Transgender youth need support from families, teachers, and communities to feel safe and valued. This guide brings together helpful resources for mental health, legal rights, and advocacy. With laws and policies changing, it’s important to have clear and reliable information. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or ally, these resources can help you support transgender youth and stand up for their rights.
Mental Health Resources for Trans Youth
“If you are thinking about harming yourself – get immediate crisis support. Connect to a crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the U.S. via text, chat, or phone. The Trevor Project is 100% confidential and 100% free.”
- Text ‘START’ to 678-678
- Call 1-866-488-7386
- Chat online: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/ and click “start chat”
LGBTQ+ Friendly Resources for Mental Health Support
From the Trevor Project, a list of services addressing anxiety, depression, suicide prevention, substance abuse, and trauma.
Trans Lifeline Hotline – English and Espanol – 877-565-8860 call or text
Trans Lifeline’s Hotline is a peer support phone service run by trans people for our trans and questioning peers. For anyone who needs someone trans to talk to, even if they are not in crisis – even if they are not sure they are trans. Anonymous and confidential.
Hours as of 2/6/25
Monday-Friday 1:00-9:00pm / eastern time
Information for All:
How to Signal You are an Ally in Hostile Environment | The Trevor Project
From The Trevor Project, written July 2023
This is a short list of practical ways you can demonstrate allyship in everyday life.
Understanding Executive Orders and What They Mean for the LGBTQ+ Community
From Human Rights Campaign, written February 6, 2025
What is an executive order, how quickly executive orders take effect, and a look at some of the impacts of the executive actions on members of the LGBTQ+ community.
6 Ways Executive Orders are Targeting Transgender People
From PBS, written February 1, 2025
Simple summaries with links to background information.
Supporting All Students, Including LGBTQ Students
From Office of the Commissioner, written February 7, 2025
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Affirms Protections for LGBTQ+ Students
Resources for LGBTQ+ Youth
For 1:1 explanations of basic information about laws and policies in the United States that affect transgender people across many areas, including employment, health care, housing, civil rights, immigration, prisoners’ rights, and identity document changes. Unfortunately, they cannot provide any individualized legal advice or legal representation. This is not a hotline. Submit a form to be called back.
LGBT National Youth Talkline 800-246-7743
Offering respect, support, affirmation, and acceptance, this is a confidential space where callers of any age can speak about sexual orientation or gender identity/expression issues. This includes coming out issues, relationship concerns, family, bullying, school issues, HIV/AIDS anxiety, safer sex information, suicide and much more.
Hours as of 2/6/25:
Monday-Friday 2:00pm-11:00pm / eastern time
Saturdays 12noon-5:00pm / eastern time
Family Resources
PFLAG offers ways to take action on issues that protect trans kids, protect LGBTQ+ kids and families, fight for LGBTQ+ equality, work for intersectional justice, and securing LGBTQ+ health. There is even an advocacy toolkit on lobbying, sharing your story, and more.
Families and Advocates Sue Over Executive Order Seeking to Restrict Access to Gender-Affirming Care
From the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), written February 4, 2025
PFLAG national and Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality (GLMA) filed a federal legal challenge to the executive order that would withhold funds from medical providers and institutions that provide gender-affirming medical treatments for people younger than nineteen.
What you Need to Know about the “Day 1” Anti-Transgender Executive Order
Created by 15 LGBTQ+ and Transgender organizations, written January 28, 2025
What the order says, the impact on identity documents, healthcare, education, workplaces, military service, prisons and immigration detention. Tips on taking care of yourself and those around you, where to find support, and what you can do.
Resources and information for transgender service members: know your rights and resources & support available.
Grandparent Resources
Supporting Your LGBTQ+ Grandchild – in English and Espanol
PFLAG Connects: Grandparent Community – support group
Educator Resources
Impact of Executive Order Restriction on Transgender Students in K-12 Schools
From UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute, written February 2025
This is a straight-forward analysis of the order and it’s potential negative impacts on transgender youth in five main ways: restricting the recognition of gender identity and use of names and pronouns in schools; limiting access to shared facilities and programs, such s restrooms, in schools; barring participation in sports teams; forcing outing of students; and banning schools from teaching topics related to gender identity.
Executive Order for the Department of Education “Actively Puts LGBTQ+ Students in Harm’s Way”
From Lambda Legal, written January 29, 2025
Lambda Legal is seeking ways to block the executive order that would compel federally-funded schools to “disrespect the identities of LGBTQ+ youth, particularly trans youth, not only open[ing] them up to harassment, bullying, and abuse, but in fact encourag[ing] it.”
Update on the Texas v. Kennedy Lawsuit (previously Texas v. Becerra)
From the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, The Arc, Bazelton Center for Mental Health Law, Center for Public Representation, National Health Law Program, written April 21, 2025
An explainer on Texas v. Kennedy, a lawsuit brought by 17 states in federal court in Texas. “The lawsuit challenges 2024 regulations from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The lawsuit claims that Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is unconstitutional.” The parties’ next filing is due on July 21, 2025.
What Educators Should Know About the Gender Identity Executive Order and LGBTQI+ Rights
From the National Education Association, written January 27, 2025
The President’s order does not – and cannot – repeal existing laws that make it illegal to discriminate against transgender, intersex, or nonbinary people.
GLSEN is on hiatus until mid-2025. They are restructuring.
GLSEN has been championing LGBTQ issues in K-12 education since 1990. They traditionally work to ensure schools are free from bullying and harassment so schools can be the “safe and affirming environment all youth deserve.”
