Online Transgender Support Groups

Trans Lifeline is a peer-support service run by trans people for trans people. All of the operators who work for the hotline are transgender. They offer crisis management with a policy which states that they will not involve law enforcement when you call.

While it started as a service specifically for people in crisis, that is no longer the case. Trans Lifeline still functions as a crisis and suicide prevention hotline. However, it also serves as a space for trans people who just need someone to talk to.

Trans Lifeline provides live, one-on-one phone support, as well as large numbers of online resources for transgender and gender-questioning individuals, including resources for legal name changes, healthcare information, and help with coming out. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, but it is only guaranteed to be staffed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time. However, operators are often also available at other times. 

Though Trans Lifeline states that calls are recorded for quality assurance, all calls are anonymous and confidential. Trans Lifeline does not use caller ID to identify you or track where you are calling from, and there is no information that you are required to give in order to use the service.

In addition to information resources, Trans Lifeline offers microgrants to individuals who need financial support when updating their name and gender on their legal documents. They accept a limited number of applications each month. However, they will pay the entire fee for most document changes other than birth certificates. 

The Trevor Project began from the Academy Award-winning film, Trevor. When the movie was released, the creators soon realized a need for resources to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. To address this need, they created The Trevor Project.

The Trevor Project offers several support resources for LGBTQIA+ youth. There is a crisis hotline called TrevorLifeline and a secure instant messaging service called TrevorChat. The site provides access to trained specialists via cellphone using TrevorText. All calls and messages connect users to trained crisis counselors any time and from anywhere. For those looking for community support, the Trevor Project offers TrevorSpace, a social networking site for LGBTQIA+ individuals under 25, as well as their friends and allies. If you need support but are uncomfortable interacting with a live person, a guided breathing exercise is available.

To support resources for LGBTQIA+ youth, The Trevor Project offers additional educational resources for teachers and other professionals who work with youth, as well as friends, family, and allies of the community. They also provide materials to help schools develop comprehensive suicide prevention policies that address kids' needs.

Transbucket is primarily an online resource for learning about gender-affirming surgery. It is restricted to only members of the transgender community. Transbucket is inclusive of both binary and nonbinary trans people.

On Transbucket, you can find stories about people’s experiences undergoing various types of gender-affirming care. You can learn about different surgeons and see photos that people have shared of their results and ask questions about their experiences getting surgery. 

Although it is not a traditional support group, Transbucket is a great place to learn about gender-affirming care. While not a substitute for a doctor’s advice, Transbucket can give you a window into what it’s actually like to get different types of surgery. It may also provide a broader range of good and bad results than you are likely to see at a surgeon’s office.  

Gender Spectrum is an organization built to “create gender-sensitive and inclusive environments for all children and teens.”

The service is known for its annual conference and its extensive selection of training and other resources for youth, their families, and the professionals working with them. However, Gender Spectrum also offers online groups for pre-teens, teens, parents, caregivers, and other family members. Additionally, Gender Spectrum offers a Spanish-language support group for parents of Latin trans youth. 

Gender Spectrum primarily offers generalized support groups for transgender youth and their families. However, the organization also occasionally offers topic-specific support groups for caregivers as well as professionals who facilitate services for youth and families. Additionally, resources for mental health, faith, education, and other areas are available.

To participate in a group, you will have to register. Groups are held at specific times and take place over one or more sessions. For some groups, you can attend once or multiple times over a month. For others, you are expected to attend for an entire series. 

Groups are organized by population and are generally facilitated by one or more trained staffers who may or may not be part of the transgender community. All pre-teen groups are led by trained volunteers or Gender Spectrum staff.

There are not many transgender-specific support groups for people looking for help dealing with mental health concerns.

However, lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals face some of the same issues moving through the world as transgender folks. Additionally, many transgender individuals are also lesbian, gay, bisexual, or another sexual orientation minority. Therefore, sometimes an LGBTQIA+ support group can be a good option. This is particularly true for individuals whose concerns are less about their gender and more about other stressors. 

The Tribe offers an LGBTQIA+ peer-to-peer support group, and their site offers several options for receiving support. You can post in a group forum, chat live with others, or participate in a range of wellness activities. While not transgender-specific, these activities can help you develop coping skills and otherwise work to improve your mental health and well-being.

Most of the resources from The Tribe can be accessed either on a desktop or a mobile device, which makes it ideal when you’re out and about.

Additionally, The Tribe has a directory to help LGBTQIA+ individuals find an affirming therapist who is licensed to treat their mental health issues. Therapists in the directory specialize in a number of issues, including addiction, various mental health diagnoses, grief, stress, and neurodiversity.