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10+ things you can do to support transgender siblings

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10+ things you can do to support transgender siblings

While Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) [1] is March 31, we invite you to join us in supporting and celebrating our beloved trans and gender nonconforming siblings every day.

10+ things you can do to support trans siblings

  1. Review the church’s 2019 resolution GA-1929 “An Invitation to Education for Welcoming and Receiving the Gifts of Transgender and Gender-Diverse People.” [2] Talk about this in your faith community!
  2. Know the differences between gender identity, gender expression, sex assigned at birth, sexuality, and emotional attraction. Watch our “Transgender 101: The ‘T’ in LGBT” webinar recording. Request the video and PowerPoint slides here. Click here for specifics about the Trans 101 recording.
  3. Celebrate — and fight for — trans lives. Check out this list of things you can do for transgender equality from GLAAD.
  4. Contact lawmakers and act in support of trans inclusive policy, including organizational, local, state-wide, and federal non-discrimination policy. Act against anti-transgender policy. Read about LGBTQ rights from the ACLU and take action.
  5. Post trans affirming and educational content on social media. Use any or all of our shareables below! Follow the AllianceQ Facebook page to share even more.
  6. Go to TDOV events — in person or virtually. TDOV events are happening all around the world; see what options there are to participate virtually, and use #TDOV, #TransResistance, or #MoreThanVisibility on social media to share your experience. Here is a TDOV event list on Eventbrite.
  7. Support trans-led organizations. We admire the work of The Trevor Project.
  8. Read Austen Hartke’s book, Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians. Austen is the founder of the Transmission Ministry Collective. (He also endorsed Colors of Hope: A Devotional Journal from LGBTQ+ Christians.)
  9. Learn about trans history. Did you know that trans women of color were on the front lines of Stonewall? That a transgender man helped fund the New Age Movement? That a transgender woman exposed the U.S. government’s war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan? Find this and more trans history from the American Historical Association here.
  10. Recognize the intersections of transness and other identities. This includes race, sexuality, class, disability, citizenship, and more.
  11. Read something educational about becoming a better trans ally. For families and caretakers of transgender people: Our Trans Loved Ones. It has also been translated into Spanish, called Nuestros Seres Queridos Trans.  Other good reads include PFLAG’s Guide to Being a Trans Ally, from their Straight for Equality(TM) program, GLAAD’s Tips for Trans Allies of Transgender People, and the Trevor Project’s A Guide to Being a Better Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Youth.
  12. Tell people when they say something transphobic or cissexist. This may be calling out, calling in, or a different form of recognition. Accountability is vital for our community!
  13. Watch a movie. Check out Good Housekeeping’s list of the 15 best transgender movies to watch right now. (Note: we haven’t watched every film. No endorsement of the content.)
  14. Build an inclusive church! Help your congregation or organization become Open & Affirming. Here is information about our Building an Inclusive Church Toolkit Trainings.

Our list is adapted from the Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs.

[1] TDOV is an annual day of awareness celebrated around the world, the day is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of transgender and gender nonconforming people while raising awareness of the work that still needs to be done to achieve trans justice. “Transgender Day of Visibility,” GLSEN

[2] GA-1929 “AN INVITATION TO EDUCATION FOR WELCOMING AND RECEIVING THE GIFTS OF TRANSGENDER AND GENDER-DIVERSE PEOPLE”