Community Support Partners

Recommended Reading

The following books may be helpful to patients, families, partners, and other loved ones seeking more guidance about gender identity, transition-related care, and day-to-day questions that can arise along the way.

• Where’s MY Book?: A Guide for Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Youth, Their Parents, and Everyone Else: A resource covering topics such as gender identity, sexual orientation, puberty, puberty blockers, hormone treatment, gender-affirming surgeries, coming out, school issues, depression, and relationships.
• A Practical Reference for Transgender & Gender-Nonconforming Adults: A resource covering questions related to gender identity and dysphoria, hormone treatment, gender presentation, products, and masculinizing or feminizing surgeries.

Mental Health and Crisis Support

These organizations may be helpful for patients seeking crisis or emotional support, LGBTQIA2S+ mental health resources, or additional behavioral health guidance.

National

• The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQIA2S+ young people under 25. It also offers education, advocacy, and research focused on their mental health needs.
• Trans Lifeline: Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization that offers direct emotional support and financial assistance for trans people in crisis. Its services are designed by and for the transgender community.
• Addiction and Mental Health Support: Rehab.com offers a guide to LGBTQIA2S+-affirming addiction and mental health support, including what to look for in treatment and how care may address trauma, discrimination, and co-occurring mental health needs.

California

• California Peer-Run Warm Line: The Warm Line offers emotional support by phone or online chat to California residents seeking support but who are not in immediate crisis.
• Gender Wellness of Los Angeles: Gender Wellness of Los Angeles provides mental health care for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse communities in collaboration with a network of affirming medical and service providers.

General Healthcare and Clinical Support

These organizations offer identity-affirming healthcare, case management, referral support, or broader health services for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse patients.

San Francisco

• MarinHealth Gender Affirmation Surgery Resources: MarinHealth provides information and support resources related to gender-affirming surgery and associated care planning.
• UCSF Health Gender Institute at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital: The Gender Institute provides healthcare services for transgender and gender-diverse patients and families in the Bay Area.

Los Angeles

• APLA Health: APLA Health offers culturally affirming healthcare and support services, including transgender health services and community-based care in Los Angeles.
• St. John’s Community Health: St. John’s Community Health provides comprehensive transgender health services in a welcoming clinical setting.
• APAIT: APAIT provides integrated behavioral health services, health education, prevention programming, housing support, patient navigation, and HIV-related services for LGBTQIA2S+ communities, immigrants and refugees, and others seeking affirming care in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Support Groups and Community Organizations

These groups offer family support, peer connection, advocacy, education, and community-based services.

National

• TransFamilies: TransFamilies supports families, teenagers, and young adults through parent groups, workshops, discussion groups, and community education.
• Point of Pride: Point of Pride provides direct financial support to transgender people in need of gender-affirming health and wellness care, covering the costs of surgery, hormone therapy, hair removal, binders, and shapewear.
• The TransLatin@ Coalition: The TransLatin@ Coalition advocates for and supports trans Latinx communities through programs focused on leadership, housing, health, and social justice.

California

• Trans Family Support Services: Trans Family Support Services connects transgender people and their families with medical, legal, and social support.

San Francisco

• San Francisco LGBT Center: The San Francisco LGBT Center provides services, programs, and community space for LGBTQIA2S+ individuals, including career support, education, mentoring, social activities, and workshops.
• What’s T.E.A. East Bay: What’s T.E.A. East Bay provides community-building, education, and youth-focused programming for trans and gender-diverse young people.
• San Mateo County Pride Center: The San Mateo County Pride Center offers behavioral health services, community programming, and a safe gathering space for LGBTQIA2S+ communities across the Peninsula.
• El/La Para TransLatinas: El/La Para TransLatinas provides advocacy, programming, and support focused on the needs of trans Latinas in areas such as health, housing, employment, and legal support.

Los Angeles

• Los Angeles LGBT Center: The Los Angeles LGBT Center offers health, housing, education, leadership, and advocacy services, including transgender healthcare and mental health support.
• Gender Justice LA: Gender Justice LA is a grassroots organization focused on community-building, advocacy, and structural change for transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals, especially low-income trans people of color.
• True Voice: True Voice is a vocal development program for trans and nonbinary people. It uses music-based instruction to help patients explore and shape a speaking voice that better aligns with their identity.

Postsurgical and Practical Support

Recovery support can extend beyond medical follow-up. Some patients also plan for services that may help with their comfort and healing in the early postoperative period.

San Francisco

• Just For You Bodywork & Massage: Provides lymphatic drainage and postsurgical massage support.
• 8th Element Hyperbaric Medicine: Provides hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to support healing after surgery.

Hair Removal

Hair removal, or electrolysis, is often an important part of surgical preparation or longer-term gender-affirming care for some patients.

California

• Allura Skin & Laser Center — San Mateo
• Eden Electrolysis — San Jose
• San Francisco Bay Electrolysis — Redwood City
• jwskin electrolysis — San Rafael
• Avalon Skin Care and Electrolysis — San Mateo
• Prime Electrolysis — El Sobrante
• Beverly Hills Hair Free — Beverly Hills
• Layla’s Electrolysis & Skin Care — West Los Angeles
• Sabrena Smith Electrology — Los Angeles
• Aurora Electrolysis — Pasadena
• Flash Electrology — San Juan Capistrano and Orange County

Mountain / West

• Away with Hair — Fort Collins, CO
• ANYASolutions, LLC — Denver, CO
• Precision Electrolysis — Longmont, CO
• Electrology 3000 — Lewisville, TX
• Transformations Electrolysis, LLC — North Plains and Washington County, OR
• Electrolysis by Tami — Eugene, OR
• Rebirth Health Center — Holladay, UT
• Be a New Creation Spa — Seattle, WA
• Aesthetics & Electrology — Seattle, WA

Midwest / South / East

• Kelly, Inc. Electrolysis — Oak Park, IL
• Medi-Spa at Dermatology Center of Southern Indiana — Bloomington, IN
• Bliss Med Spa — Muncie, IN
• Advanced Center for Electrolysis, Laser & Skin — Cedar Rapids, IO
• A&A Laser, Electrolysis and Skin Care — Winchester and Newton area, MA
• Radiant Laser Hair Removal Center — Cincinnati, OH
• Advanced Electrolysis — Newburgh, NY
• Emancipated Electrolysis, LLC — Rochester and Brighton, NY
• Executive Clearance Electrolysis — Buffalo/Cheektowaga, NY
• Germantown Day Spa — Germantown, TN
• Ricochet’s Electrology — Glendale/Milwaukee, WI
• Hair Therapy Electrolysis and Waxing Spa — Greenfield and Elkhorn, WI

Canada

• Bluebird Laser — Toronto, ON

For the most current provider recommendations, please contact Align Surgical Associates.

Canadian LGBTQIA+ Resources

These organizations may be helpful for Canadian patients and families seeking community support, healthcare guidance, mental health resources, or peer connection.

Ontario

• Trans Wellness Ontario: Mental wellness organization offering individual support, community programming, and education/consultation services.
• OUTLoud North Bay: Youth organization offering peer support, workshops, and referral pathways for mental health, harm reduction, and gender-affirming care.
• The 519: Community centre focused on 2SLGBTQIA+ health, inclusion, leadership, and community services.
• Gilbert Centre: Nonprofit providing 2SLGBTQIA+ and HIV-related community programs and social support services.
• Friends of Ruby: Organization supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ youth ages 16 to 29 through free counselling, housing, and social services.
• MAX Ottawa: Community-based organization offering health and wellness programs for gay, trans, and non-binary people.
• SPECTRUM: Community organization offering support, affirmation, and programs for individuals, families, and allies.
• Access Alliance (Among Friends): Program supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomers with settlement help, referrals, and community-based services.
• Rainbow Health Ontario: Initiative advancing 2SLGBTQIA+ health equity through provider training, evidence-based resources, and advocacy.
• Senior Pride Network Canada: Volunteer-run network advocating for and expanding programs and services for older 2SLGBTQIA+ adults.
• Toronto Pflag: Parent and ally support network offering support groups, workshops, consultation, and advocacy for 2SLGBTQIA+ families.

Quebec

• Centre communautaire LGBTQ+ de Montréal: Community centre offering community services, organizational support, and a major library focused on sexual and gender diversity.
• West Island LGBTQ2+ Centre: Resource centre with programs, safe spaces, and support for youth, adults, seniors, families, and allies.

British Columbia

• QMUNITY: 2SLGBTQIA+ hub providing support, community connection, mental health services, legal help, and peer groups.

Alberta

• Pride Corner: Community gathering space and event hub for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and allies.
• Skipping Stone:  Nonprofit connecting trans and gender-diverse youth, adults, and families to low-barrier support, programs, and resources.
• Pride Centre of Edmonton: Community centre offering support, referrals, counselling, and programs for 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
• Centre for Sexuality: Community-based organization providing sexual health education, counselling, and training.
• Calgary Outlink: Nonprofit offering support, education, outreach, referrals, and connection opportunities for 2SLGBTQIA+ and allied communities.

Saskatchewan

• OutSaskatoon: 2SLGBTQIA+ community centre and service provider offering support services, youth housing, education, and counselling.
• UR Pride Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity: Organization offering community programs, workshops, and support services for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.

Manitoba

• Rainbow Resource Centre: Long-serving 2SLGBTQIA+ centre offering counselling, education, and programming for youth, adults, families, and older adults.

Prince Edward Island

• PEERS Alliance: Community-driven organization offering programs and services related to HIV, Hep C, sexual health, harm reduction, and diverse community support.