If you have received the news that a loved one is transgender, you may be feeling shock, confusion, anger, and a myriad of other emotions. While it may not be how you planned to spend your day, it is important to help your loved one through the transition. This article gives you some great tips for being your loved one’s number one cheerleader.
Educate yourself
One of the best things you can do if you have a transgender loved one is educate yourself on trans issues so you can be a better friend and ally. Here’s a list of topics you might want to start with:
- -The difference between gender identity and sexual orientation
- -The importance of pronouns
- -The difference between sex and gender reassignment surgery
- -The gender expressions
- -The importance of support
- -The importance of language
Look for healthcare options for them
When your trans loved one comes out to you, the first step to doing so is to look for healthcare options for them. Their transition will affect both their body and their mental state. Since hormone therapy is a large part of the transition, you will want to find the best doctors in your area who can provide hormone therapy. You will also want to look for a therapist or psychiatrist who can help your loved one during this period of time. They may also need to see a car accident chiropractor to get tensed muscles and bones seen; a common complaint among trans people.
The transition from one gender to another is a process that will take a few years. During this transition period, it is essential that the trans person receives adequate healthcare and support from their loved ones. As a transgender person, they will need to take care of HIV infection, for which they need proper trans healthcare checkups and prevention measures by their doctor.
Take action to change transphobic rules and policies
Trans people are fighting for the same rights that cis people have. It’s important to keep in mind that if you’re part of a group that has any privilege, you can use that to benefit other members of your community. It’s also important to know that you can do something, even if it’s just small. For example, can you call your family members and ask them to support trans-inclusive legislation? If you have a Twitter account, can you retweet a trans person’s tweet? The smallest actions can make the biggest differences.
Defend them
Defending your trans loved ones means fighting for them and their happiness, no matter what. If your trans loved one is experiencing discrimination, do what you can to make sure that they are safe. If they are being bullied or harassed at school, take action and talk to the school administration. If they can’t go to the bathroom, they feel comfortable using, stand up for them and try to make a change.
Ask for their opinions
Providing support for a transgender person can be a difficult task — after all, most people don’t know what transgender means. Often, trans people are faced with uncomfortable questions and situations, which can lead to them feeling isolated and misunderstood. Because of this, it’s important to respect the privacy of your loved one as you figure out the best way to provide support.
This can be a tricky one, especially if you aren’t sure about the topic. If your trans loved one is a public person and posts about the trans community, you could find out about a lot of trans things from them. The nice thing about this is that you’ll also be supporting them by getting their opinions out there. While this is a great way to find out about trans things, almost any trans person will tell you that it’s important to get the opinion of your trans loved one on what they think is important.