Meeting the need... Serving the future

TransActive is an internationally recognized non-profit focused on serving the diverse needs of transgender (TG) and gender nonconforming (GNC) children, youth, their families and allies.

What we do...

Client Services imageOur award-winning staff specializes in delivering experienced, professional, compassionate and affirming counseling and case management services to children, youth and families.

Following guidelines established by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and our own Running the Race Standard of Care, TransActive leads the way through close collaboration with pediatric endocrinologists and family care physicians.

Working with social service agencies, TransActive has become an established provider of care to transgender, gender nonconforming and genderqueer youth.

Community Education image
TransActive offers academic, professional and community gender identity focused training and educational services through our STAR Training program.

Training and education may be associated with a specific family request or initiated by an organization, agency or community group as part of diversity or core competency training.

Our Speakers Bureau can also provide award-winning, knowledgeable and entertaining presenters for conferences, luncheons, public events, professional seminars and more.

   


What parents have to say...


Cisgender, Gender Nonconforming or Transgender?

While everyone's assigned birth sex (male or female) is designated by others based primarily on the external appearance of our anatomy1, our gender identity is solely based upon an internal and individual sense of ourselves as male, female, androgynous,
non-gender or a unique blend of all the above.

For most people, their assigned birth sex (more or less) matches how they experience their internal gender identity. This is known as being cisgender (CG).

Many cisgender people do not conform to the social or cultural stereotypes that are expected of them. This can range from the kind or color of clothes someone wears, to  the way they speak or words they use when they speak or the way they move or gesture. It can also be reflected in gender non-stereotypical career choices.
All of these variations are examples of gender nonconformity (GNC).

10% of children are singled out due to gender nonconformity2

Transgender ('trans' or TG for short) is a widely used 'umbrella' term describing children and youth who do not relate to, experience or express their gender identity in a way that corresponds either to social or cultural gender stereotypes, their physical anatomy or assigned birth sex.

Could your child be transgender?

I Am Transgender posterThe short answer is, yes. Transgender identity (or the cultural equivalent3) occurs in children of every nationality, religion, ethnicity and economic status in every corner of the world. Being transgender is as natural as being cisgender... just more rare.

1% of all children may be transgender4

While there is a great deal of misinformation and myths surrounding the lives and experiences of trans people, the truth is that in most ways they are just like everyone else... even if they are kids. And they need the same things all children need, unconditional love and affirmation for who they are.

We hope you find information that may be helpful to you here. Look around and let us know if there are ways in which we can assist you or your child.

You're not alone.


1. Some children are born with genitalia that is not obviously male or female. They may be what is known as 'intersex'. For more information on this, visit the Intersex Society of North America.
2. “Childhood Gender Nonconformity: A Risk Indicator for Childhood Abuse and Posttraumatic Stress in Youth,” Andrea L. Roberts, Margaret Rosario, Healther L. Corliss, Karestan C. Koenen, S. Bryn Austin. Pediatrics, doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-1804, online February 20, 2012.
3. Two-Spirit (Native American), Kathoey (Thailand), Fa'Fa' Fine (Samoa), etc.
4. San Francisco Unified School District School Climate Study (2008)