Advocacy for Transgender Minors
In A KID LIKE JAKE, parents Alex and Greg face questions about whether their son’s penchant for dressing up like Cinderella and gender-variant play is “just a phase” or may be an indication of more life-long repercussions. In recent years, the diagnosis of gender dysphoria in minors has become more common and gained more visibility. Young transgender people need emotional support from family, schools and peers, but it is also important for their changing identity to be legally recognized and protected.
On March 1st, we will welcome Maria Pahl, Legal Director & Staff Attorney for Chicago House’s TransLife Center, as a panelist for our Sunday Symposium discussion on Parenting LGBTQIA kids. In advance of this talk, Maria has also graciously put together the a list of resources and information for parents who want to learn how to support their transgender child and who are seeking legal name and gender marker changes in Illinois and with the Social Security Administration.
Says Pahl of the need for parental support for trans minors, “It is becoming clear that strong parental support of a child’s transgender identity is essential to their quality of life. With the high rates of suicide attempts, homelessness, and violence against transgender and gender non-conforming youth the presence of parental support can be a life-or-death matter.”
DOWNLOAD THE PDF USING THE LINK BELOW
Raising a Transgender Child Resources
Chicago House’s newest program, the TransLife Center (TLC), officially launched in 2013. The TLC provides comprehensive programming and support to transgender individuals. Services of the TransLife Center include TransHealth, TransHousing, TransLegal and TransWorks. For more information visit chicagohouse.org.