TRANS RESOURCES
- PIPER ROBBINS
- Jun 21
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 22
Looking for trans-inclusive healthcare, support groups, and resources? Check out these organizations that empower the LGBTQ+ community of Cleveland and Akron.
MARGIE'S HOPE
TRANSALIVE!
TransAlive! is a peer led support group for anyone who does not identify as cisgender. If you’re unable to attend meetings in person, they have a private Facebook page linked on their website for those who want a space to talk to their trans/non-binary peers.
TRANSALIVE! AKRON
TransAlive! Akron meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 6pm at the Fairlawn-West United Church of Christ - 2095 West Market Street, Akron, OH, 44313. *We are not affiliated with any religious group, but the church allows us a meeting space. Akron facilitator: Natalie Martin, natalie@margieshope.org.
TRANSALIVE! CLEVELAND
TransAlive! Cleveland meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 6pm at Margies Closet - 1384 W 117th St, Lakewood, OH, 44107. Cleveland facilitator: Monica Veliz, president@margieshope.org.
MARGIE'S KIDS
Margie’s Kids (Akron) is a mentor-led activities group for trans/non-binary children and teens to learn, question, and grow with peers in a safe space. All mentors are transgender or have direct experience with the trans community, and have been given background checks to ensure the safety of the children.
MARGIE'S KIDS (AKRON)
Margie’s Kids (Akron) meets the 1st Friday of every month at 6pm at Fairlawn-West United Church of Christ - 2095 West Market Street, Akron, OH 44313. The same time and place as our parents’ group: Margie’s Pride. *We are not affiliated with any religious group, but the church allows us a meeting space.
LGBTQ+ CENTER CLEVELAND
The LGBTQ+ Community Center has free programs like Queer Youth Initiative, Rainbow Pioneers, Trans+, Popular Opinion Leaders, Building a Village, Circles of Support, and Community Groups. They posted their 2025 PROGRAM GUIDE (listed under programs tab, available for free download) so finding support has never been easier! All of their programs are listed with the following information: days/times for the meeting, meeting description, and if it is drop-in based or by appointment.
TRANS+
Trans+ is available for transgender and non-binary individuals to meet up and talk about their journeys, provide resources to each other, and support one another while the trans community is being challenged or threatened by outside forces.
TRANS+ WEST
Wednesdays and Fridays, 5:00PM - 7:00PM (drop-in based)
Location: LGBT CENTER CLEVELAND
TRANS+ EAST
2nd and 4th Thursday of the month, 5:00PM - 7:00PM (drop-in based)
Location: CENTRAL OUTREACH (2040 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, OH)
TRANSFAMILY
Monthly 4th Saturday, 11:00AM - 1:30PM (drop-in based)
For more info about this group, you can call (216) 302-8499.
LGBTQ+ VETERANS GROUP
Wednesday’s, 6:00PM - 7:00PM (drop-in based)
Location: LGBT CENTER CLEVELAND
TRANS-INCLUSIVE HEALTHCARE SERVICES
LGBTQ+ PRIDE NETWORK
The Pride Network has options for medical and surgical transitions as well as behavioral health care (therapy, vocal coaching, gynecology, urology, etc.) and detransition care (for those who are shifting directions in their gender identity/expression or are unsafe being openly transgender due to their current environment, unsupportive family/friends, etc.). If you or someone you know is in the process of detransitioning, it is important to show them support and reassure them that just because they are detransitioning does NOT mean they are automatically cisgender or heterosexual. Fluidity in gender expression or identity is never a bad thing!!
WHAT TO EXPECT: MEDICAL TRANSITION
HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY
Your first visit is a consultation meaning you most likely will not be prescribed hormones during your first appointment. The Pride Network uses informed consent model meaning anyone over the age of 18 can receive HRT without a doctor's note or letter of recommendation from a therapist/counselor.
They will ask you questions about: your medical history (past prescriptions, past and current mental health care), as well as your family/friends/community support, and timeline for treatment.
Before starting treatment you will have to do the following (not necessarily during your first visit, only when you’re comfortable):
blood tests (determine your current health)
physical exam
review consent forms with the care provider
answer any remaining questions about the effects of hormones
SURGICAL TRANSITION
FACIAL FEMINIZATION
Facial feminization requires at least 1 year on HRT and no smoking. Some surgeries require a clearance letter from a therapist. Some insurance companies require a referral or letter from your primary care doctor in order to get coverage.
TOP SURGERY
Masculinization requires a letter from one behavioral health provider/therapist (depending on your insurance, you may need a letter from your primary care doctor as well).
Feminization does not require a letter if you self-pay. If you are trying to get insurance coverage, clearance letters may be required. At least one year on HRT is preferred.
BOTTOM SURGERY
Hysterectomy: procedure where the uterus (womb) is removed.
Requires two letters, one year HRT, one year real life experience (this is the time after the procedure where you physically heal, adjust your hormones as needed, navigate through the emotions and psychological impact of going through a major surgery, and slowly get back to normal activities).
Orchiectomy: the removal of one or both testicles.
One letter from behavioral health, one letter from a primary care doctor or endocrinologist.
Scrotoplasty: procedure where skin from the labia (combined with silicone implant) is used to create a new scrotum.
Requires two letters from behavioral health and may require a letter from your primary care doctor depending on the insurance company.
Metoidioplasty: Procedure where the clitorus is released from the surrounding tissue and lengthening the urethra to create a penis.
Requires two letters from behavioral health.
This surgery is lower risk than a phalloplasty (using tissue from your arm or thigh to be shaped into a penis) however, a metoidioplasty will not give you the biggest penis in the world so penetrative sex might be difficult.
Vaginoplasty: procedure that creates a vagina using tissue from the penis, scrotum, or lining of the abdomen.
Requires two letters from behavioral health, BMI and A1C requirements, no smoking, hair clearance.
This procedure may include creating an external vulva.
INTERSEX RESOURCES
Are you or a loved one intersex? Don’t know if you are?
An intersex individual may have genitals, chromosomes, hormones, or reproductive organs that do not fit into the traditional male/female sex binary.
INTERACT
InterACT is an advocacy group that works to empower intersex youth and advance the rights of all people with innate variations in their physical sex characteristics through advocacy, public engagement & community connection.
Their resources include: medical, legal decisions, health education, sports discrimination, workplace inclusion for intersex individuals. They also have a section to locate Intersex Organizations across the world: North America, Latin America, Africa, Australia, Oceania, Asia, and Europe.
They have a section on their website under Youth Advocacy Programs called Intersex Futures and it showcases art submissions by intersex individuals from around the world speaking about what they want to see in the intersex-affirming future. Finally, they have educational brochures describing what it means to be intersex (available for free download).
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