There are many resources available to help if your child is questioning their gender identity or sexual orientation. Here are just a few.
International resources
Trans Lifeline –
www.translifeline.org
Phone (Canada): 877-330-6366
Phone (USA): 877-565-8860
Offers direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community.
World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) –
www.wpath.org
Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People. World Professional Association for Transgender Health. Retrieved from
https://www.wpath.org/media/cms/Documents/Web%20Transfer/SOC/Standards%20of%20Care%20V7%20-%202011%20WPATH.pdf.
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) –
www.ilga.org
An international organization that campaigns for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex human rights.
Canadian resources
PFLAG Canada –
www.pflagcanada.ca
A national organization that offers peer-to-peer support to help all Canadians with issues of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.
Kids Help Phone –
www.kidshelpphone.ca
Phone: 1-800-668-6868
Offers support for children and youth all across Canada.
Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health (CPATH) -
www.cpath.ca
A professional organization that works to support the health, wellbeing, and dignity of trans and gender diverse people.
Egale –
www.egale.ca
Aims to improve the lives of LGBTQ2S+ people in Canada and enhance the global response to LGBTQ2S+ issues.
The Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity –
www.ccgsd-ccdgs.org
Aims to empower gender and sexually diverse communities through education, research, and advocacy.
Gender Creative Kids –
www.gendercreativekids.com
A community organization that supports trans, non-binary, and gender-fluid youth’s affirmation within their families, schools, and communities.
Gender Spectrum -
www.genderspectrum.org
Works to create gender sensitive and inclusive environments for all children and teens.
Sex & U -
www.sexandu.ca
A website that answers sexual health, relationship and identity questions.
Youth gender clinics in Canada
The SickKids Transgender Youth Clinic (TYC) -
www.sickkids.ca/en/care-services/clinics/transgender-youth-clinic/
Provides information, options and care to youth experiencing gender dysphoria, with an affirming approach to gender identity and care.
CHEO Gender Diversity Clinic -
www.cheo.on.ca/en/clinics-services-programs/gender-diversity-clinic.aspx
Supports children, youth and families at all stages of their journey with gender identity.
BC Children’s Hospital Gender Clinic -
www.bcchildrens.ca/our-services/clinics/gender
Provides treatment for transgender and gender-questioning youth.
Meraki Health Centre Gender Variance Program -
www.centremeraki.com/programs/gender-variance-program/
Provides health care and support for youth with gender variance and their families.
IWK Health Centre -
www.iwk.nshealth.ca/mental-health/youth/facing-sexuality
Phone: 1-855-922-1122
The Transgender Health Team at the IWK have a social worker and psychiatrist who can meet with you to discuss concerns about your gender identity.
Alberta Children's Hospital Metta Youth Gender Clinic -
www.albertahealthservices.ca/ach/ach.aspx
Provides transgender and gender diverse youth targeted and comprehensive health care.
The Gender Program, University of Alberta Hospital -
www.albertahealthservices.ca/findhealth/Service.aspx?id=1080705&serviceAtFacilityID=1126454
Helps persons across the age spectrum who feel that their assigned sex at birth is misaligned with their lived gender.
McMaster Children’s Hospital Adolescent Medicine Clinic -
www.hamiltonhealthsciences.ca/mcmaster-childrens-hospital/areas-of-care/medicine/adolescent-medicine-clinic/
Provides family-centred care for children and teens aged 12 to 17 with a variety of health concerns.
London InterCommunity Health Centre Trans Health Program -
www.lihc.on.ca/programs/transhealthcare/
Operates in collaboration with clients own personal medical providers to provide transgender health services.
Provincial resources
British Columbia
Trans Care BC -
www.phsa.ca/transcarebc/child-youth
Supports the delivery of equitable and accessible care, surgical planning, and peer and community support for trans people across the province of British Columbia.
Alberta
Skipping Stone Foundation -
www.skippingstone.ca
Connects trans and gender-diverse youth, adults, and families with comprehensive access to the support they need and deserve.
End of the Rainbow Foundation –
www.endoftherainbow.ca
Aims to improve socio-economic conditions for people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities or expressions by providing education, support programs, and research.
Saskatchewan
TransSask Support Services -
www.transsask.ca
A non-profit organization that supports LGBTQ2S+ individuals, their families, friends and allies.
Manitoba
Community Health Transgender Health Klinic –
www.klinic.mb.ca/health-care/transgender-health-klinic/
Provides care to transgender individuals 16+ years of age seeking transitioning care living in Manitoba.
Rainbow Resource Centre –
www.rainbowresourcecentre.org
Offers support to the LGBTQ2S+ community in the form of counselling, education, and programming.
Ontario
LGBT YouthLine -
www.youthline.ca
Phone: 1-800-268-9688
Text: 647-694-4275
An LGBTQ2S+ youth-led organization that affirms and supports the experiences of youth (29 and under) across Ontario.
Rainbow Health Ontario –
www.rainbowhealthontario.ca
Aims to help improve the health and well-being of LGBTQ2S+ people.
Central Toronto Youth Services (CTYS) –
www.ctys.org
A community-based, accredited Children’s Mental Health Centre that serves many of Toronto’s most vulnerable youth. They run programs for parents, as well as offering individual services for youth.
Families in TRANSition: A Resource Guide for Families of Transgender Youth. Central Toronto Youth Services. Retrieved from http://ctys.org/wp-content/uploads/Families-in-TRANSition.pdf.
Quebec
Aide aux Trans du Québec –
www.atq1980.org
Phone: 1-855-909-9038
Offers support on issues or questions relating to the trans-identity without judgement.
Action Santé Travesti(e)s et Transsexuel(le)s du Québec [ASTT(e)Q] -
www.astteq.org/index.html
Aims to promote the health and well-being of trans people through peer support and advocacy, education and outreach, and community empowerment and mobilization.
Atlantic Canada
Clinic 554 -
www.clinic554.ca/index.html
A family practice in Fredericton, New Brunswick, focusing on reproductive, transgender, LGBT/Queer, and HIV health care.
Halifax Sexual Health Centre –
www.hshc.ca/transgender-health/
Provides safe access to sexual and reproductive health care and education.
Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project (NSRAP) –
www.nsrap.ca
An organization that seeks equity, justice, and human rights for LGBTQ2S+ people in Nova Scotia.
The Youth Project –
www.youthproject.ns.ca
A non-profit organization dedicated to providing support and services to youth (25 years and under) around issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Transgender Health Services PEI -
www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-pei/transgender-health-services
Provides information on transgender health care in Prince Edward Island.
The territories
Better to know –
www.bettertoknow.yk.ca/en
Phone: 1-800-739-7367
A Yukon-based website that answers sexual health, relationship and identity questions.
Queer Yukon Society –
www.queeryukon.com
Supports, promotes and organizes events for the LGBTQ2S+ community and allies in Whitehorse, Yukon.
Rainbow Coalition of Yellowknife -
www.rainbowcoalitionyk.org
An outreach organization based in Yellowknife that works to support LGBTQ2S+ youth in the Northwest Territories.
I Respect Myself -
www.irespectmyself.ca/en
A Nunavut-based website that answers sexual health, relationship and identity questions.
Changing your name or sex designation
Canada
Choose or update the gender identifier on your passport or travel document
British Columbia
Changing/Correcting a Name, Birthdate, or Gender
Alberta
Apply for a legal change of name
Sex indicator amendment on an Alberta birth record
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
How to change a first, middle or last name
Gender and sex information on government IDs and forms
Quebec
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Change your name or the name of your spouse or child
Change your sex indicator if you’re 16 or older
PEI
Newfoundland and Labrador
Yukon
Change your given name or last name
Change sex on a birth registration
Northwest Territories
Name Change – Northwest Territories