Trans-Kin: a Guide for Family & Friends of Transgender People

Trans-Kin is a new resource for transgender individuals and their families, friends, and allies. It is a collection of stories from significant others, family members, friends, and allies of transgender persons, or SOFFAs, as Trans-Kin refers to this group. “The purpose of this guide for family and friends is to provide a safe space for SOFFAs to share their own journeys, in some ways similar and in other ways quite different, from their transgender loved one,” says Trans-Kin’s website.

The collection includes 50 personal stories as well as a comprehensive glossary, list of frequently asked questions, and resources. Trans-kin, or the kinship of transgender people, experience journeys simultaneously as their transgender loved ones do. They experience an emotional process of coming to terms with the transgender status of a loved one, and often experience a need for safe space to explore their own emotions and potential identity challenges. “As resources grow and expand for transgender members of our society, so too must the resources for their Trains-Kin.” This collection offers one of the first comprehensive guides for trans-kin.

On Trans-Kin’s website, Dave Parker, the book’s editor and the leader of PFLAG’s Transgender Network (TNET), said, “Those of us in the transgender community – transpeople and allies alike – will recognize many of the authors and most of the situations the authors experienced. Even so, there is much to be gained by reading and sharing this latest publication.”

The editors of Trans-kin, Cameron and Eleanor recognized the need for a guide to help SOFFAs process the transgender status of a loved one. Cameron, a transgender man, is currently working on his Ph.D. in Sociology, and Eleanor, an ally of the transgender community, is a Senior Instructor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

We applaud Cameron, Eleanor, Dave, and every person who contributed to this great resource. Trans-Kin is deeply aligned with PFLAG’s mission, as it offers support and education for transgender persons and SOFFAs. The stories in Trans-Kin will help transgender individuals, their families, and friends better understand their own journey while also fostering a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.

For More Information: To learn more about Trans-Kin and to order your copy today, click here.