Clubs & Community groups

Social gender affirmation isn’t just about what you do yourself, it can also be about how you move through, and engage with society. This includes the groups, clubs and community groups you want to be part of, or are already involved in and want to come out to.

Some trans people find a lot of support from groups that come together over a shared identity such as sexuality or gender, and others much prefer to find groups that celebrate a shared interest, hobby, or past time. The communities you’d like to be part of is totally up to you.

This page isn’t about how to come out to existing groups and clubs, check out Coming Out for that. Instead, it’s about finding and creating community that makes you feel sustained, supported and seen.

The trans community is hard to define, with widely varying tastes, social wants and needs, energy levels, accessibility needs, and more. So as much as it’s about finding some community, it’s also important to find the community that gathers in ways you find enjoyable and uplifting.

For some people this will mean hanging out with other trans people of your gender, and for other people it will be meeting people across the rainbow and making friends of all different genders and sexualities. You might find (or help set up) a trans board game club in Wagga, or a soccer club for trans people in Dubbo, or a trans author book club in Newcastle, or a trans-parents group that uses video to meet across the world. Whatever it is, wherever it is - the key is connection and community, so don’t give up.

Trans Pride Australia is a great place to start. They hold events throughout the year, and also host a network of Facebook groups and other online spaces.

There are meetups, parties and social events all over NSW. A great way to see what’s going on near you is to find a trans group for your city, town, or region on Facebook and see who’s posting about events. You could also join a broader trans Facebook group like Trans Pride Australia and post to ask if there’s anything going on in your area. Sites like Meetup can be searched with keywords like ‘transgender’ to help you find groups near to you, wherever you are.

If you’re in a regional area, check out ACON’s local guides or contact your closest ACON office to connect with the clubs and community groups nearby.

For advocates the Hunter - the Hunter Gender Alliance (HGA) is a network of trans and gender diverse (TGD) people, health professionals, family members, and allies. The HGA works to make life better for TGD people in the Hunter and surrounding areas, including Newcastle.

We know that the outside world can be a tough place and online spaces offer a chance to safely connect with similar people, regardless of their location.

Trans communities congregate online across the globe, some are geographically focused while others are themed by areas of interest that enable discussions and support for things like a specific surgical or hormonal affirmation, or pregnancy, breast and chest feeding, international advocacy and topics related to art, housing, culture and connection. Searching using keywords like ‘transgender’, plus the topic you’re interested in can be helpful.

It’s important to stay safe though so ACON and Trans Pride Australia worked together with Facebook, Instagram to produce Safe and Strong: An LGBTQ+ Guide to Facebook and Instagram. The resource, released during the 2020 Sydney Mardi Gras season, features handy tips and practical measures on managing safety and exercising self-care while using Facebook and Instagram, including establishing you own online community group.

If you’re struggling to find a group near you that fits, or if a group can’t be found, one possibility is to start your own.

Creating a social group can take a bit of work, but is a great way to get in touch with your community, make friends, and give and receive support.

The first thing to consider is who you might want to meet up with, whether it’s a specific interest, gender or sexuality group, or a broader community group. There’s no right or wrong answer to this question, other than what you think you and others will get out of it, and you can always change the guest list later.

The next thing is to think about where you could hold a social gathering. For small groups or people that you know, meeting in someone’s home is a good and cost-effective way of spending time together, but may not always feel comfortable when meeting with lots of new people. Instead, consider meeting at a cafe, bar, or other public place, especially if you know a place that’s LGBTQ+ friendly or owned. For some places you can even call ahead and make a booking / let them know you’re holding a social group there.

After that, it’s a matter of getting the word out. This might involve posting it online, in groups, forums and on social media, putting up physical posters in places you feel safe to do so, or just by word of mouth. Finding a friend or two to come along and support you is a great idea, both to help manage things if it’s a total hit, and to hang out with if things start off slow. If that’s the case, that’s okay too! Sometimes these things can take time to build and take on their own energy, and as long as it’s not causing you to feel really uncomfortable or sad, that’s just fine!

That said, if you find the whole process a bit overwhelming, uncomfortable, or like it’s taking too much time, it’s also okay to take a break. This might mean putting an event or regular social gathering on hold for a little while, connecting with other groups in the area and letting regulars know what else they can do, or passing off organising duties to another person or group.

No matter how you find your people, or whether you’re involved in running groups or just occasionally attending, being part of a group of people that support and affirm us is good for our health.

Clothing swaps

Organising a clothing swap is a great way of meeting people, making friends, and also finding some new clothes that you might feel more comfortable in.

Whether or not you’ve got a bunch of old clothes lying around, invite a group of people and ask them to bring old or well-loved clothes. Events like clothing swaps, crafternoons, or hobby-based meet ups are a great way to hang out with people. If you want, the focus on gender or identity might even just slip into the background.

When the meet up is all done don’t forget to donate the leftovers to an op shop. For more information about running a great clothing swap, check out this Teen Vogue article.