Organizations for Transgender People

National TG organizations have done some really great work in improving conditions for transsexuals. On the other hand, there has been a lot of really sickening infighting and acrimony among the major groups. I suppose this is common when a community is finding its voice, but it can get very unproductive.

In addition, many organizations are founded and primarily run by one person, who eventually moves on. Usually this means the group itself severely curtails or even stops operations once the founder leaves.

Generally speaking, local groups are going to be more active and more in tune with the specific issues and resources in your area. Two national information-based groups stand out: IFGE and GEA. On the political scene, GenderPAC has been most active in the last few years. Most other national groups have little new to offer TSs.

At this site, I try to concentrate on consumer and personal issues that affect all of us individually, and I leave the political issues to other sites. To that end, I recommend checking out IFGE, GEA and GenderPAC.

You can be political and closeted!

Finally, while I hope you will get involved in helping the community, I know a lot of TSs either don't want to or can't get involved in public activism because they are not out. You can help anonymously by writing up your personal experiences and advice for others. If you have benefited from information others have shared, and you're grateful they did, I urge you to add to our collective wisdom!

That said, I feel the following organizations have some helpful information. I've listed them by order of relevance to TS issues and level of activity.

International Foundation for Gender Education
http://www.ifge.org/

The International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE), founded in 1987, is a leading advocate and educational organization for promoting the self-definition and free expression of individual gender identity. IFGE is not a support group, it is an information provider and clearinghouse for referrals about all things which are transgressive of established social gender norms. IFGE maintains the most complete bookstore on the subject of transgenderism available anywhere. It also publishes the leading magazine providing reasoned discussion of issues of gender expression and identity, including crossdressing, transsexualism, FTM and MTF issues spanning health, family, medical, legal, workplace issues and more.

• mail: IFGE, PO Box 540229 Waltham MA 02454
• phone: 781-899-2212
• email: info@ifge.org

Gender Education & Advocacy
http://www.gender.org/

This is an umbrella organization with two divisions and several collections of news and resources:

Their free list of resources by state is excellent.
http://www.gender.org/resources/index.html

AEGIS
http://www.gender.org/aegis/index.html

AEGIS (American Educational Gender Information Service) was quite active through 1997, when lack of funds and the end of founder Dallas Denny's day-to-day presence forced the group to downsize considerably. As of Spring 1998, AEGIS underwent a major reorganization. Dallas Denny retired as Executive Director, and many AEGIS services were cut back. At this time, no new editions of Chrysalis: The Journal of Transgressive Gender Identities are scheduled in the near future.

The National Transgender Library & Archive, housed at AEGIS headquarters in Atlanta, GA, serves as a repository for transgender-related materials of all types: Books, Journals, Magazines, Newspapers, Newsletters, Postcards, Films, Personal Papers, Ephemera, and Other Transgender Material.

Transgender at Work
http://www.tgender.net/taw/

This is a grassroots civil rights group seeking to secure and protect the rights of all transgender persons. With over two dozen chapters and affiliated groups, they are seeking to make a difference. Not much at their website yet beyond contact information for various chapters and members.

• mail: It's Time America!, P.O. Box 65, Kensington, MD, 20895
• email: gwen@gender.org

Remembering Our Dead
http://www.gender.org/remember/

This important website is dedicated to preserving the memory of those who were victims of transgender violence, hate, or prejudice. Founded in 1999 by Gwen Smith and maintained on the Gender Education and Advocacy site, the stories on the website currently date back as early as 1969.

Other GEA information resources include:

• Child Custody
• ITA Employment Policy
• Medicaid
• Popular Surgeons For MTF SRS
• Gender Programs
• Information Clearinghouses
• TS/TG Teachers
• Employment
• Employment Resources

GenderPAC (inactive as of 2009)
http://www.gpac.org/

The Gender Public Advocacy Coalition, or GenderPAC, was a not-for-profit organization, composed of individuals and groups, dedicated to a broad-based, inclusive national movement for "gender, affectional, and racial equality." The group scaled back all operations in 2009. I think they did a pretty good job for 15 years.

National Center for Transgender Equality
http://transequality.org/

A newer US-based group designed to keep a permament presence in our capitol.

Press for Change
http://www.pfc.org.uk/

This UK-based group has been very prominent in recent years.

LINK: Christine Burns and Stephen Whittle receive UK honors for work on gender issues

LINK: Press for Change mailing list archive

LINK: Echoes of a Bygone Age Christine Burns' take on Charing Cross

The Task Force
http://www.thetaskforce.org/

This US-based group has written several great white papers on trans-related issues.