A reader notes that the Campus Climate Index has been helpful in deciding what school to attend while transitioning:
On this site, it ranks colleges and universities on their level of friendliness/inclusion/accommodations to both sexual orientation as well as gender identity. It also does a good job at breaking it down into different aspects of the colleges, has many sorting features, displays average tuition costs, and more. I believe that many others could benefit from knowing of this site.
As part of my work improving the lives of young people with LGBT parents, I am making a new film which celebrates these children. Set in a family restaurant, it features talking ketchup and mustard bottles among the colorful diner residents, as well as real children with gay or lesbian parents. I have created a kickstarter project with a revised goal of $10,000:
The project is open for pledges through March 31. Please consider helping by donating or sharing the link widely. Thanks!
A reader notes: Just saw your posting on puberty blockers and thought you might be interested in a study co-written by Dr. Spack:
After establishment of a multidisciplinary gender clinic, the gender identity disorder population increased fourfold. Complex clinical presentations required additional mental health support as the patient population grew. Mean age and Tanner Stage were too advanced for pubertal suppressive therapy to be an affordable option for most patients. Two-thirds of patients were started on cross-sex hormone therapy. Greater awareness of the benefit of early medical intervention is needed. Psychological and physical effects of pubertal suppression and/or cross-sex hormones in our patients require further investigation. Pediatrics 2012;129:418–425
Pubertal blockade can safely be initiated in pediatric patients who experience gender identity disorder, according to researchers at the Canadian Pediatric Endocrine Group 2012 Meeting. With exposure to hormones such as estrogen or testosterone later in their adolescence, these patients will experience normal metabolic processes.
“If kids are persisting at puberty [about the need to be the other gender], they will almost always persist,” said Daniel Metzger, MD, FRCPC, a pediatric endocrinologist at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and a clinical professor, division of endocrinology in the department of pediatrics, University of British Columbia in Vancouver.
TransYouth Family Allies has been helping transgender and gender-variant children and their families since 2006. Between now and the end of the year, TYFA is raising money needed for the huge influx of families with young people, and they could use your help with a one-time or recurring donation.
Here’s an overview of the work TYFA does:
TYFA Executive Director Kim Pearson discusses her work, and her first-hand experience helping her adolescent transgender son:
TYFA President Shannon Garcia discussesher work, and her first-hand experience helping her transgender daughter transition socially at age six:
TYFA exists to help transgender and gender-variant children like Josie. Your help with make sure other young people like Josie are respected and celebrated:
