Are you experiencing a trans person coming out? Where can you find information and support? - DYKKA.com

A friend you used to think was a girl has told you they're trans. Or your child has told you they're nonbinary. Do you want to support your loved one, but don't know how?

Although coming out is challenging for trans* people, those around them can also experience feelings of fear and confusion. We want to be supportive to our loved ones, but we also need it ourselves.

The good news is that there is information and support for you!

Change in address

It is not a condition of transition , but it is possible that your trans* person close to you will ask you to address them differently than before. This means that their grammatical gender or name will change, although it will probably not appear on their ID card or passport yet .

But even if their name isn't official, it's still important to address them however they want . While your trans* loved one may occasionally "switch" to their old name or gender, that doesn't mean they're faking their transition or unsure of their identity—as the saying goes, habit is the iron rod.

Transition

Transition is the process by which a trans* person comes to terms with their gender, the gender they have become aware of throughout their life. It can take many forms: physical (changing their appearance, from changing their wardrobe to undergoing surgery), mental ( changing their address , coming out), and legal (changing their official documents). Not every trans* person will go through all the steps, and that's okay.

For example, we can help masculine people with their physical transition by buying or recommending binders (pull-up bras) or packers (crotch pads). By changing their appearance, even if only partially, it will reduce their dysphoria (the feeling that our body does not match our gender), if they are struggling with it.

Sharing feelings

So far, we've mostly talked about what we can do for our trans* loved ones, but we shouldn't forget about ourselves either.

One way to find support for yourself is through support spaces for relatives of trans* people . The organization Trans*parent, which defends the rights of transgender, non-binary, and intersex people in the Czech Republic, runs two such groups on Facebook: one for relatives and the other for partners .

At the same time, it also organizes support sessions for them from time to time, which means that people will meet at a certain time and place (it can even be online) and discuss their joys, worries, insecurities, and hopes in a safe and supportive environment .

Interested in more? Read more about what transitioning to a woman or transitioning to a man can look like.