMamaBears
List of Sub-groups: https://www.realmamabears.org/groups
Resources: https://www.realmamabears.org/resources
​Free Mom Hugs
By Sarah Cunningham. Author & advocate. Public Facebook group and website.
“Free Mom Hugs is an organization that advocates for equality for the LGBT community by providing resources, education, and support. Sara Cunningham’s appreciation for Oklahoma City Pride began the day she stood alongside her husband in support of their gay son on the corner of NW 39th and Penn at the 2014 Pride Parade. Today she is not only the proud, loving Mom of an LGBTQ child, but she has become a leading voice for faith parents of LGBTQ children. These parents, seeing the need to love and acceptance within the LGBTQ world, attend statewide events, offering Free Mom Hugs to anyone who wants them, and sharing love to all. As recognition has grown, the mission of Free Mom Hugs has expanded to include support, education and empowerment for the community as well as for parents, family, allies and faith organizations.”
Click to go to: Facebook. Website. Book info.
GLAAD Awards video: Jamie Lee Curtis has bought the rights to Sara's book "How we sleep at night" and will be directing and acting in a Lifetime movie based on Sara's book.
​Jamie Lee Curtis Interview | How We Sleep at Night: The Sara Cunningham Story | Lifetime:
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San Francisco State University, CA. (US)
Online resources for families of LGBT youth.
“The Family Acceptance Project is a research, intervention, education and policy initiative that works to promote physical and mental health for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children and youth by increasing family acceptance and affirmation in the context of their cultures and faith communities.”
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US.
”Works to create gender sensitive and inclusive environments for all children and teens. Our approach is to take the critical areas of children’s lives and work to bring greater gender understanding and inclusion. We focus on creating gender-inclusive spaces throughout the primary domains of all children’s lives. We start with the child, then radiate outwards, working with adults and institutions that affect all children to create gender-inclusive environments from birth through young adulthood.”
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The Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
Washington, DC. (US)
“Fighting for equality means we can’t afford to let anyone fall through the cracks. We work locally, nationally and globally on issues that affect the LGBTQ community. HRC partners with people across demographics, industries and governments to provide leadership on how to back up pro-equality statements with real action — and create a society where none of us is left behind.”
National Center for Transgender Equality
Washington DC. (US)
US-based but has some good general information under "About Transgender People".
“The National Center for Transgender Equality advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. In the nation’s capital and throughout the country, NCTE works to replace disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, opportunity, and justice.”
Click to go to Self-help guides.
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​Pflag National
“PFLAG is the first and largest organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people, their parents and families, and allies.” (US national organisation)
Click to go to Facebook page.
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​Planned Parenthood (US)
--- Sex and gender identity (info page)
--- Transgender identities (info page)
--- LGBTQ Services (US ONLY)
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Reimagine Gender
“Reimagine Gender began with the work being done at our sibling organization, Gender Spectrum, which was founded by Stephanie Brill in 2006 with a focus on gender-diverse kids and their families in the United States. As awareness of gender grew, the organization received requests to provide education and training about gender in areas beyond Gender Spectrum’s mission. Meanwhile, we realized the need to work with those who most directly shape how gender is seen and understood, particularly corporations, NGOs, legislators and policy makers.”
Stephanie Brill is the author of the highly recommended books:
- “The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals”
- “The Transgender Teen: A Handbook for Parents and Professionals Supporting Transgender and Non-binary Teens”
Supporting families and youth
Gender Spectrum website, “Resources For Policy Makers”. (US)
“Transgender and other gender diverse youth are struggling, but it does not have to be this way. Supporting youth in their gender makes an enormous difference.”
​​Trans Bodies, Trans Selves
Non-profit organization. (US)
Based on the book Trans Bodies, Trans Selves written in 2014. They are currently writing for the second edition. “Trans Bodies, Trans Selves is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to education and empowerment of transgender communities.”
On Facebook.
​Trans Student Educational Resources (TSER)
Creator of The Genderbread Person graphic/chart. (US)
“Trans Student Educational Resources was founded in 2011 as Trans Student Equality Resources. It was and remains the only national organization run by young transgender people. TSER was originally envisioned as an organization for creating safer schools through youth-led action. During our early years, much of our work focused on policy. Since this time, we have hugely expanded our efforts in scope and scale to encompass many programs and services.”
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Support organization. (US)
“Trans Families is a nonprofit organization that has been supporting transgender people and their families since 2008. Formerly called Gender Diversity, we are also the force behind the annual conference Gender Odyssey. The empowerment and hope that parents experience when coming together for support has changed the landscape for trans and gender diverse children in so many positive ways. I’ve witnessed children of all ages blossom and thrive as they receive the support they deserve. Family support is fundamental but community support, especially within a child’s school environment is also necessary. ...
At the heart of Trans Families is the desire to provide a place where parents and caregivers of gender diverse children everywhere can make the crucial connections they so urgently need. Finding resources, increasing knowledge and joining with other families helps them move from isolation and apprehension to a deeper understanding that they are not alone.
We firmly understand that ‘it takes a village’ to raise a child.“
By Andrea James. Website.
“This is for people who know their gender identity.“
NOTE: Any legal information such as changing identity documents does not apply to Canadians. May be of interest in general terms. Various resources and personal experience.
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​Transgender Training Institute
”TI is a team of transgender and non-binary educators who facilitate professional development and personal growth trainings. We provide tailored trainings for a wide range of clients, and also offer webinars and classes for individuals. All of our content is facilitated by our team of transgender and non-binary educators, so you are always learning directly from–and financially supporting–transgender and non-binary community members.”
On Facebook.
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Transgender Hub
Transgender resources and links for trans people.
​TransResources.org
New site in development as of 2020. (US-based)
“TransResources.org aims to be the most comprehensive collection of information, resources, and support for the transgender* and gender non-conforming community“
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TransYouth Family Allies frequently asked questions
TransYouth Family Allies (TYFA) . PDF document. (US)
Frequently asked questions for supportive adults. (NOTE: not updated)
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The Trevor Project
NOTE: Crisis phone lines ARE NOT available in Canada – go to TransLifeline or Kids Help Phone
”The Trevor Project is the leading [US] organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.”
​Click to go to Resource Page.
Preventing suicide:
* Learn the warning signs, the facts, and how you can help prevent suicide
* Well-being on Instagram
* Guide to being an ally to transgender and non-binary youth
* How LGBTQ youth can cope with anxiety and stress during COVID-19
* Supporting black LGBTQ youth mental health
* Black and LGBTQ: Approaching intersectional conversations.
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