Ways to show your support for transgender and non-binary people

Have you wanted to offer support for non-binary and transgender family or friends but don’t know where to start? The first step is to increase your understanding of the issues facing the transgender and non-binary community, so you know how to take meaningful action. 

Understanding these issues can be intimidating if you’re unclear about what’s helpful. The most important thing is that you’re learning, which enables you to go from a bystander to an ally for transgender (trans) and non-binary people. 

What is gender identity? 

According to NPR, a person’s gender identity is their internal perception of their gender. This can be male, female, trans, non-binary, or other official designations. 

For most people, their gender identity matches their biological sex (male or female). In the transgender or non-binary community, gender identity differs to varying degrees from the biological sex of a person when they’re born. 

10 things you can do to offer non-binary and transgender support

1. Be open-minded and willing to learn 

While the population of trans people is small—estimated at 1.4 million in the U.S.—there may be trans or non-binary people in your life who have not yet transitioned or may not currently be out to you. Just reading this document is a step in being open to learning about them and understanding their journey. 

2. Pay attention to the news in your area 

Whether it’s proposed legislation that’s overtly harmful to the trans and non-binary community or broader defunding of healthcare and resources, be aware of current events’ impact on these communities. 

3. Engage when and where you can 

That means calling or writing to government officials and others who have the power to make change happen. Every time you elevate your voice for non-binary and transgender support, you’re helping elevate their voices, too. 

4. Declare and use your pronouns 

Trans and non-binary people have fought for—and in many cases paid for—the right to use their correct pronouns. By using your pronouns in places like your email signature, social profiles, and more, you’re helping normalize the general use of pronouns. This is a big step toward helping everyone feel safe and fostering inclusion. 

5. Have age-appropriate conversations with your kids about trans and non-binary people

Some people mistakenly believe that being trans or non-binary is related to sexual orientation, but it’s not. It’s about identity and being who you truly are. Kids of all ages can understand what it means to feel like they’re being themselves. No more detail is necessary! If you need help getting a conversation started, try these resources.  

6. Better understand the role of hormones

Part of transitioning may include taking hormones. And for some, that can feel like going through puberty all over again. But this time, the hormones are a step toward being who they truly are. Imagine receiving medical care just to feel at home in your body. That’s what hormone treatment does. 

7. Be a health equity and equality advocate

To advocate for these concepts, we first need to look at their individual meanings.  

Health equality 

Health equality is the notion that everyone should receive equal healthcare regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, or religion. 

Imagine going to a doctor to treat a broken arm, and the doctor hesitates because you had your appendix out. That would be weird, wouldn’t it? The two medical issues are completely separate. But many medical institutions delay or deny care for trans people because they’ve transitioned – even when what they’re being treated for has nothing to do with their transition. 

Generally speaking, this hesitation isn’t rooted in bigotry but rather the fear of doing the wrong thing. If you have medical professionals in your family, talk with them about their transgender support and knowledge for their patients. 

Health equity

Health equity focuses on providing need-based healthcare. This builds on the concept of health equality because not all people need the same care. Different groups require different services depending on their situation.  

An example would be the global water crisis. In some areas, people lack running water or plumbing. These circumstances result in a specific set of health issues for those populations.  

In other areas, they may have plumbing but lack clean drinking water. This challenge presents its own challenges that require their own particular type of care. Health equity focuses on giving these people the care they need for their specific medical challenges – gender identity, race, or sexual orientation are not taken into account. 

Next time you see your doctor, ask them if they treat transgender patients. By simply talking about trans topics and assuring folks that all gender identities receive the same treatment for a broken arm or that a hysterectomy is done the same for a trans man as for a cisgender woman, the fear of the unknown is removed. 

8. Be an ally 

Whether or not a trans or non-binary friend or co-worker is in the room, defend them if you hear negative or ignorant remarks. Being a true ally means doing the right thing, even if no one’s around. 

9. Be open to feedback 

Sometimes, you may get it wrong when talking to or about transgender or non-binary people. But don’t get upset, defensive, or embarrassed if someone corrects you. Just keep a mindset of learning and doing better next time. 

Two of our trans employees connected as they shared their experiences about transitioning. They didn’t want their team to feel bad or apologize for using the incorrect pronoun by mistake but instead asked them to “Strive for 5” – a framework they use to describe levels of transgender allyship. 

10. Speak up and reach out

It doesn’t have to be traditional activism. Consider donating to charities that support trans youth or even to charities you already support but channel your donations to trans and non-binary-related programs. Look for charities that have a trans-positive policy, like your local food bank, or donate to non-profit organizations supporting transgender and non-binary individuals, like GenderCool. 

Foundation for change 

Our team at Intuit believes that providing true non-binary and transgender support means taking action. One of the ways we stand behind the LGBTQ+ community is through our annual Trans+ summit. 

This event takes place in conjunction with International Transgender Day of Visibility and offers both Intuit employees and external participants a unique opportunity to learn, share, and connect with worldwide members and allies of the transgender and non-binary community. 

Diversity and inclusion are more than just something we stand for here at Intuit. They’re concepts that make up who we are. We’ll continue to support human rights and help foster discussions about why they matter to our employees, their families, and the community.