We are deeply grateful to Phoenix Kawamoto for sharing his knowledge, insights and heartfelt reflections on the growing challenges facing transgender communities, including the increasing number of proposed and enacted laws limiting access to gender-affirming care, public accommodations, and safe participation in community life.

Our discussion this meeting illuminated not only the profound impact these policies have had on safety, well-being, and freedom of movement, but also the resilience of transgender individuals and communities. We were especially encouraged by the many participants who demonstrated a willingness to learn and hold space, as well as a renewed commitment to becoming stronger allies and advocates.

This meeting was not recorded to help create a space where sensitive topics could be discussed openly and to support the safety and comfort of our speaker and participants. We are pleased, however, to share the collection of articles, organizations, and educational resources that Phoenix generously provided so our group can continue learning, reflecting, and finding ways to take meaningful action. We also strongly recommend reading through the write-up Phoenix prepared that further expands on some of the topics he spoke on during the meeting (you may find his contact info here as well if you’d like to reach out to him directly).

Thank you to Phoenix and to everyone who joined us in solidarity, curiosity, and hope as we continue cultivating awareness, responsiveness and compassion.

💡 Resources from Phoenix

• Presenter slides from the meeting | Post-meeting follow-up

• [Erin in the Morning] Anti-Trans National Legal Risk Assessment Map: Feb 2026 Edition

• [Canadian Equality Consulting] Current surge of anti-trans hate and violence and actions to practice allyship to the trans community

  • Provides a succinct overview of historical context of anti-trans and anti-queer hate, the reason for concern, and a sampling of different ways one can be an active ally.

  • 💡 Phoenix recommends this resource for those who have limited time or bandwidth.

• [Advocates for Trans Equality] Supporting the Transgender People in Your Life: A Guide to Being a Good Ally

  • 💡 Phoenix recommends starting with the Trans 101 and Issues tabs.

• [Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)] Guide to Being an Ally to Trans and Nonbinary People

• [The Trevor Project] Being an Ally to Trans and Nonbinary Young People

• [Transgender Law Center] Journalist Resources

🧑🏽‍🏫 Trainings from the Community Technical Assistance Center (CTAC)

[Requires free registration to access]

FOR GENERAL AUDIENCES

• Supporting Transgender Youth in New York State

• Masculinity and Trans Black Men

FOR PEER ADVOCATES

• Creating Inclusive Environments in Peer Roles: Navigating Mental Health in the LGBTQ+ Community & Understanding Gender

FOR PROVIDERS

• The Importance of Identity Affirming Care

• Trauma Responsive and Affirming Practices to Reduce Suicide among Trans and Gender Expansive Youth

• Social Media Use and Mental Health Among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth

• Providing Substance Use & Mental Health Care for LGBTQIA+ Populations

• Employing Clinical Expertise to Address the Needs of LGBTQ Youth and their Families

🏳️‍🌈 NYC-Based Resources

• NYC Health Map - LGBTQ Health Services

• NYC Health - LGBTQ+ Health

• NYC Health - Transgender Health

• NYC Commission on Gender Equity

• NYC Mayor’s Office - Mayor Mamdani Signs Executive Order Establishing the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQIA+ Affairs (office website in progress)

If you weren’t able to join us, scroll down to access the resources shared and read some presentation highlights.

If you were able to join, we’d love to get your response to the polls below:

PRESENTER QUOTES

“[Ambiguous loss] is essentially grief without closure. […] Unlike other forms of loss, where there might be a distance or finality, here the connection is still very much alive. Someone can be physically absent, but emotionally present. Or physically present, but emotionally unavailable due to stress, trauma, or survival demands.”

“When clients show hesitation or mistrust, it’s not resistance, it’s often a reflection of past experiences with harm. […] It shifts the question from, ‘why isn’t this person engaging?’ to ‘what has their experience with systems been?’. And that shift alone can change how we show up ourselves in our work. Mistrust isn’t a barrier. I like to view it as information.”

“A lot of clients don’t necessarily need immediate problem solving. […] What clients actually need is to feel safe in someone else’s presence. This might look like being listened to without judgment, having their experience validated, or simply not feeling alone. And any of those moments can have a real impact on the nervous system.”

“[Mutual aid] is about showing up for each other in consistent, meaningful ways. And as providers, we don’t have to replace that. We can support it, we can connect clients to it, and recognize it is a legitimate and powerful form of care, and not something secondary. And so healing doesn’t only happen in clinical spaces, it also happens in community.”

RESOURCES SHARED

• Access the presenter slides here

• Access a list of NYC immigrant resources prepared by Dr. Peña-Sullivan here

If you were able to join, we’d love to get your response to the polls below:

RESOURCES SHARED

Measurement Inc. checklist for cultivating a trauma-informed culture

SPEAKER QUOTES

“I would frequently say and ask the question, ‘what are we doing when we suspend a student, especially a student in trauma?’ And my answer would be: we're sending them right back into the environment that traumatized them.” (Kyle McFarland)

“Before being able to even support [my students], it was so important to get to know who they were as a person, so that I could understand what behaviors I was seeing and why. It wasn't all about the behavior, it's about what they have been through, what is influencing this behavior. [...] It's not that they're being defiant, they just don't necessarily know what it is that they can do differently in those situations, and how to process those big feelings.” (Kirsten Loucks)

“[Something my school] just perpetually improved on every single year was morning arrival. […] The bus driver's interaction; […] whether or not they got into a fight with their sibling; did they eat breakfast; did they witness domestic violence this morning—I don't know. But when [the students] get off of that bus or their van, I am there, my staff is there, the secretaries, the custodians—everybody had a role.

‘It's so good to see you today. Thank you so much for coming to school.’ Some greeted us with a hug, some walked off and stormed into the cafeteria because they weren't ready for a conversation, but nothing changed in our approach, whether the student was demonstrating a challenging behavior, or whether or not we knew they had a trauma background. Everybody needed to walk through our doors feeling welcomed, safe, and affirmed.” (Jennifer Elliott)

“We're not going to prevent what happens to the students. We try, and maybe we can do that once every thousand tries. But we want to make sure that our practices are aligned so that we're giving the students the supports that they need so we prevent the trauma from interfering with the education.” (Kyle McFarland)

In case you missed it, here’s a recap of the meeting’s highlights:

QUOTES AND INSIGHTS

“When I think about all the things I used to be ashamed about, embarrassed about, couldn't believe I did it, or couldn't believe I grew up—whatever it was, right? […] It reminded me of this story of somebody saying that, ‘Would you be upset if somebody robbed a house that you no longer lived in?’. And the moral to that is to say, people will judge you regardless [of whether or not you tell your story].” (Cendie Stanford)

“I love trauma informed care because it is healing for me. And there's also moments where […] I'm finding myself needing to maybe like care for myself in the moment.” (Milagros B.)

“When we begin to see our pain as part of a lineage, we are empowered to interrupt the cycle. Forgiveness, then, becomes an act of liberation—not just for ourselves, but for those who came before us and those who will come after.

Ask yourself:

• What patterns have I recognized in myself that may have been passed down?

• What did my mother (or caregiver) not know how to give, and how has that shaped me?

• What does forgiveness mean to me—not as forgetting, but as a release?

• How can I honor my pain while still choosing peace?” (Taina L.)

UPDATES & RESOURCES SHARED

• From NYS TINRC: REGISTER HERE for the TINRC on Tour on 6/24, from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Center in Manhattan. Activities include a Breath-Body-Mind practice, a presentation by Exhale to Inhale, and networking opportunities. Lunch provided. For questions, reach out to Josh directly at jhiggins@ccsi.org

• From Baltic Street: REGISTER HERE for the Baltic Street Symposium 2.0 on 11/18-11/25 from 9 AM to 4 PM at BRIC in Brooklyn. This year’s theme is Strengthening the Bonds: Advancing the Conversation on LoneFCALI: CLICK HERE to learn more about the Family & Children’s Association in Garden City, Long Island. They provide free short-term therapy for youth ages 7-21 in Suffolk County NY and free ACES trainings for the community and other professionals

• From OMH OAPSS: REGISTER HERE for the NYC Conference for Working Peer Specialists on 7/24, from 8 AM to 5 PM at the NYU Kimmel Center. This conference is specifically for peer specialists based in NYC who are looking to enhance their knowledge, skills, and abilities relevant to peer support values and practices.

• From Alliance of Families for Justice: REGISTER HERE for the Day-Of-Healing Retreat on 6/21, from 10 AM to 6 PM at 8 W 126th St. This is a free, in-person retreat designed to support those whose lives have been touched by incarceration. A range of group and one-on-one healing and self-care activities are planned throughout the day.

• Recommended resources:

  • The Body Keeps the Score

  • Accelerated Resolution Therapy