The Center for Gender Health - Patient Support & Resources

No matter where you are on the journey to affirm your identity – curiosity, ready to begin or somewhere along the way – you will find many resources at the Gender Health Center, as well as through a variety of local and national organizations, books and online resources.

Resources & Tools

What is gender identity?

Gender identity is your inner sense of who you are – male, female, both, neither or some other gender. Transgender people do not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth. If one’s gender identity falls outside the two most common categories of male or female, they might use the word “nonbinary.”

Gender Identity Issues: Getting Support

At Hartford HealthCare, we also offer young adults the services of our Right Track LGBTQ Specialty Track

Young Adult Services Right Track/LGBTQ Specialty

Pronouns

Pronouns are a short but powerful way to recognize someone’s gender identity. Try to ask the pronouns they prefer instead of assuming.

www.mypronouns.org

Legal Matters - Gender identity

There are services available to formally change your gender identity in Connecticut.

• CT TransAdvocacy
• Transgender Law Center
• Trans Youth Handbook by Harvard Law School LGBTQ Advocacy Clinic 
• Lambda Legal Connecticut 

Legal Matters - Name change

There are services available to formally change your name in Connecticut.

• A new identity usually means a new name. Learn more at CT TransAdvocacy.
• You can legally change your name on your driver’s license and in vital records.
• The organization Trans Linfeline may be able to help pay for legal documentation.

Healthcare and Insurance

Help with navigating the healthcare and insurance systems is available with the Transcend Legal and Trans Insurance Roadmap and the organization Out2Enroll.

General information

Maybe you have questions of your own, or want to answer the questions of others in your life. Here are some helpful educational resources you can use:

• Glossary of terms
• My Pronouns
• Sex Assigned at Birth and Gender Identity: What is the difference? (video)
• Trans 101 - The Basics (video)
• Why Gender Pronouns Matter (video)

Local support

The following organizations are here to support you as well as provide information and even friendship:

• Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness LGBTQ Specific Resources
• Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective
• Hartford Pride
• Jim Collins Foundation
  Provides financial assistance for gender-confirming surgery
• New Haven Pride Center
• PFLAG Hartford

National support

These organizations offer a variety of resources:

• Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
• Human Rights Campaign
• Know Your Rights: GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)
• National Center for Transgender Equality 
• PFLAG Transgender Network
   
• TransFamily Support Services
• Transgender American Veterans Association
• Transgender Military Advocacy Organization 
• TransYouth Family Allies

Education and advocacy

These websites and books offer a wealth of information:

• LGBTQ-Owned Business Directory
• National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center 
• Trans+ Book on Love, Sex, and Being You

Crisis and life-affirming support

Reach out for help at any time.

• National Suicide Prevention Hotline, 800.273.8255 or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org
• Support for LGBTQ+ youth who are Black, indigenous and of color
• Translifeline 
• The Trevor Project and the Trevor Support Center International