Resources for Transgender and Nonbinary Iowans
Transgender Iowans face unique and challenging barriers that do not exist for others in the LGBTQ community. That’s why we prioritize the needs of Transgender Iowans in all of our programming.
One Iowa proudly provides a list of resources for LGBTQ Iowans and allies. Inclusion on our website does not warrant or imply any endorsement, recommendation, or outcome. You must fully vet each resource. If you’re unsure of what provider is a good fit for you, reach out to Program Director Max Mowitz at max@oneiowa.org.
Iowa Resources & Support Groups
Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund
The ITMAF’s goal is to provide financial assistance to Trans and Nonbinary individuals in Iowa as they access gender-affirming care.
UCS Transgender Support Groups – Des Moines
Open to all transgender, queer, non-binary, gender non-conforming individuals. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or somewhere beyond, join us! Allies in direct support of transgender members are welcome. Meetings held weekly at UCS Healthcare are available in a hybrid format – both in person and on Zoom – for people who reside in Iowa. Guest speakers/special topics once per month. For questions and accommodations, email support@ucsdsm.org or call 515-280-3860.
For Adults 18+
Held every twice a month. Join the private Facebook group here.
For Teens Under 18
Held every Tuesday from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Join the private Facebook group here.
For Parents & Partners
This group is for parents of transgender people of any age and partners of transgender people. Held every Tuesday from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. (at the same time as the teen group, held in a different room). Join the private Facebook group here.
Transformations Iowa – Des Moines
Transformations Iowa is a support group for transgender and non-binary people with meetings in Des Moines.
Transgenda – Cedar Valley
Transgenda is an activist and support group for transgender, gender variant, and intersex, questioning individuals and their allies in the Cedar Valley area.
Queer Health Advocates – Iowa City
Queer Health Advocates are trained volunteers who accompany and advocate for community members who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, intersex, asexual, aromantic, queer or questioning during medical appointments. Queer Health Advocates help their clients navigate the healthcare system and get the care they deserve. All our services are free and confidential.
LGBTQ Iowa Archives & Library – Iowa City
LGBTQ community archives and lending library for the state of Iowa operating out of Iowa City. Our mission is to collect, preserve, and share the history of our community throughout the state.
LGBTQIA Youth Support Group – Iowa City
Groups will provide a safe and supportive environment to empower youth with the knowledge that pertains to them. The educational component covering such topics as coming out, gender identity, bullying, healthy relationships, sexual health education, improving school climate, and coping with anxiety and stress. Opportunities for youth to participate in community engagement.
Trans @ Iowa – Iowa City
Trans@Iowa exists as a resource for trans students, communities, and their allies.
Transgender Action Group for Iowa – Des Moines
The Transgender Action Group is a social justice group that supports the trans community in Iowa. This page is associated with the First Unitarian Church of Des Moines.
Trans Help Iowa – Des Moines
Trans Help, Iowa, helps Transgender folks in Iowa. Located in Des Moines.
Gender Nonconforming and Trans Family Get Togethers – Des Moines
Feel free to invite any Des Moines area families with trans and non-binary members to this group and the events. If they’re not on Facebook, they can email us at gntfgt@gmail.com.
Coming Out & Transition Resources
Iowa Guide to Changing Legal Identity Documents – August (2024)
A Handbook and Roadmap for Transgender Individuals Interested in Changing Their Legal Name and Gender on Government and Personal Records and Accounts.
Coming Out: Living Authentically as Transgender or Non-Binary – Human Rights Campaign
Transgender Voice Training
Your Lessons Now
Your Lessons Now is a multi-state company that provides online transgender voice lessons for voice feminization, voice masculinization, and androgynous voice. contact@yourlessonsnow.com
Trans Vocal Training
Trans vocal training by trans people, for trans people – since 2013, they have been helping students retrain their speech to sound more masculine, feminine, or androgynous – whatever their unique trans voice goals. contact@transvocaltraining.com
Fenway Health
Fenway Health advocates for and delivers innovative, equitable, accessible health care, supportive services, and transformative research and education.
Transgender Health Injection Guide
Guide on Gender Affirmation Surgeries
Advocates for Youth
Advocates for Youth works with young people and their adult allies to champion youth rights to bodily autonomy and build power to transform policies, programs, and systems to secure sexual health and equity for all youth.
For Allies & Families
Trevor Project – A Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Youth
An introductory educational resource that covers topics and best practices on how to support transgender and nonbinary young people.
Straight For Equality: Trans Ally Materials
These guides will help you learn more about what transgender means, develop competency around talking about the issue, become better informed about the challenges that many trans people face, and know specific ways that you can be a strong trans ally.
Tips for Allies of Transgender People
The following are tips from GLAAD that can be used as you move toward becoming a better ally to transgender people.
Love in The Face
Love in the Face offers no-cost mentoring to transgender individuals in every stage of self-discovery. They also provide mentoring for romantic partners, family members, and friends.
The Trans Youth Emergency Project is here to help families navigate this complex and exhausting maze, offering logistical and financial support. Our team provides 1-on-1 custom patient navigation services and supports families of transgender youth with emergency grants to help them travel out of state for care.
The Campaign for Southern Equality and One Iowa are working with partners across Iowa to provide resources and information to impacted families.
National Resources
Trans Lifeline – US (877) 565-8860
Trans Lifeline provides trans peer support for our community that’s been divested from police since day one. We’re run by and for trans people.
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning young people under 25.
Lambda Legal
A legal guide for trans people and their advocates.
SAGE USA
SAGE is a national advocacy and services organization that has been looking out for LGBTQ+ elders since 1978. They build welcoming communities and keep issues in the national conversation to ensure a fulfilling future for all LGBTQ+ people.
Stand With Trans
Stand with Trans empowers and supports transgender youth and their loved ones.
National Center for Transgender Equality
The National Center for Transgender Equality advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. In the nation’s capital and throughout the country, NCTE works to replace disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, opportunity, and justice.
Folx Health
Folx Health provides support in accessing gender affirming care, include Hormone Replacement Therapy. Folx Health also includes an HRT Care Fund.
Legal Resources
TLDEF (Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund)
Advocacy and legal support for the transgender community.
Transcend Legal
Transcend Legal helps people get transgender-related health care covered under insurance.
Sylvia Rivera Law Project
Legal support and resources for people who are transgender, intersex, or gender nonconforming.
Transgender Law Center
Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating for a world where everyone can define themselves and their futures. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs various community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender-nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation.
Lavender Legal Center – Cedar Rapids
Lavender Legal Center provides legal representation and advocacy for LGBTQ people.
ACLU of Iowa
ACLU of Iowa is a private, non-partisan organization that fights to advance civil liberties and uphold the Iowa and U.S. Constitutions. They are the state affiliate of the national American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU prides itself in upholding everyone’s civil liberties, no matter who they are or what they believe.
Media & Books
Whipping Girl by Julia Serrano (non-fiction)
Transgender History by Susan Stryker (non-fiction)
Johnny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead (fiction)
Trans Bodies Trans Selves (non-fiction)
