Transgender School

What are the potential consequences of restricting access to puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy for trans youth?Last June, the UK's National Health System (NHS) decided to suspend the provision of puberty blockers to transgender youth in gender identity clinics. This decision moves in the opposite direction of US policies in blue states, where trans individuals are gaining more rights and access to healthcare.In today's episode, we discuss the implications of the UK's NHS healthcare policies for transgender youth and compare them with the more progressive approaches adopted in many states in the US. We explore the role of medical professionals in shaping these policies and the challenges trans youth face in accessing essential healthcare services.Additionally, we delve into the statements made by the Vatican condemning gender fluidity as we shed light on the intersection of religious beliefs and LGBTQ+ rights.In This Episode, You Will Learn:The differences between UK and US healthcare approaches regarding LGBTQ+ rights (3:20)How NHS's decision impacts transgender youth (4:20)What is the role of medical professionals in forming policies (7:00)About the Vatican's stance on gender fluidity and trans-affirming care (10:10)The implications of conservative attitudes within religious institutions (16:00)The impact of religious beliefs on transgender acceptance (21:00)Resources Mentioned:Episode 8 - Medical Care for Transgender Youth with Dr. Johanna Olson-KennedyConnect with Jackie and Bridget:Transgender Support: Becoming a True Ally Video Course on VimeoTransgender School Patreon Membership with all exclusive contentTransgender School on MediumInstagramWebsite FacebookCommunity Facebook GroupYouTube

Do shifting attitudes towards LGBTQ+ rights reflect broader trends in the American political landscape?As the 2024 elections approach, the intricate dance between political agendas and voter inclinations, particularly regarding LGBTQ+ rights, intensifies. As citizens, can we do anything to contribute to the greater good? Yes, we can start conversations. In today's episode, we analyze the results of a poll and survey conducted by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), illuminating the upcoming election's complex landscape. From voters' motivation regarding candidates' stances on transgender issues to the complexities of LGBTQ+ support for Biden and Democratic candidates, we ponder the deeper undercurrents in what we believe is a presidential election that can change it all. In This Episode, You Will Learn:Jackie shares some results of GLAAD's poll (1:30)What voters think about Republicans’ efforts to bar transgender-affirming care for youth (4:00)Why the Democratic Party is losing support from non-white voters (7:40)Why Republicans "can't stop" talking about transgender people (9:30)About the critical importance of the 2024 elections (12:40)Resources Mentioned:Democrats' events, volunteers, and petitionsConnect with Jackie and Bridget:Transgender Support: Becoming a True Ally Video Course on VimeoTransgender School Patreon Membership with all exclusive contentTransgender School on MediumInstagramWebsite FacebookCommunity Facebook GroupYouTube

Can gender-affirming therapy change people's minds?Transgender kids and their parents often have very different expectations about what gender-affirming therapy will provide. For some parents, the hope is that when their child starts therapy, they’ll realize they aren’t really trans, but instead are gay, confused, or just in a phase. But studies have shown that among transgender kids, less than 3% give up on their transition.In today's episode, Jackie and Bridget unveil a part of Jackie's coming-out story that they haven’t previously discussed publicly. They share details of Jackie's first appointments with the gender affirming therapist who helped and supported her in her transition. In this honest and open conversation, Bridget confesses a secret wish she had in the beginning, which she now realizes was based on delusional thinking. There are valuable lessons to take away from this part of Jackie and Bridget’s story - about unconditional love, acceptance, support, trust, and how allies are made. In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why some parents are reluctant to believe their kids are trans (4:00)Jackie talks about how gender affirming therapy helped her come out (8:20)The importance of keeping trust healthy and robust in families (12:10)How to choose the right gender affirming therapist (16:00)Resources Mentioned:The Trevor ProjectPFLAGEpisode #8 - Medical Care for Transgender Youth with Dr. Johanna Olson-KennedyEpisode #23 - LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Therapy & Parenting with Dr. Rebeks Clark Mane and Aba HorthyEpisode #30 - Meet LGBTQ+ Inclusion Author and Speaker Dr. Kryss ShaneConnect with Jackie and Bridget:Transgender Support: Becoming a True Ally Video Course on VimeoTransgender School Patreon Membership with all exclusive contentTransgender School on MediumInstagramWebsite FacebookCommunity Facebook GroupYouTube

In today's episode, we update you on the concerning trend of states banning trans-affirming care for transgender youth and enacting laws and policies that discriminate against them.As if it weren't an already daunting experience being trans in America, these actions represent a massive blow for trans rights and, unfortunately, force thousands of people to either let go of their hormone treatment or flee their states. Throughout this episode, you'll hear our thoughts on the damage these administrative decisions will cause to the trans community, the housing problem in blue states, the myths about detransitioners, the division these kinds of decisions promote in our country, and much more. In This Episode, You Will Learn:How these new laws and policies affect the trans community (2:00)The terrible situation these new laws and policies put transgender people in (7:20)How we are in the process of dividing ourselves into two countries (11:40)Affirming care saves lives (16:00)Resources:Erin in the MorningConnect with Jackie and Bridget:Transgender Support: Becoming a True Ally Video Course on VimeoTransgender School Patreon Membership with all exclusive contentTransgender School on MediumInstagramWebsite FacebookCommunity Facebook GroupYouTube

Though right-wing talking heads try to manipulate suicide rate statistics, the data proves that the number one cause of self-harm and destructive behavior in the LGBTQ+ community is a lack of family acceptance. Kids who come out as transgender are not confused, are not in a phase, are not following a fad, and are not trying to rebel against their parents. From conversion efforts to more subtle forms of non-affirming communication, there is no question that the damage done can be significant and can often be avoided with a little education and effort. LGBTQ+ kids need and deserve our respect, support, and love. In this episode, we talk about what to do and say, as well as what not to do and say when your child (or any child) trusts you enough to come out as transgender, at any age. You'll hear about the critical importance of family and community acceptance, statistics that show how destructive the lack of support can be for transgender youth, and how some of the most well-intended questions can cause deep wounds for trans kids. We also discuss the mistakes Bridget made when Jackie came out and the challenges they faced. We learn ways to support transgender kids, support and respect their privacy, the ways to ensure affirming care for them, and much more. In This Episode, You Will Learn:About how Jackie's story began six and a half years ago (3:30)What statistics teach us about self-harm and destructive behaviors in the LGBTQ+ community (6:00)Why family acceptance is crucial (11:00)Being trans is definitely not a phase or a way of being rebellious (17:00)Jackie shares tips and ideas to grant affirming care for trans kids (24:00)What do our trans kids really need from us (28:00)Resources:Family Acceptance Project - San Francisco State UniversityWhat to Do When Your Kid Comes Out as Transgender by Bridget Sampson on MediumConnect with Jackie and Bridget:Transgender Support: Becoming a True Ally Video Course on VimeoTransgender School Patreon Membership with all exclusive contentTransgender School on MediumInstagramWebsite FacebookCommunity Facebook GroupYouTube

Content warning: In this episode, we discuss suicide, online harassment, and death threats.Today we share two unsettling stories with the common themes of living secret lives and doing things that others would be shocked to discover.You'll hear about the tragic story of Alabama Pastor and Mayor, Fred 'Bubba' Copeland, who, forced to live his life in the closet, used private social media accounts to present himself as a transgender woman and encourage transgender people to come out and go on hormone replacement therapy. After his secret life was exposed by a conservative news website and he was subsequently subjected to relentless online bullying, he took his life. We discuss the complex issues involved in cases like this and the ways that pressure to suppress one’s identity can lead to dire outcomes.You'll also hear about a story published in the San Francisco Chronicle, in which a financially successful and apparently mentally stable man made several death threats to an operator from a Mental Health Hotline for LGBTQ+ youth in California. The name and address of this man, who lives in San Francisco, have been identified, but he will not likely face any consequences due to his power and wealth.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Pastor Fred 'Bubba' Copeland's tragic story (1:30)The effects of being forced to live a life in the closet (13:20)Online harassment shouldn't remain unpunished (16:00)People who spread hate online and showcase a "normal" life on a different platform (17:00)Resources Mentioned:Hotline for California's LGBTQ kids got a death threat.Connect with Jackie and Bridget:Transgender Support: Becoming a True Ally Video Course on VimeoTransgender School Patreon Membership with all exclusive contentTransgender School on MediumInstagramWebsite FacebookCommunity Facebook GroupYouTube

"Joy is not just an emotion; it's a deep alignment with the self. And those of us who are in the LGBTQ+ community know better than most communities about what it really feels like to wake up with joy at your core because who you are is aligned." - Dr. Erin Baker.In today's episode, we are joined by the amazing Dr. Erin Baker, Executive Coach, Elite Certified Neurotransformational Coach, Internal Family Systems L2 Practitioner, and Self-Leadership Expert. Erin earned a PhD in Social Psychology and is the Bestselling Author of "Joy-Full AF: The Essential Business Strategy We're Afraid to Put First." They led a UX Research team at Facebook, were part of bringing Facebook Stories to 2 billion people, and were the Director of UX Research and Design at Microsoft Yammer. Throughout this episode, a true testament to the uniqueness of everyone's gender experience, Erin discusses the process of coming to terms with their nonbinary gender identity throughout adolescence and early adulthood. They also share some of the challenges they faced, especially at the beginning. And we learned a lot thanks to Erin's openness about their top surgery, which led to a greater feeling of alignment with their gender. It was also interesting to hear about Erin’s experiences as a nonbinary person working for tech giants. Additionally, Erin talks about their book, the multiple benefits of pursuing joy, Self-Leadership Coaching, Internal Family Systems, and much more. In This Episode, You Will Learn:About Dr. Erin's coming out story (6:40)Erin shares a bit about their experience with they/them pronouns and being misgendered (11:00)The retreat in Mexico that changed everything for Erin (18:10)Erin shares their thoughts on top surgery (24:00)What is Self-Leadership? Erin shares their perspectives on it (39:00)Pursue joy and success will follow (45:50)Resources Mentioned:Book: Dr. Erin Baker - Joy-Full AF: The Essential Business Strategy We're Afraid To Put FirstBook: Richard Schwartz, Alanis Morissette - No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems ModelConnect with Dr. Erin:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInConnect with Jackie and Bridget:Transgender Support: Becoming a True Ally Video Course on VimeoTransgender School Patreon Membership with all exclusive contentTransgender School on MediumInstagramWebsiteFacebook

College students should be able to focus on their education without having to spend time and energy battling for fundamental rights like being addressed by their correct pronouns or having their gender expression acknowledged. This is one of the many reasons that Pride Centers at universities are essential. In this episode, we were so happy to be joined by Whitney Workman (fae/they), Manager of the California State University, Northridge Pride Center. We talk about faer work with LGBTQ+ students, the holistic view of the Pride Center at CSUN, their thoughts on the best ways of spreading awareness of LGBTQ+ issues on college campuses and more.A trailblazer in faer teen years, as the second person in their high school to come out, Whitney immediately recognized the needs in the Queer community and hasn't stopped working to improve lives and create safe spaces for students in their early stages of transition or exploring their own sexuality and gender.Throughout this episode, you'll hear about Whitney's journey from being an organizer at feminist organizations and working with reproductive justice to making it to the CSUN Pride Center. Fae then provides a detailed list of the Center's services, how it supports LGBTQ+ college students, and how to learn about their services and programs. We also discuss the best ways of spreading LGBTQ+ awareness, free speech, hate speech, censorship, and much more.In This Episode, You Will Learn:A bit about Whitney and their background before becoming the manager of the CSUN Pride Center (2:20)What kind of support LGBTQ+ students will find at the Pride Center (18:30)Who should have access to students' legal names (23:30)Why the CSUN Pride Center is crucial for LGBTQ+ students (33:40)Whitney shares faer thoughts on the best ways of spreading awareness (42:40)Safety tips the Pride Center offers to LGBTQ+ students (54:40)Don't trust the Campus Pride Index, go to a college’s LGBTQ+ Center website to see what they offer (1:02:50)Connect with CSUN Pride Center:WebsiteConnect with Jackie and Bridget:Transgender Support: Becoming a True Ally Video Course on VimeoTransgender School Patreon Membership with all exclusive contentTransgender School on MediumInstagramWebsite FacebookCommunity Facebook GroupYouTube

"When I told my lesbian love that I was transitioning, she sat with me for four hours, and I said, I don't know what this means for us. Because I didn't know any families who looked like us, any couples who were a trans man with a lesbian. I found out later that there's a lot of us."In today's episode, you’ll get to hear the second half of our very special conversation with Peggy Gillespie, author of "Authentic Selves," and with Lana, Ted, Joseph, Tamira, and Christian, who shared their stories in Peggy's book. In this second part of our conversation, you'll learn about Christian, a suburban trans man, who was always told that it’s not okay to be out. He now embraces infinite, unconditional love, which he uses to teach his kids not to be ashamed of who they are or who their family is. You'll also hear about Joseph, a trans man, and his wife Tamira and their experiences parenting a trans kid. Additionally, we talk about couples that stay together after one of them transitions, Peggy talks about the importance of sharing her book and promoting these discussions, and much more. In This Episode, You Will Learn:A bit about Christian's background and upbringing story (3:20)Christian's coming out story (9:20)The scary trans person the media warned you about (13:40)About couples that stay together after one of them transitions (18:10)How is it to be a Queer mom of a trans kid (25:40)How Peggy's book humanizes trans and nonbinary people (27:20)A bit about how Peggy's non-profit works (34:00)Resources:Book: Peggy Gillespie - Authentic Selves: Celebrating Trans and Nonbinary People and Their FamiliesFamily Diversity Projects: a non-profit organization with award-winning traveling photo-text exhibits, co-founded by Peggy Gillespie and Gigi KaeserConnect with Jackie and Bridget:Transgender Support: Becoming a True Ally Video Course on VimeoTransgender School Patreon Membership with all exclusive contentTransgender School on MediumInstagramWebsite FacebookCommunity Facebook GroupYouTube