Introduction

What’s Inside

This Handbook was created to help you learn about your legal rights in different areas of your life.

Section One provides important context on the changing state of the law and how it might affect the rights described in this handbook.
Section Two provides information about changing your identity documents.
Section Three addresses the rights you have at school.
Section Four addresses getting access to transition-related health care.
Section Five explains how your legal rights are affected if one or more of your parent(s) or guardian(s) does not affirm your gender identity or if you do not live with your parent(s) or guardian(s).
Section Six explains the rights you have at work.
Resources and Definitions lists additional helpful resources and definitions for the terms used in this Handbook.

The information in this Handbook should not be considered legal advice. This Handbook provides legal information but does not attempt to apply that information to any specific situation.

This Handbook is meant to provide an overview of your rights and links to helpful resources. It was fully updated in September 2024 and partially updated in April 2025 to indicate areas where the law may be changing or uncertain. Over the past several years, there has been an influx of anti-LGBTQ+ action, including Federal Executive Orders under the Trump Administration and proposed and enacted state and federal legislation, which create legal uncertainty. This is especially true in the context of schools, health care, identity documents, and family rights. As such, the information in this Handbook may not be up-to-date at the time of reading; we encourage you to consult the latest state of the law in the state where you live. You can find comprehensive and up-to-date information about the law in your state at the Movement Advancement Project website.

If you have a question about your specific legal situation, you should contact NCLR’s legal helpline by phone at (415) 392-6257 or (800) 528-6257. You can also contact the helpline by e-mail at info@nclrights.org.

Self-Advocacy 101

If you think you have been discriminated against because you are trans:

Keep a record of any perceived discrimination. Write down the date, time, and place of what happened as soon as possible, and be sure to include who was there and what they said. If you remember other details, you should write those details down as well. Like a diary, you should also write notes about how the discrimination or mistreatment made you feel. Keep a copy of these notes, as they will be useful if you want to take legal action later.

Know your rights. Review this Handbook and other resources to learn about what federal, state, and local laws or policies might apply in your situation.

Get things in writing. It can be hard to prove what someone said or did without some type of evidence. Whenever possible, try to get written confirmation of the decision or incident you experienced. If there isn’t already a record, such as a letter or report, create one. Besides keeping the types of notes just described, you can file a complaint with the appropriate agency that outlines the discrimination you experienced or document an in-person meeting by writing an e-mail to the person you met with describing what you discussed in the meeting.

Seek emotional support. Discrimination is a difficult thing to face alone, and the process of fighting discrimination can be very stressful. Seek support from friends, family, health care providers, faith leaders, and others who affirm your gender identity.

Seek legal advice. If you need help handling a legal situation or figuring out what you should do, you can contact NCLR’s legal helpline by phone at (415) 392-6257 or (800) 528-6257. You can also contact the helpline by e-mail at info@nclrights.org.