How can you advocate for your child?

You might worry that your transgender child will be shunned and experience discrimination or physical harm at school or in your community. To prevent these problems and advocate for your child:

• Connect with other families who have a gender-diverse child. This can help reduce any isolation you and your child might be experiencing. Look for an in-person or online support group.

• Work with your child's school and teachers. Talk to them about how to stop or prevent bias and bullying before it starts. Ask for gender training to be included in staff development. Come up with a plan for how your child will be addressed in school, which bathroom your child will use, and how to interpret rules about participation in teams, clubs and overnight activities. Choose whether you want to share information about your child's gender identity with other parents.

  If your child experiences harassment or discrimination at school and the school system fails to address the problem, take action. Research your legal options and talk to school administrators about them.

• Reach out within your community. Work with local institutions to make them safer for gender-diverse and transgender children. Also, consider supporting or volunteering for gender organizations to learn more and help others learn.

Whatever your child's gender identity, do your homework and seek appropriate care. Showing your love and acceptance will also help your child feel comfortable in his or her body and in the world.