Below you’ll find items available in the AIDS Library, resources in Philadelphia, and a wide-range of online information regarding transgender individuals, transgender youth in particular, providers of transgender folks, transgender law and policy, and some more general transgender information. I want to stress that the distinction between info for transgender people and for their providers is not precise. If you’re looking for something specific, you might want to check both sections. Or contact us in the AIDS Library and we can work together to find what you need!
(I’m going to use “transgender” as an umbrella term below, even though it describes a lot of different people who identify themselves differently. When a different term is being used, it’s because I’m quoting the resource.)
In the AIDS Library
BOOKS
- True Selves: Understanding Transsexualism – For Families, Friends, Coworkers, and Helping Professionals, by Mildred L. Brown & Chloe Ann Rounsley
- Feminizing Hormonal Therapy for the Transgendered, by Sheila Kirk
- The Handbook of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Public Health: A Practitioner’s Guide to Service, edited by Michael D. Shankle
- With a chapter called “The Whole Person: A Paradigm for Integrating the Mental and Physical Health of Trans Clients”
- A Provider’s Introduction to Substance Abuse Treatment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Individuals, by the United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- With a chapter called “Clinical Issues with Transgender Individuals”
- The Complete Lesbian & Gay Parenting Guide, by Arlene Istar Lev
- With several sections on transgender issues
- Always My Child: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Your Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered or Questioning Son or Daughter, by Kevin Jennings & Pat Shapiro
- With a chapter called “The Transgendered Teen”
DVDS
- Middle Sexes: Redefining He and She – an HBO documentary by Antony Thomas, narrated by Gore Vidal
- Paris is Burning – The classic portrait of the trans-oriented ball scene in 1980s New York City, directed by Jennie Livingston
- How Do I Look: From Fantasy to Reality – The 2006 follow-up to Paris is Burning, directed by Wolfgang Busch
OTHER RESOURCES
- “Philadelphia Transgender Resource Guide, 2010 Edition” – created by the Mazzoni Center (available online here, but we also keep printed copies in the AIDS Library, which clients are free to take)
- “Transgender Considerations: A Clinical Primer for the Generalist Working with Trans and LGB Patients” – compiled by Arthur Robinson Williams
- “Outlines for Multisectorial Work with Transgender Populations, Human Rights, Sex Work and HIV/AIDS” – by Ximena Salazar L. and Jana Villayzan A. (A paper on the authors’ native Peru, but with international implications.)
Philadelphia Resources
The Trans-Health Information Project does support groups, case management, and resource referral for transgendered clients. Formerly a program of Prevention Point, they are in the process of becoming an independent organization. They have drop-in hours, Monday through Friday, 1-5, and other services. Call them at 215-568-2221 or see their website for the latest details.
Evolutions is a transgender support group that meets Thursdays, 6-7:30pm at the Mazzoni Center, 21 S. 12th St, 8th Floor. Contact Liza Linder, 215-563-0663.
Sister’s United is a MTF group on Tuesdays 5:30-7:30pm at Colours, 112 N. Broad St, 3rd Floor. 215-496-0330.
TMAN is a support group for FTM of color on Monday from 7:30-9 at Washington West, 1201 Locust St, 2nd Floor. 215-834-9063.
We Transition Too is a group for partners of folks transitioning and/or who are gender-variant. It meets the first Saturday of every month, 2-4 at Washington West, 1201 Locust St, 2nd Floor. 215-732-1207.
WeXist is a support group for FTM on the second Friday of each month from 6-8pm at the at the William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. 215-250-1548
Transway is weekly drop-in social group for MTF on Thursdays from 7-9pm at the William Way Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.
Young, Trans, & Unified is for all trans or gender non-conforming youth, 13-23, meeting Thursday 7-8:30 at the Attic Youth Center, 55 S. 16th St. 215-545-4331.
There’s a MeetUp.com called Philadelphia TG, TS, Transgender Meetup Group. This information is not attributed to any formal organization, but the majority of the events listed are at prominent “gayborhood” establishments.
The Renaissance Transgender Association has several nearby chapters – in Wayne, Moutville, and Trexlertown in PA, and Wilmington in DE, though none in Philadelphia.
In addition to hosting some groups listed above, the Mazzoni Center:
- Offers LGBT Legal Services (for information call 1-866-LGBT-LAW or 215-563-0657)
- Coordinates the annual Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference (which will be June 2-4 in 2011)
- And publishes the Philadelphia Transgender Resource Guide, 2010 Edition with lists of trans-friendly doctors, dentists, surgeons, mental health professionals, and more.
Info Primarily for Transgender Clients
[Though some of this will be useful for providers and other professionals]
The Test Positive Aware Network published a special issue of Positively Aware on Transgender and HIV. You can read or print the whole thing from that link, or go directly to:
- A transgender therapy primer
- Transgender therapy and HIV
- Safer Sex post-SRS
- Seeking Validation: Transitioning is a Celebration of Who You Are
- Or see the table of contents (at the right of any of those pages) to find an article of interest
The British organization Gender Identity Research and Education Society, in conjunction with the British National Health Service, has a page of Information for Trans People, which includes downloadable brochures about hormones, surgery, and other issues that are universal. (They also have info on name-changes and other legal issues that would be relevant only to British citizens.)
Trans-Health.com is an online magazine of health and fitness for transsexual and transgendered people with subsections on
The International Foundation for Gender Education has a lot of material at its website, including:
- “Our Stories” – collection of narratives by transgender individuals
- Book/Media reviews of items concerning transgender topics
- Support Groups by State
FTM International serves the Female-to-Male community. Their website includes:
- FTMI meetings all over the country and the world
- FTM Resources written for populations including parents, partners, and youth
The Canadian group Queer Transman publishes a guide Primed: The Back Pocket Guide for Transmen & the Men Who Dig Them.
The website TransFM has internet radio stories on transgender issues, including a lot of inspiring-looking Personal Stories (exclusively of MTF folks).
The website My Right Self has a series of thoughtful stories on being transgender, with an accompanying photo series for each personal profiled. Check out the profile of FIGHT’s very own Val Sowell! They also have some a page of Resources for Transfolks and a White Coat Card for Physicians.
Info for Transgender Youth and their Parents & Allies
Gender Spectrum provides, education, training and support around working with gender-variant children and teens, and publish info on:
TransYouth Family Allies has info for parents, youth, and educators. They run a hotline : 1-888-462-8932. They also collect a stories and blogs about having a transgender youth at their TransParent Jouneys page.
TransKids Purple Rainbow Foundation has info on their site including an FAQ for parents, an email helpline (stephanie@transkidspurplerainbow.org), and links to news stories about transgender kids.
The British organization Gender Identity Research and Education Society has a nice collection of “articles for and about gender variant youngsters.”
For inspiring stories, trans or gender non-confirming youth might want to use Live Journal’s TransYouth Community, which collects the online journals of anyone who chooses to be in that online community.
A librarian in Minnesota identifying herself as “the trains-library-geek” has a page of recommended Books for Trans Teens.
Info Primarily for Medical Providers & Other Professionals
[Though some of this will be useful for transgender clients]
The University of California, San Francisco’s Center of Excellence for Transgender Health publishes online an array of resources for the professional working with transgender clients, including:
- Guidelines, Reports, and Best Practices
- Journal Articles & Research Summaries
- National & International Organizations
The website of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (formerly the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association) has:
- Standards of Care for Gender Identity Disorders
- Back issues of their International Journal of Transgenderism – all of which can be read for free online
Gay Men’s Health Crisis has a short article aimed at providers on Transgender People, Hormonal Therapy and HIV Treatment Interaction (or download a PDF here of the entire issue of Treatment Issues that has that article).
The website TransGender Care, the website of a doctor who does Sexual Reassignment Surgery in Florida, has pages on:
The website Transsexual Women’s Resources, written by doctor and academic Anne Lawrence, collects articles written by Dr. Lawrence and by transgender folks edited by her, on:
- Hormone Therapy
- Sex Reassignment Surgery
- Orchiectomy (Castration)
- Breast Augmentation
- Facial Feminization Surgery
- Voice Feminization Surgery
- Autogynephilia & Sexuality
- Standards of Care
The website Medical Advocates has a page collecting Transgendered/Transsexuals peer-reviewed research.
The American Medical Association has an official statement on Removing Financial Barriers to Care for Transgender Patients, which can be read online. The organization Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) has published a Factsheet on the AMA’s Statement.
The British organization Gender Identity Research and Education Society, in conjunction with the British National Health Service, has a page of downloadable guides for clinicians.
Transgender Law and Policy
The National Center for Transgender Equality does advocacy work for transgender people. Their website includes:
- 52 Things You Can Do for Transgender Equality (which can be printed as a poster here)
- Know Your Rights: Information for Transgender Travelers
- A Job Discrimination Survey
- Teaching Transgender – A how-to guide for leading trainings about the lives of transgender people
- And introductions to other transgender legal issues such as employment, documentation, homelessness, immigration, hate crimes, and more.
The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force has a page for its Transgender Civil Rights Project. They have a hotline (202-639-6308) for “those working to establish or enforce policies and laws to create equality for transgender people,” and publish:
- Opening the Door to the Inclusion of Transgender People: The Nine Keys to Making LGBT Organizations Fully Transgender-Inclusive
- Transgender Equality: A Handbook for Activists and Policymakers
- Transitioning Our Shelters: A Guide to Making Homeless Shelters Safe for Transgender People
And a series of Reports and Factsheets on Transgender Law and Policy
The American Bar Association’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee publishes the materials from ABA conference session on Representing Transgendered Clients in Employment Discrimination Cases.
General Transgender Information
The site Transsexual Road Map has a very good Glossary of Transgender Terms, while The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation publishes a Transgender Media Reference Guide.
There are many interesting transgender news stories and profiles – such as the story of The First Transgender Presidential Appointee, or the New York Time’s proposal that “2010 will be remembered as the year of the transsexual”. A couple good ways to find fresh news stories about transgender issues are:
- TheBody.com’s collection of articles about Transgender People & HIV/AIDS
- A Google News search for “Transgender” (or something more specific)
- The New York Times “Articles About Transsexuals” page
