The rights and safety of trans survivors are increasingly under attack in the US and around the world. Especially with executive orders targeting service providers, and providers and organizations complying in advance by removing services for trans folks, it can be hard to know where to turn when we experience a crisis.
Unfortunately, violence and harm continue to happen in our lives, regardless of whether or not there are services in place to support us. The violence we experience may even be worsened by the political climate surrounding trans folks. AND we are still finding ways, both within our communities and by seeking external support, to get the care we need and deserve.
FORGE has recently updated our “Safety” section of the Trans Survivors blog with a list of organizations that provide services to trans/nonbinary survivors. These resources may change. For now, they are options we might lean on when we need them. We might save the hotlines to our phone, or share the page with a friend, or just remind ourselves that we have options.
These resources are available, whether you have just experienced harm, or experienced it in the past.
Hotlines that are available 24/7
- New York Anti-Violence Project https://avp.org/get-help/call-our-hotline
- The Network/La Red: https://www.tnlr.org/en/24-hour-hotline
- Trevor Project hotline: (focused on suicide and general crisis support) http://www.thetrevorproject.org
- The National Domestic Violence Hotline http://www.thehotline.org/
Resources in your area
- To find an LGBT Anti-Violence Program in your area: https://avp.org/ncavp-members/
State coalitions often have a list of local service providers on their websites. Many of them run hotlines that can provide information and support as well as connect you with local providers.
- State Domestic Violence Coalitions: https://nnedv.org/content/state-u-s-territory-coalitions/
- State Sexual Assault Coalitions: https://www.nsvrc.org/organizations?field_organizations_target_id=8&field_states_territories_target_id=All&keys=
- A list of local sexual assault providers can be found here: https://www.raliance.org/rape-crisis-centers/
LGBTQ Warmlines
These offer limited hours of availability. Some offer text services. These are general crisis support, and not specific to experiences of violence. Some lines focus on serving people with specific identities.
These LGBTQ help lines are not violence specific.
- The Black Line https://www.callblackline.com/
- The Desi Queer Helpline https://www.deqh.org/
- Trans LifeLine https://translifeline.org/
- Trans Latina Coalition https://www.translatinacoalition.org/
- Thrive Lifeline https://thrivelifeline.org/ – temporarily down as of May 2025
- Trans Lifeline list of resources: https://translifeline.org/resources/?_topics=hotlines-warmlines
Do you want to learn more about intimate partner violence?
- Trans-specific safety planning tool: http://forge-forward.org/wp-content/docs/safety-planning-tool.pdf
- Trans-specific power and control tactics: http://forge-forward.org/wp-content/docs/power-control-tactics-categories_FINAL.pdf
Do you want to learn more about sexual assault/abuse?
All of our self-help guides include information on sexual assault, including how it specifically affects transgender and non-binary survivors. Most also contain extensive lists of other resources.
- Transgender Sexual Violence Survivors: A Self-Help Guide to Healing and Understanding
- A Guide for Partners and Friends of Transgender Sexual Violence Survivors
- Let’s Talk About It: A Transgender Survivor’s Guide to Accessing Therapy
- A Guide for Facilitators of Transgender Community Groups: Supporting Sexual Violence Survivors
- These guides can be found at http://forge-forward.org/anti-violence/for-survivors/guides-for-survivors/
Are you concerned about stalking?
- Stalking and Harassment of Trans People https://forge-forward.org/resource/stalking-and-harassment-of-trans-people/
- Guide for Victim Advocates https://forge-forward.org/resource/supporting-lgbtq-stalking-victims-a-guide-for-victim-advocates-sparc/
- Many additional resources are available at https://www.stalkingawareness.org/what-to-do-if-you-are-being-stalked/ (these are not trans-specific, but contain very useful information)
Are you wondering what else you can do to keep yourself and others safer?
- Safe dating tips for trans and gender non-binary people: http://forge-forward.org/wp-content/docs/Safe-Dating-Tips-FINAL.pdf
- 30 days of action: http://forge-forward.org/?s=30+days
Access the Safety page at any time at: https://trans-survivors.com/safety/