The following seeks to address questions from employees of the Department of State, USAID, and other foreign affairs agencies who are parents of LGBTQIA+ eligible family members (EFMs).
This information is grouped by topic below, was compiled by glifaa, and reflects our understanding of current U.S. government policy and available external resources. However, this informal Q&A is not an official publication of the Department of State nor any other U.S. Government agency and has not been cleared by any U.S. government source.
Please reach out to your healthcare provider, Management Section, Community Liaison Office, the Bureau of Medical Services, the Office of Overseas Schools, and/or your Human Resources office to confirm the accuracy of this information before taking any action based on the contents of this page.
This page was last updated in September 2022.
Parents of LGBTQIA+ EFMs Topics
Glifaa resources
The glifaa board often receives requests from parents of LGBTQIA+ youth for resources to support their children. Glifaa supports and advocates for LGBTQIA+ employees and EFMs of all ages and has a dedicated board member (the Parents and Family Members Coordinator) devoted to supporting the needs of parents of LGBTQIA+ EFMs and LGBTQIA+ family members (including LGBTQIA+ children).
The glifaa board also maintains a private Facebook-based support group for Foreign Service Parents of LGBTQIA+ EFMs. For more information on how to join this group, please email board@glifaa.org with a request to join the group.
External Resources
We have compiled a non-exhaustive list of resources to help LGBTQIA+ families get started. If you have additional questions or concerns, please reach out to board@glifaa.org to request an individual advocacy case consultation.
U.S. LGBTQIA+ Crisis Support Hotlines (24/7 immediate support)
The Trevor Project (TreverLifeline, TrevorChat, TrevorText)
Trans Lifeline
SAGE National LGBTQ+ Elder Hotline
General Information for Parents of LGBTQIA+ Youth
Children’s National Gender Development Program
Gender Spectrum Homepage
Gender Spectrum – Parenting and Family
Gender-Diverse & Transgender Children
The Trevor Project — Saving Young LGBTQ Lives
Family Support: Resources for Families of Transgender & Gender Diverse Children
PFLAG
Bisexual Resource Center – Bi Youth
Guide to Talking About Family Acceptance & Transgender Youth
Trans Youth Equality Foundation
Medical and Health Care Resources
CDC LGBTQ Youth Resources | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health
World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)
Stanford Medical School – LGBTQ Medical Education Research Group
New York Times – Helping Pediatricians Care for Transgender Children
American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement: Ensuring Comprehensive Care and Support for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children and Adolescents
John Hopkins – Helping Transgender Children and Youth
National LGBT Health Education Center – Providing Inclusive Services and Care for LGBT People
CDC – Additional Resources for Health Care Providers
American Medical Association – Creating an LGBTQ-friendly practice
American Academy of Family Physicians – LGBTQ Health Toolkit
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine – Best Practices in LGBT Primary Care
GLMA – Resources for Providers & Researchers
American Medical Association – Preventing suicide in LGBTQ youth
Trans Lifeline
School Resources
GLSEN – Resources
The Trevor Project – In School
The Trevor Project – Model School Policy
PFLAG – Cultivating Respect: Safe Schools for All
LGBT Map – Talking About Transgender Students & School Facilities Access
Human Rights Campaign – Schools In Transition: a Guide for Supporting Transgender Students in K-12 Schools
National Center for Transgender Equality – Know Your Rights: Schools
Legal Resources
Lambda Legal National Resources for LGBTQ Youth
Transgender Law Center – Youth Resources
NCLR Transgender Youth Project
ACLU – LGBT Rights
Department of State – Selecting Your Gender Marker
Transgender Law Center – Identity Documents Resources
DC Area Support Groups & Resources
Whitman Walker – Youth Services
The DC Center for the LGBT Community
PFLAG of DC
TGEA Co-sponsored Groups – Play Group Age 4 -12
Safe Space NOVA
Rainbow Youth Alliance of Maryland
DC.gov – LGBTQ Resources for Families
Rainbow Families DC
Equality Virginia
Capital Pride – Youth Resources
SMYAL
DC Area Transmasculine Society (DCATS)
MAGIC DC (Metro Area Gender Identity Connection of Washington DC)
GQ DC | Genderqueer community of DC
Montgomery County, MD MoCo Pride Center
GenOUT Chorus
DCPS – Leading with Pride
DC-Area Mental Health Care Providers and Social Workers
The Truman Group – Psychological Care for Expats
John Thomas, MA
Thomas Coughlin, LCPC, NCC
Stacey Karpen-Dohn, PhD, LPC
Sean Lare, LICSW
Timothy Elliott, MSW
Emily L Rizzo, LPC, LCPC, NCC
(You can search a more extensive list of social workers and therapists in the United States at Psychology Today and may need to use a U.S.-based VPN to access provider information from the Psychology Today website from outside the United States.)
DC-Area Gender Affirming Care Providers and Clinics
Children’s National Hospital Gender Development Program (all ages)
Whitman-Walker Health (medical support for ages 13 and older)
INOVA Pride Clinic (primary care for ages 12 and older)
Reading List for Kids and Adults
Gender Born, Gender Made
Raising the Transgender Child
Our Children: Questions and Answers for Families of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Gender Expansive, and Queer Youths and Adults
Our Trans Loved Ones: Questions and Answers for Parents, Families, and Friends of People who are Transgender and Gender Expansive
Diverse Children’s Books: Trans and Non-Binary Children
Great LGBTQ Books for Kids
This is a Book for Parents of Gay Kids
The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals
The Long-Term Damage of Not Supporting a Trans Child
How to Be a Girl Podcast
The Gender Identity Workbook for Kids
It Feels Good to Be Yourself: A Book about Gender Identity
Disclaimer
These resources are provided as a courtesy. Links to external websites, individual practices, and organizations are not an endorsement or guarantee by glifaa of the information or services provided by these individuals or organizations. Providers listed may specialize in treating LGBTQIA+ youth in the Washington, D.C. area. This list is not exhaustive and glifaa does not recommend or endorse any of the listed providers. You can search a more extensive list of social workers and therapists in the United States at Psychology Today (you may need to use a U.S.-based VPN to access the Psychology Today website from outside the United States). Please contact the glifaa board at board@glifaa.org to suggest additions to this list.
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