If You Are a Survivor…

While this Toolkit is primarily intended for service providers who work with trans and nonbinary victims of crime, we recognize that survivors may also find some of this information useful. You may see your own experiences reflected in the quotes and stories from survivors, or you may not. As trans and nonbinary survivors, our experiences with violence and crime are just as diverse as our identities.

Many trans/nonbinary survivors also have dual roles as service providers or advocates, or are otherwise involved in supporting community members in formal or informal ways. Some of the sections may be specific to your work. Working with other trans/nonbinary survivors may bring up past experiences with violence. You deserve access to resources and healing just as much as those you help do.

You may also find content in this Toolkit useful for sharing with the service providers in your life, or as strategies for self-advocacy while seeking services. We invite you to share the Toolkit broadly with anyone you think might benefit from it.

We also know that it is impossible to capture every individual person’s experience in this Toolkit. The language we’re using and best practices for working with trans/nonbinary survivors are constantly changing. Resources like this Toolkit will need to be continually updated to reflect changes in community needs. We invite you to share your feedback on the Toolkit, including any topics you would like to see covered in future resources, on our contact us page.

Where else to go

This Toolkit is primarily geared toward a service provider audience, but FORGE offers many resources specifically for trans and nonbinary survivors. Here are some suggestions for additional resources for trans/nonbinary survivors:

Trans Survivors – FORGE’s blog covering various realms of survivors’ experience.

Let’s Talk About It: A Transgender Survivor’s Guide to Accessing Therapy – A guide for trans sexual assault survivors on deciding whether therapy is right for you, choosing a type of therapy, and finding a therapist.

The Gathering: #HealingHasOptions – A recorded webinar for trans/nonbinary people and loved ones that shares healing practices such as breathing exercises, journaling, and meditation, along with poetry and music.

Trans self-defense and empowerment for all bodies – A recorded webinar that teaches practical self-defense skills for preventing and responding to harassment, abuse, and assault.

Voices of Healing: Trans & Nonbinary Survivors SPEAK OUT – A video in which four trans and nonbinary survivors of sexual abuse and assault share their stories of resilience and healing through poetry, art, movement, and other creative forms.

Healing From Trauma (compiled) – A short tip sheet with affirming messages about healing from trauma and links to other FORGE resources.

Crisis resources

If you are experiencing a crisis, you have options for getting help. Here are some resources for getting support:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (for more considerations on privacy and 988, check out this blog post).

BlackLine: 1-800-604-5841
BlackLine offers both calling and texting services, and prioritizes serving Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860
Trans Lifeline provides peer support for trans and nonbinary people in crisis. The hotline is open weekdays only. Check the website for current hours.

TrevorLifeline: 1-866-488-7386
TrevorLifeline, a part of The Trevor Project, offers 24/7 counseling through phone call, texting, or web chat for LGBTQ+ young people.