Programs

We meet on the first Sunday of each month from 3:30 – 5:00 pm in the Los Angeles area.  We split up by age into three sub-groups:

Parent Support Group

Parents discuss the unique challenges of raising a gender non-conforming or transgender child.  It is an opportunity to overcome feelings of isolation and to be heard, understood and supported by other parents.  Issues we explore include school, legal matters, privacy, siblings and extended family.  This group is facilitated by Susan Landon, MFT (Marriage,  Family & Child Therapist).

Adolescent Support Group

Teenagers have plenty to talk about out of the earshot of their parents. This peer discussion is facilitated by Amy Padnick, MFT (Marriage,  Family & Child Therapist), as well as transgender adults who serve as role models, while sharing their direct experience with the topics that come up.

Elementary Play Group

Preschool to “tween” kids are supervised in a playground setting, with arts & crafts projects and snacks. Many younger gender non-conforming and transgender youth are at their best when at play. Although the group does not explicitly discuss gender issues, the kids bond and come to cherish the friendships. As parents, we are grateful that our sons and daughters will always know that there are other kids just like them.

Financial Aid Fund

Our group is comprised of families with diverse socio-economic backgrounds.  We actively raise funds to provide resources to families in economic need.  Based on an ongoing review process, we grant need-based subsidies for a wide range of expenses, including therapy, kids’ camp, medical treatment, medication, surgery, travel stipends for conferences, legal fees for name changes, educational scholarships, etc.

If you are interested in applying for financial aid, please state your need in a letter and mail it to:

Training and Education

As many of our children are in preschool, elementary, junior and high school, we are actively involved in supporting positive curriculum and parent education in these schools.  We work closely with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) as they implement a wide range of age-appropriate curricula (see RESOURCES).

We also help to coordinate Gender Diversity parent education workshops offered on school campuses and at community organizations throughout Southern California and across the country.

Upon request, we can help communities to organize similar parent support events and organizations.

Family Events

Outside of our usual monthly meetings, we organize group meals, seasonal activities and trips to theme parks and other family fun destinations.  This builds a strong community among our families and affirms our kids’ identities outside of a support group setting.