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Transgender – or trans* for short – is an umbrella term for those whose gender differs from that which they were assigned at birth. This includes binary trans people (trans men and trans women) and non-binary trans people, who may use descriptors like gender-queer, bi-gender, a-gender, or gender-fluid (though not all non-binary people use trans as a descriptor – refer to our gender diversity pages for more information).

Trans people may express their gender in a variety of ways and that may vary in certain contexts and at certain times. Therefore it is important to remember that there is no one way to ‘be’ trans as it can mean many different things to different people. Transition for some people may mean changing their name and choosing a pronoun that feels more appropriate – a process that is often referred to as ‘social transition’. For others, transition may involve gender affirming medical treatments, such as hormones and surgical interventions – processes referred to as ‘medical transition’.

When a person decides to tell their workplace that they are transitioning, the organisation has a responsibility to respond appropriately and supportively. If an employee is requesting to change their status, name and other details, this may require amending documentation concerning the employee. The HR section might need to familiarise themselves with such a process to ensure the transition in the workplace is as smooth, supportive and efficient as possible.

One of the most common requests AGA receive is facilitating workplace education when a work environment is experienced as feeling hostile to a transgender employee. While a solid workplace policy of inclusion combined with training can get everyone on the same page, there are plenty of other things organisations can do to ensure an inclusive environment. Often the best place to start can be sitting down with a transgender employee and asking them what they need, how they wish to handle coming out in the workplace, and when and how they would like to update their documentation. The employee may seek entitled leave over the transition period. While transitioning can be very liberating for trans people, it can also be unnerving due to the anticipation of how others might react.

A transgender student who chooses to affirm their gender can experience a unique set of challenges within the school environment. It is very important to work with the parents of the student and the student themselves to figure out the best way to support them. This can include updating student records to their new name, action around what uniform the student wishes to wear and which facilities they wish to use. It can also include helping teachers and students understand the process. Often it can mean setting a date when the student will start going by a new name and pronoun and wearing a new uniform. It is also be helpful to seek out training for staff to make sure all staff are equipped to support the student.

A lot of the controversy around students transitioning at school is focused on medical transition and whether or not a minor can make decisions about hormones and surgery. It is important to remember that these options are only made available under medical supervision, and that minors require the consent of their parents or a competency test. These are not decisions that are made lightly, and largely do not require the supervision or input of the school. It is important that the school supports and respects the decisions made by the student, parents, and medical practitioners supporting the trans young person.

Parents can feel an enormous burden when their child tells them that they are or might be trans. A revelation like this might unsettle the life that parents had envisioned for their child, leading to feelings of distress, fear and grief. The enormous role that gender plays in shaping our view of the world and the fact that parenting is almost exclusively discussed in terms of having a daughter or son, means that feelings of confusion or destabilisation frequently arise when a child comes out as trans. This is not helped by the negative bias in the media; a rhetoric which often positions trans people as ‘less-than’ or ‘abnormal’.

Acknowledging this, it is important to note that as a parent, your feelings of distress or confusion are common and valid. Seeking support services in order to counter these feelings and do what is best for your child can be incredibly important. Family counselling with a trans-affirmative therapist, utilising appropriate resources and accessing the many events run at AGA, can help navigate the way forward. The best way for parents to support their trans child is to stay informed and positive, and to ensure the best possible support, outcomes and options are available.

Rates of mental illness, self harm, and suicide are significantly higher among trans people than non-trans people. This is due to ‘minority stress’ which describes the social and emotional impact that comes from being marginalised or discriminated against.

Access to mental health services is part of the solution. Unfortunately, issues of gender diversity have historically been criminalised and pathologised, and psychiatry has left a long legacy of unhelpful diagnoses and mistreatment within the health profession. It is important to understand the depth of issues and barriers to accessing mental health care that trans people face.

Transgender people often face great difficulty when it comes to finding doctors that are appropriately mindful of their needs. Many trans people experience doctors as the gatekeepers that may prevent them from receiving trans-affirming healthcare. Unfortunately, doctors often represent unreasonable barriers and hurdles that transgender people must face to be able to reinforce their gender. Trans people generally rely on word of mouth to find doctors that treat them appropriately. A bad experience can have terrible effects on the emotional well-being of a trans person and as such, this information is shared among their community in order to prevent others from experiencing the same.

Nevertheless, there are many things that doctors can do to improve access to services.

Coming to terms with being transgender can be a challenging and terrifying time in someone’s life. Always remember – your identity is valid and you do not have to tackle this alone. There is no single trans narrative and no correct time or way to transition. There is no rush to tell people and it is okay to feel one way and then another. It is also okay to tell some people and not others. This is your personal journey and the best thing you can do for yourself is to ensure that you are supported, resourced and informed. Knowing what options are available to you in deciding which path is best for you can support you to advocate and articulate your own needs. It can be the early stages for many trans people that feel most daunting, but with good support, the right information and access to care, the process can be a whole lot easier.

It is also important to acknowledge that there is no specific criteria for being transgender. Experiences of gender dysphoria (the clinical term used to describe the feelings of the intense distress some trans people experience in relation to their physical body not aligning with their gender identity) are not universal. The transition journey can take many different roads, for example some trans people experience dysphoria constantly, while other people only experience it from time to time. Others might never experience it!

A supportive family network can make a huge difference to the social and emotional health and wellbeing of a trans person. Due to the important role family can play in our lives, the difference between a hostile reaction and compassion can have a significant effect on the lives of  trans people. An unsupportive family network, or one with a culture of transphobia or strong ideals about gender norms, can isolate a trans person and cause serious harm. We can think of family networks as mini-societies: just like our larger society is becoming more tolerant and accepting of LGBTQI people, so too can our family units. The voices of a few supportive and vocal members can go a long way to helping educate family members who might not yet be on the same page.

Creating a culture within your family that is supportive of trans family members can be a conscious choice. In practice, this would entail embracing the trans person’s choices, respecting their chosen name and pronouns, and asking other family members to do the same. It is not uncommon for family members to wish their loved one was not trans.  This can often come from good intentions: not wanting your loved one to experience discrimination and hostility is entirely normal. Whilst the feeling of wanting to protect a loved one from harm is understandable, all efforts to reduce harm can best be placed in the direction of changing societal attitudes. Research has demonstrated the ineffectiveness of conversion therapies, not to mention the immense trauma this inflicts upon trans people (see our information hub for resources).

When someone comes out to you as transgender, it can be difficult to know how to be supportive. The kind of support your friend might need should be an ongoing conversation. It’s okay to check in with your friend every now and again to clarify their needs. These are just some broad guidelines to help you understand some of the ways in which you can support your transgender friend. What’s most important is that you ask your friend what they need, because everyone’s trans journey is different!

Transgender people tend to come out to a select few friends and/or family members before coming out to the broader community. First and foremost, it’s important to acknowledge that a friend telling you they are transgender can be privileged information. Someone coming out to you isn’t necessarily an invitation for you to tell other people. A question you can ask is “Have you told anyone else?” or “Are you comfortable with me telling other people?”. If they’re not ready to come out, care should be taken not to accidentally out them by inappropriately using their new name and pronouns. This ongoing process is often referred to as “social transition”.