SC Pride

Greater Boston PFLAG’s toolkit From Education to Advocacy: Disarming Disinformation allows you to identify primary sources of information, understand how disinformation exploits people’s fears, and craft responses which allay these fears and affirm LGBTQ+ youth.

The Trevor Project offers this introductory educational resource that covers topics and best practices on how to support transgender and nonbinary young people.

The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) young people. Their goal is to serve 1.8 million crisis contacts annually, by the end of our 25th year, while continuing to innovate on our core services envisioning a world where all LGBTQ young people see a bright future for themselves.

Children 

Hall, Michael. Red: a crayon’s story. Because he was mislabeled, everyone thinks Red is Red. A friend’s different perspective allows others to see him as he really is. Fiction. Ages 3-7

Herthel, Jessica and Jazz Jennings. I am Jazz. The story of Jazz Jennings, a transgender youth. Assigned male at birth, Jazz felt she had a girl brain and a boy body. Ages 4-8

Hirst, Jo. A house for everyone: a story to help children learn about gender identity and gender expression. About gender identity, gender expressions, and gender acceptance. Fiction. Ages 4-8

Locke, Katherine. What are your words? A book about pronouns. Ari’s words change every day. At a neighborhood bash, Ari doesn’t know what words fit for that day. Everyone else seems to be sure of their words. But when the fireworks start, Ari becomes sure of the correct words for that day. An introduction to gender-inclusiveness pronouns. Fiction. Ages 4-8.

Love, Jessica. Julian is a mermaid. When Julian sees 3 beautiful mermaids, on the subway, he decides to transform himself into a mermaid. But what will his grandmother think? A story of nonconformity and acceptance. Fiction. Ages 4-8

Pittman, Gayle. A church for all. Describes a church where diversity is practiced; a church that welcomes all, whether LGBTQ, rich, poor, homeless, drug-addicted, etc. Fiction. Ages 3-5

Royce, Ellie. Auntie Uncle: drag queen hero. Leo is an accountant by day and drag queen Lotta at other times. His nephew helps him create an image to help introduce Auntie Uncle to friends who don’t know about the drag queen identity. Fiction. Preschool-grade 2

Sanders, Rob. Pride: the story of Harvey Milk and the rainbow flag. How the PRIDE flag, a symbol of equality and inclusion, came to be through Harvey Milk’s inspiration and his collaboration with Gilbert Baker. Ages 3-9

Sanders, Rob. Stonewall: a building, an uprising, a revolution. The story of the Stonewall Inn and its role in the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement. Ages 5-8

Youth

Hardy, Mark. Nothing pink. A story of 15-year-old Vincent’s friendship and romance with his first love, Robert. Fiction.  Ages 9-12

 Howard, Greg. Middle school’s a drag—you better werk! 12-year-old, newly-out Mikey starts a popular talent agency with a 13-year-old drag queen as his first client. Fiction. Ages 10-13

Howard, Greg. The Whispers. 4 months after his mother’s disappearance, 11-year-old Riley decides to search for her himself with the help of the Whispers. Riley is also dealing with his secret crush on an 8th grade boy. Fiction. Grades 5-6

Kuklin, Susan. Beyond magenta: transgender teens speak out. Six transgender teens tell the story of their experiences. Brutally honest, yet interesting and sometimes funny, the teens talk about what they’ve gone through, some with support systems and others without.  Grades 9-12

Mardell, Ashley. The ABCs of LGBT+: a gender identity book for teens, teen and young adult LGBT issues. Includes personal anecdotes, infographics, resources, definitions. Ages 12 up

Adult

Barkin, Janna. He’s always been my son; a mother’s story about raising her transgender son. Barkin talks about raising a transgender son, from birth to adulthood, and the support received from family and friends. Includes glossary and list of support sources. 

Cheatham, Crustal, Will Remigio and Adam Evers, ed. Queer hands of God. Stories of LGBTQ+ people who have walked among us and served as God’s hands in helping others. 

Kim-Kort, Mihmee. Outside the lines: how embracing queerness will transform your faith. The author—a wife, mother, minister, and queer—talks about the “boundary breaking love of God”.

Lee, Justin. Torn: rescuing the Gospel from the gay-vs-Christian debate. Lee felt a call to evangelical Christian ministry, yet was also aware that he was gay. His study of the Bible brought him to self-acceptance. 

Lemay, Mimi. What we will become: a mother, a son, and a journey of transformation. Lemay describes her child’s transgender journey, and her own journey beyond her ultra-Orthodox Jewish upbringing.

Martin, Colby. Unclobber: rethinking our misuse of the Bible on homosexuality. Reexamines the six frequently used passages of Scripture in regards to the topic of homosexuality. 

Mason, Janet. They: a Biblical tale of secret genders. Tabitha becomes pregnant by a shepherd and gives birth to intersex twins. She and her twin sister Tamar trick Judah, a patriarch, into believing he is responsible, so that Tabitha gains status in society rather than being burned at the stake. Fiction.

Via, Dan O.  and Robert J. Gagnon. Homosexuality and the Bible, two views. Two New Testament scholars discuss the Biblical texts regarding homosexual behavior and orientation in their cultural contexts and for Christians today. 

Wink, Walter. Homosexuality and Christian faith: questions of conscience for the churches. Evangelical, conservative, and liberal contributors discuss the ambiguity of Scripture regarding the issue of homosexuality, and the need to use human sciences and Christian ethics as further sources on the issues. 

Click here for details about how to check out our books.

Based in Lowell, MA, The Center for Hope and Healing offers workshops upon request to cover a range of LGBQ/T topics from gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, to best practices in supporting the trans people in your life. We adapt material to fit the needs and understanding of the group present which can range from introductory workshops to more specialized ones on narrower topics for example dysphoria, passing, and microaggressions.

NPR offers this guide as part of their special series on Pride Month. “Issues of equality and acceptance of transgender and nonbinary people — along with challenges to their rights — have become a major topic in the headlines. These issues can involve words and ideas and identities that are new to some.

That’s why we’ve put together a glossary of terms relating to gender identity. Our goal is to help people communicate accurately and respectfully with one another….” Read more by clicking below.

The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General (AGO) is proud to present the Mental Health and Gender-Affirming Care Resource Guide for Massachusetts LGBTQ2IA+ Young People and Their Trusted Adults.

The AGO works every day toward creating a world where people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions – and in particular LGBTQ2IA+ youth – are treated equally and have equal opportunities to access services…This Guide is a starter kit to ensuring that vulnerable youth are given every chance to succeed.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community have unique and complex health needs that heterosexuals don’t face. Health disparities and barriers to care can make staying healthy challenging, but knowing LGBTQ+ health risks can ensure you stay on top of your health. Local and national resources can help you prevent or treat these health conditions with the right medical testing, care and support.…click here to read more.

Drugwatch.com has provided reliable, trusted information about general health, medications, and medical devices since 2008. Their team includes experienced medical writers, award-winning journalists, researchers and certified medical and legal experts. Drugwatch.com is HONCode (Health On the Net Foundation) certified. This means the high-quality information we provide comes from credible sources, such as peer-reviewed medical journals and expert interviews. Their writers are members of professional associations, including American Medical Writers Association, American Bar Association, The Alliance of Professional Health Advocates and International Society for Medical Publication Professionals.

“Several surveys indicate a clear link between people who identify as LGBTQ+ and increased substance misuse risk. People in the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to experience social stigma, discrimination, rejection, abuse and ostracism from society and even their families. People who identify as anything but heterosexual often face more challenges in their life, in addition to daily stressors, and as a result are at a higher risk of developing mental health and substance use disorders…”

All LGBTQIA+ volunteer peer support (free & confidential)
A safe space
Respect to those who seek our help
Acceptance and affirmation
Supportive listening, not advice
Answers to factual questions
Resources locally, nationally, and internationally

The National Center for Transgender Equality advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. In the nation’s capital and throughout the country, NCTE works to replace disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, opportunity, and justice.

Trans Lifeline connects trans people to the community support and resources we need to survive and thrive.