Our Favorite Queer and Trans-Centered Resources for Families and Birth Workers
This resource guide was originally published on July 15, 2021. We have edited and updated it for republication on August 10, 2023.
While a number of trainings in the birthwork space are LGBTQIA+-affirming, they are not LGBTQIA+-centered.
BADT is a queer-led organization, and as such, we uplift and center queer and trans people’s stories and experiences in our courses from our Full-Spectrum Doula Training to our Abortion Doula Training to our 4-week Queer and Trans Reproductive Support Training, which we highly recommend. This course offers birthworkers and other folks in the Reproductive Justice space a deeper exploration of queer and trans family-building, birthing, and parenting, all taught by queer and trans educators.
BADT is committed to sharing and elevating other resources, educators, and programs that align with the values-based work we are doing. This living guide* is meant to connect folks with other queer and trans-centered resources across the interwebs.
If you are a queer or trans person looking for support, we invite you to explore these links as you find the people and professionals that not only affirm you, but truly see you! If you are a doula or aspiring doula, we encourage you to dig into the tools here with an open mind-- and be sure to bookmark them for future reference with clients and friends! Check out the list for birthing people as well as for birth workers.
*While this is a robust list, it is not a complete list of queer and trans resources, as new offerings are always emerging. We will edit and add to this guide periodically. If you have an offering you’d like to contribute to this guide, please reach out to us!
Resources for Queer and Trans Birthing People
Classes and Resources for the Childbearing Years:
Whole Body Pregnancy Childbirth Education Class with Erika Davis– This class is for LGBTQ+ Families, and is offered virtually.
Baby Making for Everybody by Ray Rachlin and Marea Goodman– This book is a step-by-step guide to baby making for queer, trans, and single folks.
All Genders Birth Class with Moss the Doula– A virtual, 3-part childbirth class that is queer and trans-centered.
Trans Fertility Co.– Find a resource and video library, as well as an event calendar that links to a range of offerings for trans people to learn about fertility, pregnancy, or family planning.
Erica Smith Education and Consulting LLC– Check out Erica’s workbooks, courses, and webinars for sex-positive, queer-centered sex education.
Masculine Birth Ritual– A podcast about Masculine of Center (MoC) queer and trans people nurturing life through pregnancy, birth, and parenting.
Birthing Queer: Queer and Trans Evidence-Based Child Birth Education — An interactive & tight-knit queer birth class taught by a trans genderqueer professional midwife.
Breastfeeding, chest feeding, and human milk feeding by rainbow families– A detailed PDF from Australian Breastfeeding Foundation
What to Expect When He’s Expecting: A Complete Guide to Transmasculine Reproduction– A resource guide and directory of trans-affirming care providers in the US.
Queer Nursing– A book that centers the queer perspective of lactation.
Birthing Beyond the Binary– “This course expands on Sister Song’s definition of reproductive justice to include queer, trans and non-binary folx.”
Michele “Misha” James-Parham– Reproductive coaching, midwifery services and mentoring, and sex education classes.
Childbirth Education for Queer Families with JustBirth Space– Free virtual class that’s held each last Wednesday of the month.
Directories and Providers:
BADT’s Doula Directory– Find a BADT-trained doula near you!
Queer Doula Network– An open directory of LGBTQ+-affirming birth workers for birthing people to explore.
Healthcare Equality Index 2022 from Human Rights Campaign– Look for local facilities and find patient resources.
LGBT+ Friendly Clinics in the US– A publicly compiled open-source list
TransWIN database– The trans community adds providers to the database and can also leave reviews by navigating to a provider's profile page.
Inclusive Therapists– A mental health directory that features vetted professionals who work from an anti-oppressive and intersectional lens.
Movement Classes:
Breathe Easy: Radically Inclusive Functional Movement, Rest, and Breath Practices for Pre-conception, Pregnancy, and Postpartum by Jenna "JB" Brown– Prerecorded movement classes, breathing exercises, and tips that offer gentle, inclusive support for your journey.
transomatics-- Accessible body-based practices for trans folks.
Jacoby Ballard Yoga — meditation and movement practices
Healthcare Tools and Considerations:
Pronoun Cards from Jenna “JB” Brown at Love Over Fear Wellness- A tool that can support you in naming your needs when approaching healthcare providers.
Trans and Pregnant: How to Find Competent, Gender-Affirming Healthcare by KC Clements- Tips from a queer, nonbinary writer who focuses on trans identity, sex and sexuality, and health and wellness.
Support Groups Etc.:
Queer + Pregnant - A Pregnancy Journal by Jenna “JB” Brown at Love Over Fear Wellness– A downloadable journal for your pregnancy journey. (Buy the hardcopy here.)
Trans & Gestating Support Group with Moss the Doula– A monthly support group for trans birthing people.
Virtual Support Group with Jenna “JB” Brown at Love Over Fear Wellness- A virtual offering for LGBTQIA2+ parents, expectant parents, and those trying to conceive.
United in Birth– Workshops and offerings for LGBQT+ families who are navigating reproductive technology, pregnancy, postpartum & loss.
Resources for Gender Identity and Autism from Elemy– A free educational guide covering autism and gender identity. This resource highlights research about gender identity, dysphoria, and diversity in neurodivergent individuals as well as information on support groups for those with autism spectrum disorder and gender identity diversity
Queer Families Support Group with JustBirth Space– A monthly drop in group centering and uplifting the 2SLGBTQIA+ pregnancy experience; this group is held the second Tuesday of each month.
The Neighborhood: A Virtual Hub for LGBTQ+ Families by Family Equality– Find a range of peer support spaces.
Rainbow Families Support Groups– Regular, facilitated peer support groups for the LGBTQ+ family community in all its diverse forms.
The Neighborhood: A Virtual Hub for LGBTQ+ Families– Resources for LGBTQ+ families and those who wish to form them opportunities to connect with one another, learn, grow, and have fun—from a Facebook group with almost 1,000 members to a robust library and calendar of family activities. Check out The Early Days: Peer Support Space for new parents, whether you’re preparing to welcome a child into your home or have already added to your family.
Parenting Resources:
Sex Positive Families– Books, webinars, and so much more for folks who are parenting.
Theybie Parenting– A hub for gender open parenting resources.
Raising Them: Our Adventure in Gender Creative Parenting by Kyl Myers– A memoir about one family’s choice to dismantle the long-accepted and often-harmful social construct of what it means to be assigned a gender from birth.
Sex Q & A: Questions Asked by Young People by Erin Brown and Erica Smith– Answers to questions from young people from both a sex-positive parent and a sex educator’s perspective.
Family Equality Council– A variety of resources for LGBTQ families from book lists, to family groups, to support groups, to education events, and more.
Family Formation Stories by Baby Making for Everyone
Resources for Doulas and Reproductive Health Workers
Online Guides, Education, and Articles:
Providing Inclusive Services and Care of LGBT People, A Guide for Health Care Staff by National LBGT Health Education Center-- There’s a lot of education packed into these 25 pages.
LGBTQIA Inclusive Pregnancy And Birth Care by Lex Londino on Inspired Birth Pro-- This is a great introduction for doulas. Plus, there’s a huge resource list for continued education and exploration.
5 ways to support transgender men and non-binary people during pregnancy by Canela López-- We know that pregnancy is not a “women’s only” issue and this article offers 5 keys to quality care for trans men and non-binary people.
Trainings:
BADT’s Prerecorded Queer & Trans Reproductive Support CE Course– ALL of our courses are queer and trans inclusive, and this class, in particular, focuses on queer and trans care for birthworkers.
birthing beyond the binary with king yaa– This 12-week program is for reproductive health professionals who want to support queer, trans, and non-binary folx. Check out their other queer-focused pre-recorded courses.
Gender Affirming Birth Work 101 Workshop with Moss Froom– A great starting place for folks who are new to this conversation and work.
Gender Affirming Practices for Birthworkers with Love Over Fear Wellness-- Sign up for his email list to be notified of the next offering.
MAIA Midwifery & Fertility’s Professional Trainings– Check out their cultural sensitivity class.
LGBTQ+ Training for Professionals from Family Equity–Trainings for family-building providers who are supporting queer and trans folks.Check out their scholarship opportunity for queer and trans birthworkers here!
Other Tools:
The Gender Spectrum Collection:Stock Photos Beyond the Binary by VICE– Great stock photos to support your gender-affirming work.
The Educated Birth– Intersectional reproductive health education tools such as infographics and illustrations.
Masculine Birth Ritual– A podcast about Masculine of Center (MoC) queer and trans people nurturing life through pregnancy, birth, and parenting.
The Queer Doula Network– A directory of queer full spectrum providers for queer individuals seeking support during reproductive journeys.
Joining BADT in this Work
Join us in exploring the resources in this guide and beyond. Notice what helps you expand the ways you understand birthwork and reproductive health, notice what feels affirming, and notice what challenges you. We all have room to grow!
Our Prerecorded Queer & Trans Reproductive Support CE Course is available on demand, and we’d love to see you in class! Learn more and sign up here.