Building Resilience as a Trans/Nonbinary Person: A Guide for Pride Month

June 11, 2025

by Grace Yensch, MA, DTLLP (they/she)

Happy Pride Month! This year marks 56 years since the Stonewall Uprising, a pivotal series of protests by LGBTQ+ folks against police, led largely by Black and Latina trans women. While often seen as the spark of the LGBTQ+ rights movement, our fight for equality began long before today and continues this month. In today’s political climate, trans and nonbinary people face growing hostility, which deeply impacts our mental health. This month’s blog explores ways to cope with that stress and build resilience.

Minority Stressors

Let’s start with the not-so-fun stuff. Minority stress, a term coined over 20 years ago, describes the excess stress people face when they come from a stigmatized social group (Meyer, 2003). An abundance of research shows us that ‘gender minorities’ (i.e., trans and nonbinary people) experience specific stressors related to their gender identity (Hendricks & Testa, 2012). Experiences of non-affirmation, rejection, discrimination, and victimization in various environments all contribute to external stressors. Gender minorities also deal with internal stressors—responses to external experiences that lead to fear of rejection, internalized transphobia, and the mental burden of hiding one’s identity.

Resilience

Resilience plays a significant role in predicting the psychological well-being of trans individuals (Meyer, 2015). It is not about ignoring pain or adversity, but rather developing strengths and strategies to cope, recover, and even grow in the face of different challenges. The Transgender Resilience Intervention Model (TRIM; Matsuno & Israel, 2018) is a tool that guides my therapy practice with trans and nonbinary clients, as well as how I navigate my day-to-day as a nonbinary person. It outlines how individuals can build resilience at three levels: individual, group, and community. Let’s take a look at how you can build your resilience in all of these areas:

Individual Resilience | Building strength from within.

Individual resilience refers to internal strengths that help trans and nonbinary people navigate life’s challenge. These include:

  • Self-acceptance & identity pride: Knowing your identity is valid & valuable can counteract internalized stigma.
  • Hope & optimism: Looking ahead with a sense of purpose can protect against feelings of hopelessness and fear.
  • Self-definition: Choosing your own language & labels helps you take ownership of your identity.
  • Gender transition (if desired): For some, social or medical transition enhances mental health and well-being.

Tips to build individual resilience:

  • Affirm your own identity: Use affirming language when you think or talk about yourself. Seek out media and books that reflect and validate your experience.
  • Practice self-compassion: Be kind to yourself when facing difficult emotions or setbacks.
  • Set future goals: Hope can grow from setting meaningful short- and long-term goals.
  • Seek out individual therapy: Find a trans-affirming therapist who understands minority stress and can help you navigate internalized negativity or uncertainty.

Group Resilience | The power of social connection.

Group resilience develops out of relationships and social roles. Key sources of group resilience include:

  • Social support from peers & chosen family
  • Family acceptance
  • Being or having a role model
  • Participation in activism & advocacy

Ways to strengthen group resilience:

  • Build your support network: Join local or online groups of trans & nonbinary individuals. Peer connection can reduce isolation and boost self-esteem.
  • Seek out role models: Whether online or in real life, seeing others who live authentically can be deeply encouraging.
  • Be a role model: Sharing your journey may help others and give you a sense of purpose and pride.
  • Educate and invite your family in: When safe to do so, sharing information and stories with loved ones can promote understanding and support.
  • Group therapy: Different from support groups, group therapy can help you navigate social interactions and engage in healing alongside individuals who have shared struggles.

 Community Resilience | Changing environments for the better.

Community resilience reflects the systems and environments that support trans and nonbinary well-being. Examples include:

  • Inclusive policies & laws
  • Access to affirming health care
  • Safe schools, workplaces, & public spaces
  • Educational efforts to reduce stigma

Tips for fostering community resilience:

  • Get involved in education or advocacy: Your voice matters. You can support local policy change or protest against harmful policies. Getting involved in a local mutual aid group is another great way to show up for community. It’s important here to note that you do not need to engage with advocacy in ways that don’t feel safe for you. Advocacy work comes in a variety of forms!
  • Support inclusive initiatives: Back businesses and organizations that practice and promote trans-affirming values.
  • Encourage institutions to train staff: Advocate for programs like Safe Zone trainings that foster safer, more supportive environments.

Final Thoughts

Resilience is not a fixed trait—it’s a set of skills and supports that anyone can develop. As we celebrate Pride Month, it’s vital to recognize both the strength of trans and nonbinary individuals and the importance of the environments that shape our ability to thrive. Building resilience isn’t just a personal journey, it’s a collective one. Whether you’re seeking community, exploring your identity, or working to change the world, your resilience is revolutionary.

Learn More

References

Hendricks, M. L., & Testa, R. J. (2012). A conceptual framework for clinical work with transgender and gender nonconforming clients: An adaptation of the minority stress model. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 43(5), 460-467. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029597

Matsuno, E., & Israel, T. (2018). Psychological interventions promoting resilience among transgender individuals: Transgender resilience intervention model (TRIM). The Counseling Psychologist, 46(5), 632-655. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000018787261

Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 674–697. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674

Meyer, I. H. (2015). Resilience in the study of minority stress and health of sexual and gender minorities. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 2, 209–213. https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000132