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Transsexual people and family issues
One of the most difficult parts of transition is gaining acceptance from your
family. Luckily, more and more families are being understanding and accepting.
This section is designed to help you talk to family in ways that will address
their concerns and help them come to terms with the news.
Coming out
Coming out to family and friends is a different matter than coming
out at work.
I have some comments and suggestions on coming
out to parents in my early transition section. Some applies to anyone who
plans to tell her family.
LINK: Tansfamily:
Letters to Loved ones
A selection of letters that might assist in creating your own.
LINK: Lisa
Lees' archive of transition letters
A good selection, including several community leaders' notes.
LINK:
Telling Parents
A nice essay by Gianna Israel, courtesy Diane Wilson's site.
LINK:
Why bother coming out?
Another useful essay by Gianna Israel, courtesy Diane Wilson's site.
For parents of someone in transition
LINK: TransKids Purple Rainbow Foundation: new advocacy group by parents of transgender children
LINK: TransYouth Family Advocates: Recommended by Just Evelyn herself!
LINK: Outreach Program for Children with Gender-Variant Behaviors and their Families
Their goal is "to support and affirm young children with gender-variant behaviors so that they can grow and develop healthy self-esteem and positive social participation."
For parents of a gender-variant child (PDF:
requires reader)
A magazine article with guidance for parents.
LINK:
Mom, I Need To Be A Girl
The classic book by a mom who helped her daughter transition in her teens.
Also in Spanish and French.
LINK:
Transitioning early in life
Some inspirational information from Lynn Conway.
Understanding Transgender Children
An ABC News report.
LINK: TransProud
Geared mostly for the young transitioner, but good info for parents.
Postoperative psychological functioning
of adolescent transsexuals
A published paper showing that those who transition as teens are well-adjusted
and stable after transition in proportion with the non-transgender population.
For parents who transition
LINK: Transparentcy
Paula Funatake has compiled the primary resource for materials on family
issues.
Telling your children page 1 • page
2 • page 3 (PDF: requires reader)
A nice magazine article explaining possible strategies
LINK:
Transitioning and Children
An excellent article from Karyn's Transsexual Refuge. Includes a page of
resources
as well.
LINK:
My transsexual father
Stephen Gunther is a psychologist who shared his experiences when his male-to-female
parent.
LINK:
Michael Kantaras Court TV coverage
In 2003, Mr. Kantaras won a highly publicized custody battle in Florida,
considered a significant legal victory for transsexuals, although he later renegotiated the arrangement.
Transsexuals and Divorce
A Philosophical essay on the matter by Kristina Maia-DeMott.
LINK: Trans Birth Parents
By Birth Parents Working Group at the
United Kindom's Press For Change site.
LINK:
Transsexual's children: divorce and the implacable spouse
An abstract of an article by Dr. Richard Green
LINK: "Transsexuals'
Children," by Richard Green.
A good published overview about children's long-term mental heath after
a parent transitions.
LINK:
Trans-Parenting Forum
The original forum started in 2005 as "a place for Transgender Women & Men
to discuss issues relating to parenting." Moved to its own domain in 2007.
LINK: Older Tees
A site for women who transition later in life. Contains some family-related information.
For spouses and partners of someone in transition
LINK: SoTS Forum
A new message board
for significant others of people in transition. Most links below are courtesy
of SoTS.
LINK:
When You Love the One You're With...
By the wife of a MtF. Highly recommended.
LINK:
The TG Partners Page
Personal stories from SOs of transsexuals.
LINK: Genderology
Links and resources maintained by the spouse of a transwoman.
How lies affect the spouses of TGs
By the the ex-spouse of a trans woman.
Transition and divorce
A response from a reader to How lies affect the spouses of TGs
Honesty
Another response from a reader to How lies affect the spouses of TGs
LINK:
The Straight Spouse Network
LINK: The
Transsexual Person in Your Life (from tsfaq.info)
LINK:
Even Genetic Girls Get the Blues
A personal essay by the female SO of a MtF transsexual
LINK:
If You're Going to Be a Female, Please Don't Be an Airhead
Another essay by the same author as above
LINK:
The Divorce Support Page
LINK:
Journey of Hearts
An online healing place for anyone grieving a loss
LINK:
Lisa's Luv Shack
"a SOFFA [(Significant Others, Friends, Family and Allies)] site for the
transgender community. This is a place where diversity is embraced and
everyone is welcome."
LINK: TGSO1
A Yahoo group and mailing list for non-trans female partners of MtF transsexuals.
LINK:
Partners of men
A LiveJournal community for partners of FtM transsexuals.
LINK:
TransFamily
LINK;
Understanding Transsexualism
LINK:
Straight Spouse Support Resources
For spouses of gays and lesbians, but still worth linking to anyway.
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