Exploring one’s sexual or gender identity can feel like an overwhelming experience, especially if you don’t have safe and supportive friends or family to talk with. You may have a lot of big feelings and questions and that’s natural and very common. Your identity journey is important, it matters, you matter. On this page we hope to connect you with resources and information about gender and sexual identity that will support you on your journey. For instructions to view this page in Spanish, click on en Español.
Families Connected Resources
Video: expert advice for teens
Words of encouragement from Linda K. Reeves, LMFT - “It gets better.”
Resources for parents of LGBTQ+ youth
Curated Gallery of Resources
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Things to do to help you feel better
Consider attending a GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance) club meeting at your school. GSA clubs, or GSAs for short, are student-run organizations that unite LGBTQ+ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them in their schools and communities. GSAs have evolved beyond their traditional role to serve as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in middle schools and high schools, and have emerged as vehicles for deep social change related to racial, gender, and educational justice.
Find a safe adult to talk with. If you don’t feel comfortable talking with your parents, seek out a safe teacher, coach, or counselor at school, or someone you know in the community. Sharing your thoughts with someone you look up to will help you feel better about what you’re going through.
Connect with other teens and their stories. Check out these resources:
Brave Trails is a national non-profit organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth leadership. We offer accredited summer camps, family camps, mentorship programs, meet-up groups, and year-round leadership programming. All of our programs focus on helping LGBTQ+ youth find what they need most to thrive: their people, their place and their passion
Gender Spectrum hosts free online groups for pre-teens, teens, parents, caregivers and other family members and adults. These groups provide you with the opportunity to connect with others, share experiences and feel the comfort of a supportive community. The Gender Spectrum Lounge is a space for teens, parents and professionals to connect. Members can form their own groups and participate in our broader online community. The Lounge also offers peer support.
It Gets Better Project is a non-profit which offers thousands of free It Gets Better© videos shared with them by LGBTQ+ youth, along with their original content series.
Get the support you need and ask your parents to attend a PFLAG meeting. These organizations can help:
With over 400 chapters nationally, there is bound to be a PFLAG support group near you. Click on the PFLAG logo to go to the PFLAG website and access their chapter finder in your Zip Code area. Confidential support is available for both parents and teens.
PFLAG South Bay/Manhattan Beach is the extended family of the LGBTQ+ community in the South Bay. They provide monthly support groups for parents, caregivers, family and loved ones of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender non-binary, queer and questioning individuals.
The Trevor Project provides extensive support to LGBTQ+ youth. This link will take you to a comprehensive resource page to find answers to frequently asked questions and explore resources related to sexual orientation and gender identity. The Trevor Support Center offers a 24/7 Lifeline, online instant messaging with a TrevorChat counselor, and TrevorText support.
Read about the importance of self acceptance. Check out these articles:
Self Acceptance as an LGBTQ Teenager (a youth blog published on Medium)
Could Gay-Straight Alliances Reduce Bullying? (Greater Good Science Center)
Seek mental health care if you are struggling with depression, anxiety, substance use, self-harm or suicidal ideation - or if you just want to feel better and gain clarity about your identity. Senate Bill 543 allows children ages 12 and older to consent to their own mental health care if a mental health professional deems them mature enough to intelligently participate in treatment. Visit our Virtual Teen Center for referral resources.
Inspiring stories from public figures
Click on the image of Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib to watch him discuss coming out as the first openly gay NFL player. He also pledged a $100,000 donation to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit working in crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ youth.
Click on the image of British olympic diver Tom Daly to hear his powerful message on being an LGBT athlete.
Recommended gender identity movie and video series
Filmed over five years in Kansas City, Transhood chronicles the lives of four young people (aged 4, 7, 12 and 15 at the start of filming) and their families as they navigate growing up transgender in America’s heartland (HBO). Complementing the premiere of HBO original TRANSHOOD, the TRANSlation Summit continues the conversation around the transgender experience, further educating viewers and promoting inclusivity. We share one of their YouTube videos below.
