All gender journeys are valid.
There are many ways to come to understand your gender and share it with people around you. This process of understanding our gender and identifying any related health and care needs is often a journey that unfolds over time. Young people’s needs and the steps they take to share and feel affirmed in their gender differ from person to person and may not be linear.
There is no one way to be gender diverse, and each young person is unique in their identity and in their journey.
Someone going through a gender journey may need social support or affirmation. There are non-medical steps a youth may take to express and feel affirmed in their gender. These kinds of steps are flexible and reversible. Changing pronouns, finding the words to describe gender, or shifting your name and appearance (i.e., clothing, hairstyle and makeup) are all options. Often we refer to this as “social transition”.
For a smaller number of people, their journeys may also include the need for gender affirming medical care. Medical affirmation may include accessing medications such as pubertal or menstrual suppression, hormone therapy and for some older youth and adults, gender-affirming surgery.
Having accessible resources, supportive adults and access to care providers who can help are crucial parts of ensuring the wellbeing of trans, Two-Spirit and non-binary young people.
“There have been times when I have posted things online during trans day of visibility, or some other day like Two-Spirit Day. There I am feeling proud and sharing personal milestones, celebrating and there is just radio silence...I read into this. I wish those around me could just celebrate along with me.”
— Indigenous youth on the importance of celebrating gender journeys
