Family acceptance has been shown to be the greatest protective factor for transgender youth.
Get Started With HSZ&W
Fill out our confidential contact form
You will receive an automated email to set up a video Welcome Call with one of our facilitators. **If you do not receive this email, please check your spam and trash folders.
Have initial video welcome call
HSZ&W participants report that the first conversation is essential to getting started and feeling more comfortable moving forward.
During this video call, our facilitators are able to:
- Listen for understanding about each family’s unique situation
- Provide introductory resources appropriate for the family’s needs
- Explain what to expect when attending a support & education meeting
- Make a connection to help reduce feelings of being overwhelmed and fearful.
Educational Support Meetings
He She Ze and We meetings are designed for adult family members that would like to learn more about gender identity and how to support their transgender, nonbinary, or gender-diverse loved one. Our facilitators and attendees work together to create a brave space that is supportive and confidential. HSZ&W meets people where they are on their journey of acceptance of gender diversity with a goal to help them leave each meeting feeling more confident, hopeful, and less alone.
Being in a small group setting, virtual or in-person, with other people sharing their own personal lived experiences helps newcomers understand the possibilities of moving forward with action steps to support their gender expansive loved one(s).
If you are interested in bringing in-person HSZ&W programming to your area, please contact us.
Current Meeting Types
- In-Person Meetings: Richmond, Arlington, Fredericksburg, Warrenton, Williamsburg
- Virtual Morning & Evening Meetings
- Just Us: for our BIPOC and multi-racial families
- Orientation: 2-hour training, extended family members invited to learn
HSZ&W Family Connections
Our Family Connections program provides opportunities to gather with other families of gender-diverse, school-age youth (K-12) to foster personal relationships, decrease social anxiety, and build community on a local and state level.
More Information
These gatherings are organized by our staff and take place in different parts of Virginia throughout each month. Some areas include Richmond and surrounding counties, Charlottesville, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Lynchburg, New River Valley, Crozet, and Northern Virginia.
“Family connections gave my husband (and I) a vision of what’s possible for my kiddo – acceptance for their whole being and ways of gender identity and gender expression – without making that the only or most important thing about them.“
Private consultations for an individualized approach
Schedule a private consultation with our Executive Director, Shannon McKay, about navigating your next steps. This could include suggestions about how to advocate for your child in school; gaining support of extended family and friends; supporting siblings; sharing specific resources to meet your family’s needs; updating legal documents, etc. Click here to get on her schedule.