Highlighting Online Resources for Trans Communities and Allies
This blog was updated on March 30, 2023.
March 31 is Trans Day of Visibility, an annual event that sheds light on the widespread discrimination faced by trans people around the world; celebrates the resilience, progress, and contributions of trans individuals and communities; and encourages allies to stand in solidarity and advocate together for change.
The links below represent some highlights of the many guides, directories, and research reports that Arcus partners produce as part of work to help community members navigate complex healthcare and legal systems, be better activists, and nourish mental health.
Research on rights and experiences- Outright International’s frequently updated resource page for trans, intersex, and nonbinary rights features content ranging from in-depth blogs to reports on the state of the human rights of trans people in different countries. For example, Discrimination at Every Turn, co-authored by Outright and United Caribbean Trans Network (UCTRANS), documents challenges experienced by trans and gender-diverse communities in 11 countries of the Caribbean.
- The Transrespect versus Transphobia Worldwide project by Transgender Europe (TGEU) features several research initiatives, including Trans Murder Monitoring, a systematic collection, monitoring, and analysis of reported killings of gender-diverse and trans people worldwide, last updated in November 2022.
- The Trans Legal Mapping Report from the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) details the impact of laws and policies on trans people around the world. The latest edition highlights how laws in 143 countries recognize the human rights of trans and gender-diverse people to change identity markers on official documents, and also provides information on laws criminalizing trans identities.
- Depathologizing Gender Identity Through Law, a publication from GATE (Global Action for Trans* Equality), outlines how legal depathologization of trans and gender-diverse people is valid and achievable.
- A 2023 report from GATE highlights the impact of the “anti-gender movement” on the equality of trans, gender-diverse, and wider LGBTQI communities, and sheds light on the biggest challenges to counteracting the growing and harmful movement around the world.
- Global Philanthropy Project’s Meet the Moment analyzes a review of funding for the global “anti-gender movement” and the progressive philanthropic response.
- Trans Rural Narratives by Gender DynamiX shares the experiences of trans and gender-diverse people living in rural South Africa with the ultimate aim of improving gender recognition in the country and worldwide.
- Williams Institute’s research on trans communities shows how discrimination and stigma affect the health and socioeconomic well-being of trans people and other gender minorities in the United States.
- The Grapevine: A Southern Trans Report from Southerners on New Ground (SONG) and Transgender Law Center shares results from a community survey of trans, gender-nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming residents of the U.S. South.
- The 2022 U.S. Trans Survey—conducted in the fall of 2022 by the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) in partnership with the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA), TransLatin@ Coalition, and Black Trans Advocacy Coalition—will document the lives and experiences of trans people in the United States “to help shape a better future for the trans community”. Organizers say the latest survey broke the 2015 edition’s participation record of more than 28,000 respondents. Full results from the latest survey will be available later in 2023.
- Another U.S. survey undertaken in 2022, the National LGBTQ+ Women*s Community Survey, is “designed for people who have identified as womxn at any point on their journeys.” Read more about the survey in this blog, and stay tuned for full results and analysis to be released in June 2023.
- GSA Network’s page of resources for the health and well-being of trans and queer youth of color provides recommended readings, links to fun and thought-provoking activities, guided meditations, movie recommendations, and more.
- Transgender Law Center has a special care package for Black trans folks that is full of poetry, beautiful imagery, music, and film shorts—all threaded with wise counsel.
- The Trans Wellness Zine by youth-led Gender Justice Leadership Programs (GJLP) includes journaling prompts, affirmations, an emergency planning guide, thoughts from trans leaders, and more. GJLP’s spring 2023 zine, Trans Youth Joy, showcases the unique experiences and perspectives of several young trans people in the U.S.
- TransLash creates and curates a wealth of trans-affirming content, resources, and events, harnessing the power of journalism and narrative storytelling to shift the cultural understanding of what it means to be transgender and help end anti-trans hate.
- Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF)’s Trans Health Project offers a variety of tools and guides to help trans and nonbinary people find and utilize affirming healthcare.
- Campaign for Southern Equality’s Trans in the South Guide includes a directory of trans-friendly mental health providers, primary care physicians, HIV care specialists, attorneys, endocrinologists, and more in 13 states across the Southern United States, along with resources to assist with funding medical transition and information about insurance coverage.
- Transgender Law Center provides a robust collection of resources and publications to help navigate some common trans-related legal issues and challenges in the United States.
- NCTE’s ID Documents Center serves as a one-stop hub for name and gender change information for trans and gender-diverse people in the U.S. Users can find guidance for updating a variety of official documents in each state and territory.
- The Spanish-language Identitrans guide from Amicus provides assistance to transgender Mexican nationals living in three Mexican states or internationally in their efforts to change their name and gender marker on official documents without the assistance of a lawyer. The guide will eventually be expanded to include all 31 states plus Mexico City.
- For those wanting to learn more or provide learning materials for others, Kenya’s JINSIANGU has created a Trans Identity Guide that provides simple, clear definitions, explanations, and answers for those with questions around their experience.
- Gender-Diversity in Young People from South-Africa-based Iranti is a guide for parents outlining ways they can better support, protect, and care for their transgender or gender-diverse children.
- REDMUTRANS’ Spanish-language primer on gender identity provides a wealth of information on key terms and important issues impacting trans and gender-diverse communities in Guatemala and beyond.
- GATE and Akahatá joined forces to create a free, online training course Safety, Security, and Wellbeing for Activists.
- A resource from Outright International provides a detailed breakdown of the concepts and terminology associated with gender identity and expression in all of its diversity.
- A guide from the NCTE outlines best practices for allies to support the trans individuals in their lives while contributing to the larger movement for trans equality and acceptance.
