Resources for Transgender Youth in Texas

Get Help

¡Vea este sitio en español!

As of September 1, Senate Bill 14 has gone into effect in Texas, temporarily cutting off critical and evidence-based medical care for transgender youth in our state. This law is cruel, unconstitutional, and goes against the unequivocal guidance of every major medical association.

As our fight continues in court (see our Legal Updates page), it is more important than ever to love and support each other and unite against lawmakers’ relentless bullying of transgender youth.

Transgender people have existed in Texas long before it was a state and have strived for over a century to be equally recognized in our society and under the law. As this fight continues and we collectively face an unprecedented moment of backlash, we will be equally relentless in our love and support for each other and will not be erased.

Check out Transgressive: A trans survival guide by and for queer and trans people in Texas from the Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT).

Access Resources for Transgender Youth & Families in Texas Impacted by SB14 from the Campaign for Southern Equality, Equality Texas, and TENT.

And check out this Mental Health Toolkit from Equality Texas, as well as additional resources below.

As further explained on the Legal Updates page, we still have court orders blocking investigations into transgender youth and their families for medical care they receive by the Texas Department of Family Protective Services, which were recently affirmed by the Third Court of Appeals. If you or someone you know is contacted by DFPS about health care for transgender youth, you have a right to legal counsel and can contact the Lambda Legal Help Desk.

To request other legal assistance, please visit the ACLU of Texas or Lambda Legal websites.

Other Important Resources

  • Our case page in the Loe v. Abbott court case, which aims to restore access to medical care for transgender youth in Texas.
  • Parent Resource Folder from the Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT), which includes tips about safe folders, a card your child can carry in case they’re approached by CPS alone, information about federal actions to support trans Texans, and more. You can reach out to TENT with other questions and needs, including needing help accessing medical care, at [email protected].

Remember, if DFPS contacts you: 

  • Even if an intake specialist shows up at your door, you don't have to let them in and can schedule for a later date. This could give you time to get legal representation and ensure they’re in the initial call.
  • Immediately contact Lambda Legal for a referral to pro bono attorneys. 
  • Do not hand over your safe folder or sign any documents authorizing the release of private information or medical records. Do not talk about the healthcare your child is receiving. 
  • Make sure your child knows they do not have to speak to anyone from DFPS, even if they’re approached at school. 

Disclaimer: No part of this webpage constitutes legal advice. Please contact Lambda Legal, the ACLU of Texas, or other attorneys if you need legal counsel.

Mental Health Resources

The below list of resources was developed in April 2024 and some information may be subject to change. By providing the resources below, we cannot vouch for these programs and some crisis hotlines may contact 911 or first responders when required to under the law. With that said, we hope these resources are useful and that you can find the help that you need.

Equality Texas Mental Health Toolkit: Access it here

LGBTQIA+ specific hotlines
General crisis hotlines
Other sites to visit for help

↑ Return to Top

LGBTQIA+ Organizations in Texas

Statewide
Abilene
Amarillo
Austin 
Beaumont
Boerne
Brownsville
Bryan/College Station
Corpus Christi
Dallas
El Paso
Fort Worth
Georgetown
Houston
Lubbock
McAllen
Rio Grande Valley
Odessa
San Angelo
San Antonio
Tyler
Waco
Wichita Falls
The Woodlands

↑ Return to Top

Become an advocate today to help defend the rights of all trans people in Texas, especially kids.

Become an Advocate