“What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet."

Changing names is often a pivotal point in the coming out process for trans and gender-diverse individuals, and the conversation around the importance of a name in one's identity is universal.

Mental health professionals and those who provide gender-affirming care agree that the act of changing your name to something that matches better with who you understand yourself to be is a key pillar when it comes to mental healthcare for these individuals, and its significance should not be overlooked.

Keep reading here. 

The United States is seeing an unprecedented rise in anti-trans legislation. In 2021, more than 100 bills across 33 states aimed to prohibit gender-affirming care or restrict access to sports for transgender youth, according to the ACLU. Numerous other legislative efforts attempted to ban trans people from using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender; others aimed to restrict them from changing their sex on their birth certificate.

More than 17 of these bills were enacted, surpassing 2015 as the worst year for anti-trans legislation in history.

Keep reading here. 

June is Pride Month, when the world’s LGBTQ communities come together and celebrate the freedom to be themselves.

Pride gatherings are rooted in the arduous history of minority groups who have struggled for decades to overcome prejudice and be accepted for who they are.

The original organizers chose this month to pay homage to the Stonewall uprising in June 1969 in New York City, which helped spark the modern gay rights movement. Most Pride events take place each year in June, although some cities hold their celebrations at other times of the year.

Keep reading here. 

Amid a nationwide wave of what they call legislation targeting LGBTQ rights and representation, advocates are concerned about impact on the mental health of LGBTQ youth.

"LGBTQ youth suicide is a major public health crisis," said Amit Paley, chief operating officer of The Trevor Project, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention among LGBTQ youth.

Keep reading here.