By Sarah Swofford
So your partner just came out to you as transgender or non-binary? Congratulations! This is a really wonderful moment full of lots of changes and probably some challenges too, but remember what a privilege it is that someone so close to you trusted you enough to tell you this information.
I was, fortunately for me, the first person my husband came out to as trans, and I had the privilege of being by his side not only for his more public/social coming out, but also through his transition journey up to this point.
Now I’m going through a bit of a “gender awakening”, as we’ve been calling it, of my own, and he’s been right there supporting me too. Don’t get me wrong, while it’s mostly been affirming and positive for us in many ways, there have been challenges too.
We’ve both navigated a lot of huge feelings and have really stretched ourselves to our edges at times. We’ve dealt with lots of family drama, medical challenges, and social changes, and those things aren’t always simple to navigate.
Every transgender and/or non-binary person and couple have a different story with their own challenges and obstacles and celebrations, so this list is not a one size fits all by any means. My spouse and I have experienced a lot of privilege and also, our stories are unique to us, just as every non-binary/trans person’s stories and experiences are.
This is just a small list of some things we experienced or have found helpful in our journey, or advice friends have shared with us.
I hope that if this is something happening in your life or household, somewhere in this list you find something that can help you and your partner or loved one. In the meantime, welcome! We’re so glad you’re here!
1. Ask and affirm if they choose to go by new pronouns and/or a new name.
If your partner tells you they are transgender or non-binary, ask them if they want you to start using a different name for them or if they want to update their pronouns. It can take a little time to get used to a new name or pronouns, but as long as you are making a genuine effort, that’s what really counts. If you mess up, it’s okay, just correct yourself and move on! No need to make a big deal of it.
Also, if your partner decides to use multiple pronouns, try to use both of them and not just one. For example, I recently started using she/they pronouns instead of using just she/her as I did before, and my partner has done an amazing job at using both of my pronouns interchangeably. Some people that use multiple pronouns prefer one pronoun over another, and some want all of their pronouns to be used interchangeably, so be sure to clarify with your partner what they would like.
Ways to take this further: offer to help them figure out how to legally change their name. That could mean looking up lawyers or name change clinics that are sometimes hosted by local universities or advocacy groups. There’s a lot of paperwork that goes with the name change process so that’s another way to help them.
When my husband decided to legally change his name, I helped him with the mountain of forms that came with changing everything from credit cards to passports and everything in between. Sometimes just picking up or printing out the forms for someone can make things just a little easier and help them feel more supported.
2. Ask your partner how they want to be supported (this ties into the name and pronoun conversation).
After you talk about any name or pronoun changes, ask them exactly how they’d most like to be supported. There are lots of things you CAN do to help or assist them in their transition, but you want to make sure it’s what they actually want first.
Maybe they want you to help them file name change paperwork or set up doctor’s appointments (more on that later) but maybe they just want you to listen while they vent or process things too. Have a conversation about what it looks like to support them as an individual so you can both be on the same page.
3. Learn learn learn! Educate yourself as much as you can, without relying on your partner to be your only resource.
Get connected to resources like groups for partners & spouses of trans/non-binary people to learn more about supporting your partner; often these can be found on Facebook groups. Contact local advocacy groups and ask them how you can learn more, or check out larger organizations like HRC or GLAAD for lots of helpful articles and info. Here’s a couple of my favorites:
Often local LGBTQ+ organizations, conferences, and festivals have networking events both online and in person. These can be a great way to meet more people and learn more about the entire community as well as the specific branches you and your partner might find yourselves on.
Also, sometimes a partner coming out can bring up new questions for us about our own labels or identity. Don’t be afraid to investigate those questions and have plenty of self reflection time. And if it’s accessible to you, seeking out professional help like counseling can be really beneficial for individuals or the couple together.
Therapists, counselors, and other mental health professionals experienced in working with the LGBTQIA2+ community can help you learn and navigate all the new information and individual feelings surrounding this time.
4. If your partner tells you they want to pursue specific gender affirming healthcare like surgery or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for example, offer to help them plan for that care.
Offer to make phone calls and inquire about the policies and care for transgender & non-binary patients at different hospitals or medical facilities. Offer to make appointments for them. Sometimes making appointments can be stressful or intimidating, especially if you are feeling vulnerable, so offer to help your partner or spouse out by making an appointment for them so they can take that off of their to do list.
I made an appointment for my husband to go talk to a doctor about top surgery, after we had spent many hours discussing what doctors and clinics he was interested in. I was able to confirm that they had affirming practices and policies before my husband even stepped foot in the door, and at the time that was really comforting for him.
(Also, here is an important point- I got explicit permission to share aspects of my husband’s transition story for this article. Always check with your partner before sharing any sensitive or private information regarding their transition with anyone. We both openly talk about being in the LGBTQIA+ community on our YouTube channel SwirlBabyTV, but we still make a point to check in with one another before sharing aspects of our story in a different way.)
5. Help raise funds for their gender affirming care.
Unfortunately many healthcare plans do not cover gender affirming care. While more options are becoming available all the time, many states as well as insurance companies have a long way to go in providing comprehensive and accessible gender affirming care. If your partner is okay with it, you could try to assist in raising funds for their gender affirming care in a few ways.
Setting up an online fundraiser is one of the most common ways people help cover the costs of their care; you could offer to set up a fundraiser for your partner with their permission. Another option is to look into what grants different advocacy groups and organizations might offer. Some orgs, groups, and even companies offer special grants or funds for trans & non-binary people seeking gender affirming care.
Additionally, you could try getting a little creative. We hosted a combination bake sale/garage sale to raise funds for a gender affirming surgery. Many people with artistic talent sell a line of T-shirts or stickers as a fundraiser, and I’ve seen people sell homemade goods from pies to eco friendly dish soap as well!
Finally, here’s a link to an article that goes into more detail about other financial options like lines of credit or personal loans: https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/guide-paying-transgender-surgeries/
6. Offer to help them come out to family and friends.
This can mean physically being with them when they make a phone call or go to meet up with their family, or it can mean telling some people for them if that’s what they want. My spouse asked me to tell a couple of our friends so he didn’t have to be the one to bring it up first.
Sometimes it can get tiring figuring out exactly how and when to tell every person in your life this huge important news, and sometimes there are moments that you can let someone else handle that for you. If your partner asks for this kind of support, make sure you are both clear on what exactly they want you to share so you can help them most effectively.
7. Tell them you love them.
Coming out can be scary, exciting, nerve-wracking, exhilarating, and so many other things, but it’s usually a vulnerable and emotional moment. Show your partner that you appreciate them sharing something so important with you. Tell them you are glad that they feel safe telling you and you will support them in their transition.
Full disclosure, the night I finally decided to tell my partner I wanted to change my pronouns I got super nervous and even hid in our bathroom for over an hour after I told him because I felt so overwhelmed! Once I finally emerged he gave me a huge hug and told me he fully supported me. Even though I knew he’d react that way, in the moment fear and anxiety just won out and all I could do was run and hide for a minute.
Sometimes telling your truth is scary, even if you know you have a supportive partner waiting for you. Be patient with each other and yourselves, just continue to try to approach your partner with love and kindness.
8. Give them an affirming gift.
If you have a little bit of spare time or money, you could make or purchase a small gift to celebrate your partner or loved one coming out. Make them a congratulatory card, get them a trans or non-binary flag, bake some cupcakes in trans/non-binary flag colors, give them some flowers, or offer to help them get some new gender affirming items for their wardrobe.
9. Celebrate!
This kind of goes hand in hand with the affirming gift, but There are lots of ways to celebrate this happy news if physical gifts aren’t you or your partner’s thing.
My partner and I celebrate the day he started HRT by having a “T” party every year, complete with hot tea, scones, and sandwiches, the full afternoon tea setup. We know other people who have a birthday party to celebrate coming out milestones, and some who plan a day of their favorite things to commemorate a special day.
Celebrate however you can or however you want to, just have some fun together! Celebrating life’s milestones helps us feel connected and bonded, and it’s fun to find reasons to make lots of different life events into celebratory ones.
10. Stand up for them.
It would be so great if we lived in a world where every time someone came out, their friends and family rejoiced and were nothing but supportive and said only the right things. But that isn’t the reality of it for many people who come out.
Sometimes it’s really hard to constantly fight a barrage of invalidation or even straight up abuse like intentional misgendering or dead naming, so if you see an opportunity to support your partner by standing up for them or enforcing a boundary, do it.
Of course you have to think about everyone’s safety in the situation, but if you think the situation allows, make it clear that you won’t tolerate listening to anyone misgender or mis-name or verbally harass/abuse your partner or loved one.
Help your partner enforce a boundary by offering to leave the situation with them. Let them know that you’ve got their back, no matter what, even when it comes to the tough moments.
Again, this list is just a small fraction of possibilities and ideas. Focusing on expressing your love, encouragement, and support is the best thing you can do, and any gesture in that direction will not go unnoticed by your partner. Life is full of adventures, and this is just another opportunity to go on one together!