Transitioning can happen in many ways. You might not choose to apply all these changes, and your experience will be totally unique to someone else’s. Many people who are transgender undergo a social change but don’t undergo medical treatment to change their biological sex, whereas others feel more comfortable if they do.

Experimenting with gender → Changing your pronouns/name → Hormones → Surgery

For more information on transitioning stages, visit: kidshelpphone.ca/article/big-changes-gender-identity-and-transitioning

For help finding how you can get medical help transitioning (hormones and/or surgery) contact your doctor or 211 right on this site

Facilitating conversation with family │friends │ the public.

The first step of coming out is feeling comfortable with your gender identity/sexuality, no matter what it may mean to others.
It is important that people can come out on their own terms. This is a unique experience for everyone. It might be harder for some and easier for others, depending on who they are coming out to. LGBTQ+ people don’t just come out once: every time they meet someone they have to decide whether or not to come out.
Try to remember it may have taken you a long time to come to terms with your sexual orientation and/or gender identity, so others may need a bit of space to take it in too.

kidshelpphone.ca/article/identifying-lgbtq-and-coming-out 
sexandu.ca/lgbttq/coming-out

For family and friends of LGBTQ+ people:
If you are looking for information on how to be supportive to someone coming out to you visit: sendtherightmessage.ca/coming-out.

A trans-specific resource for family/friends: Families in TRANSition.

Canadian national organization for providing resources to people who are LGBTQ+, and those struggling with a loved one going through a gender identity or sexual orientation journey: pflagcanada.ca

For LGBTQ+ support (both individual and group workshops) for youth and family, visit gilbertcentre.ca/youth-and-family-programs

Everybody finds their community. Whether you are in school, on a sports team, or in a club, you have your own group of people with similar experiences that you can relate to. The same goes for LGBTQ+ people: it is important to have a community to turn to, who can understand what you might be experiencing.

The LGBTQ+ community is big and proud! 211 or the Kids Help Phone can help you connect to resources in your area, so you can start building a sense of community. There are also a lot of LGBTQ+ forums online where you can ask questions or just talk with people who have had similar experiences as you.

For gender diverse and trans people looking for individual support, workshops, events or social groups visit: gilbertcentre.ca/gender-diverse-and-trans-program

For LGBTQ+ support (both individual and group workshops) for youth and family visit: gilbertcentre.ca/youth-and-family-programs

There are trusted adults at your school board that are there to make sure you feel comfortable and welcome in your own identity while at school. These people are called Inclusion Itinerant Teachers, and you can contact the Simcoe County equity and inclusion itinerant teachers at 705-734-6363, ext.11859.
What do they do?
They make sure the school board follows trans affirming policies such as:
Respecting student’s right to change their name and pronouns.
Be able to use the restroom of their choosing, if there is no gender neutral option.

You can get in contact with your inclusion itinerant teacher (no legal documents required), or talk to a counsellor at your school or in your community for professional help on how to feel like yourself at school. If you don’t know where to start, contact 211 or the Kids Help Phone.

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