(3-minute read)

November 13-17 is Trans Awareness Week at the University of Toronto. November 20 is Trans Day of Remembrance & Resilience. The Family Care Office supports and celebrates trans and nonbinary students, faculty, librarians, and staff and their family members and denounces transphobic discrimination and violence everywhere.

Trans Awareness Awareness Week events are being held across U of T’s three campuses.

Resources for community members and caregivers/parents can be found around the university, Toronto and beyond.

Resources within U of T

• The Sexual & Gender Diversity Office (SGDO) develops partnerships to build supportive learning and working communities at the University of Toronto by working towards equity and challenging discrimination. The SGDO offers programming and events and does training and policy-level work.
• Queer University of Toronto Employees (QUTE) is an employee resource group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) staff and faculty who work at the University of Toronto.
• There are over 30 student groups and campus communities.
• The Family Care Office (FCO) hosts workshops throughout the year, including family planning workshops and a workshop about supporting gender diverse children.
• For some employees, GreenShield coverage now includes up to a lifetime of $10,000 of gender-affirming healthcare coverage. As a note, this coverage depends on the bargaining unit or union. For specific information regarding what is covered under your staff, faculty or librarian health care plan, through OHIP, or another health benefits provider, please contact your health insurance provider directly.
• Trans Pool Hours at the Athletic Centre – dedicated, inclusive swim time for trans, gender-non-conforming, gender-exploring, nonbinary and two-spirit students and members.

Within Toronto

• The 2SLGBTQ Family Resources Program at Sherbourne Health provides information, resources, and referrals for queer and trans folks looking to grow their families, 2SLGBTQ families, and gender-expansive kids and youth. 
• Trans and Non-binary health programs and resources available throughout Sherbourne
• Sherbourne Health’s Supporting Our Youth (SOY) program supports the health and well-being of 2SLGBTQ youth under 29.
• The 519 Community Centre has programming for families, children and youth, including a trans youth peer mentorship program.
• Central Toronto Youth Services (CTYS) is a community-based, accredited Children’s Mental Health Centre that serves many of Toronto’s most vulnerable youth. Read their resource guide for parents of trans youth. 
• Families in TRANSition. Families in TRANSition (FIT) is a 10-week closed group for parents / caregivers of 2-Spirit, trans, non-binary, gender-questioning youth (ages 13-24) who have recently learned of their child’s gender identity.
• ReachOUT provides free counselling to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Two-Spirit, gender non-conforming, queer, and questioning youth (and their families) between 12-17 years of age across the GTA.
• Gender Independent Groups within the TDSB are system-wide groups for trans, non-binary and gender expansive students and their parents/caregivers
• Friends of Ruby is dedicated to the progressive well-being of 2SLGBQTIA+ youth (aged 16-29) through mental health services, social services and housing.
• Toby’s Place is a drop-in centre in Scarborough for LGBTQ2SIA+ youth from high school age to 23. Friends are welcome.
• LGBT Youthline. HelpLine volunteers are trained peer supporters aged 16-29, coming from a diversity of 2SLGBTQ+ identities and lived experiences.
• Sick Kids Transgender Youth Clinic provides information, options and care to pubertal youth experiencing gender dysphoria, which includes assessment and treatment planning. 

Beyond

• Johns Hopkins pediatricians and adolescent medicine specialists Renata Arrington Sanders and Errol Fields  write: “All parents want what’s best for their kids. But providing support isn’t always easy — especially if you are the parent of a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning (LGBTQ) child. In many ways no different from their peers, LGBTQ youth face some unique challenges that parents often feel unprepared to tackle.” Check out their tips for parents of LGBTQ youth.
• Gender Creative Kids

Additional resources

• Questions about terminology? How to respect people’s pronouns? The University of Toronto Sexual and Gender Diversity Office (SGDO) has resources. Members of the U of T community can reach out to the U of T SGDO for support and to ask questions.
• Looking for children’s books that include trans characters and challenge gender assumptions that contribute to transphobia? Check out these webpages:
• PFLAG’s Transgender Reading List for Children
• New York Public Library’s 12 Great Picture Books with Trans and Gender Non-Conforming Characters
• Center for Transgender Health’s Transgender and Gender Fluid Books for Kids, Young Adults and Adults
• Mombian’s Recent Children’s Books with Transgender Characters